If you were a world leader...

[Miss Z]

Hi, another poll! What would you do?

[Randi]

I see we don't have multible choice here. I would start with # 3, 4 and 6. I am particularly worried about tigers.

[CagneyDog]

All of the above. Paticularly numer 1, 4 and 6

[sammy101]

definently Ban fur trade and severe penalties for animal abuse. Endangered species too.

[cocker_luva]

animal cruelty would be the first to go.

[.sarah]

Make everyone vegetarian, or at least have the animals set for slaughter be treated and killed humanely. All of those are very important though.

[Uabassoon]

I think destroying all kill shelters would be a horrible idea. They don't put animals to sleep because they want to, they usually have no choice. No Kill shelters are great, but they are almost always full. Most no kill shelters refuse to accept owner released pets because they just don't have the room. Shelters that do put animals to sleep at least give as many animals as possible the chance at finding a home. While death is a sad option for many of these animals death is much better than a life of hunger, abuse and neglect. If they didn't exsist many animals would live in those horrible conditions because they wouldn't have a place to go. It isn't the shelters fault. It's the people that refuse to spay and nueter their pets and chose not to care for them or their offspring.

[.sarah]

That's a really good point!

[carole]

Personally I would love to tick every single one of them, but I figured if we have tougher penalites for cruelty to animals that would at least be a good start.
Laura you hit the nail on the head for me, just exactly what i have been dealing with last week, that irresponsible pet owner who left a kitty to suffer and would not accept ownership and still is allowed to continue breeding more feral cats, it really sucks BIGTIME.

[JenBKR]

Animal cruelty would be first for me. I hate watching animal precinct, it breaks my heart every time. I won't share my opinion on hunting, I don't want to start a fight (and I'm sure many here would not agree with me... ;) )

[Suki Wingy]

first would be stricter hold wild animal pet trade (More LEGAL tigers in TEXAS ALONE than all tigers in INDIA!! A LOT more illegal) also helping the endangered species and felony for animal cruelty or neglect (If you can do that to a puppy how different is your friend?)
I don't think making everyone a vegetarian would help at all but I would like to see all family farms like our friend's beef farm.

[Giselle]

ENDANGERED SPECIES, without a doubt!!!!!! There is an epidemic going on. The climate is changing, habitats are disappearing, these animals are dying mainly because of US! Think animal cruelty is wrong? Multiply that by thousands of species on the brink of extinction. Imagine the cruelty going on in the wild. Baby chimps stolen from their mothers to be killed and sold as meat or pets, exotic parrots stolen from the nest to be sold into the black market, exotic cats trapped in small cages, dozens of exotic parrot species dying out because WE introduced foreign predators like rats and snakes, etc. etc. Animal Precinct's episodes don't even *compare* to the cruelty endangered species are enduring :eek:

[wolfsoul]

I would do SO many things. First I would put an end to irresponsible breeding. I would make it mandatory for every dog bred to be purebred, health certified, worked, and shown (and shows would change as well). Every dog or cat entering a pet home has to be altered. Every animal would be spayed or neutered before exiting a shelter as well. All breeders would be checked by officials on a regular basis to ensure that they are providing a good home for their pets. It would be a must that all dogs attend obedience classes. Pet shops would not be allowed to sell animals. I don't think it's fair to make everyone vegetarian, but I would put strict rules on slaughter houses/meat industries. All animals should eat a healthy and species appropriate diet and should be treated with respect for the time they are alive and killed humanely. I would ban all low quality animal feeds (including the ones that people feed their dogs and cats). There would be better rules made for hunting. There would be more protected parks for endangered species. Soo many things I'd like to do. You know what I would love? To have my own TV channel and just have animal shows on it. That would be a great way to keep people educated. Alot of things..

[Karen]

I checked "severe penalties for animal cruelty," though I would also help endangered and threatened animals as well.

Some of the other options would, sadly, cause as many problems as they would solve.

[beeniesmom]

Animal Cruelty has got to be handled!

I actually think Anumal Cruelty incorporates all the choices above.

If it was up to me, I'd do to the offender what they did to the animal, be it skin them (fur), shoot them (hunting) etc etc... you get the point.

[BitsyNaceyDog]

I checked "severe penalties for animal cruelty," though I would also help endangered and threatened animals as well.


Same here.

Beautifually stated Laura. Though it's sad, kill shelters are very necessary. It'd be wonderful if the world no longer needed kill shelters, but until people start being much more responsible with their pets this won't happen. :(

[cloverfdx]

Almost all of the above ;).

Well said Laura.

[crazy_caique]

crulty to animals would get life in prison with possible prole in 25 years,I would make everone get there pets fixed only if they pay an anuual fee to breed there animals anyone who didn't get there animals fixed would be finded 10,000 for each animal they didn't get fixed.The animals you have to get fixed are dogs,cats,rabbits,guinea pig,and ferrets.And if they let there other pets breed that can't be fixed like birds,hamster,rats,ect...and Have knowlege that one is male and the other is female.20,000 find.I would start to save the wildlife in the USA.as you can tell I have thought about this a lot.

[IRescue452]

I'd end excess breeding, purebred or not. I'd ban clothing for dogs, unless it was necessary for the dog. No froo-froo outfits. I'd ban purse-dogs. I'd destroy puppy mills. I'd ban goldfish bowls, and anything under 3 gallons. I'd ban cropping unless it was necessary for the dog's health. I'd ban declawing. I'd instate cloning organs and muscles, outside of the body, as a way of producing meat, therefore reducing the herds of cattle and replenishing rainforest. I'd ban all pointless household chemicals. You get bleach, dishsoap, vinegar, and soap to clean everything in the house. The life expectancy will skyrocket for people and pets. I'd basically make myself the divine judge for those who abused animals. I'd ban no-kill shelters for the false ideas they put in people's heads that abandoning is ok because the dog won't die.