Grrr! advice columnists Noah and Kimi put their heads together to answer your questions about animal issues.
Aren't endangered animals, like elephants and tigers, better off in circuses? At least they’re getting food, water, and care—instead of being killed. —Justin H.
Kimi There's more to life than food and water. Imagine if someone kept you chained in the trunk of a car as they drove all over the country for months at a time. They only let you out to make you stand on your head and jump through flaming hoops in front of a noisy crowd—then it's back into the trunk. You never see your family or friends again. If you screw up you get hit with a stick. That’s what life is like for animals in circuses. Would you want to live that way?
Noah Beating up animals in circuses does nothing to save them from extinction. Forcing animals, whether they're endangered or not, to perform stupid tricks in circuses only teaches audiences that animals exist for our entertainment. Animals have their own wants and needs—that don't include wearing tutus!
I just got a new kitty from my neighbors, and I want to let her have just one litter of kittens—I'll find them all good homes! My kitty got a good home with me so I know it can happen. —Clarissa S.
Kimi Your kitten found a good home, but some other kitten waiting in a shelter did not because your neighbors allowed their cat to breed. If you allow your cat to breed, you will also take homes away from needy animals.
Noah Even if you find homes for the kittens, what happens if some of those kittens are allowed to have babies? Then those kittens will breed and so on. In just a couple of years, your "one litter" will have caused dozens of other kittens to be dumped by the side of the road or at shelters where millions of homeless animals are dying for a home. Bottom line—it’s not cool to litter! Check out HelpingAnimals.com.
