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Deconstructing Slate's "Pepper" Series

Animal Person

Engber mentions that in 1972, the USDA put into place "a special exemption for rats, mice, and birds, allowing scientists to treat them however they saw fit—in cages of any size, in experiments with any degree of pain and suffering. The fact that we care about--and fight for--animals based on how cute we have deemed them to be is disgraceful.

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Are We Much Better than Michael Vick?

Critter News

Homemakers employ deadly rat traps and poisons to rid their dwellings of vermin. Hunters shoot down animals in cold blood for mere sport. So why is one type of animal cruelty (dogfighting) more reprehensible than another (lobster-boiling)? Chefs place live lobsters in pots of boiling water. It's true.