Introduction
This paper will give facts on four categories of animals kept in Canada; the farm animals, animals used in experiments, animals used as companions to people and those used in entertainment. Findings indicate that there are 630037 beehives, 1230500 cattle, 166000 chicken, 1400 ducks, 330 guinea fowl and geese, 30,000 goats, 407000 horses, 4000 mules, 1268000 pigs, 88700 sheep, and 55,000 turkeys. The numbers of all the rest except beehives and cattle are given as 1000 head (“Faostat-Canada” par. 1). There are 6.4 million dogs and 7.0 million cats that are the companion animals. There are also laboratory animals that number approximately 216, 450 (“Wild Animals in Entertainment” par. 1). They are grouped into 126290 rodents, 61792 fish, 23691 reptiles and amphibians, 1358 birds, 1778 large mammals, 1981 small mammals, and 360 marine mammals. The category of wild animals utilized in the entertainment sum up to about 200000 in the zoos and circuses (Hui 1).
Farm Animals
Farm animals include mammals and birds commonly kept by people for agricultural purposes such as the production of fiber, food, fertilizer. There are 630037 beehives, 1230500 cattle, 166000 chicken, 1400 ducks, 330 guinea fowl and geese, 30,000 goats, 407000 horses, 4000 mules, 1268000 pigs, 88700 sheep, and 55,000 turkeys (“Faostat-Canada” par. 2). Canadian fundamental agricultural output comes from poultry, beef, pork, and dairy. These productions are crucial to Canada because they generate income that enhances the livelihoods of the Canadians.
Companion Animals
Companion animals are always domestic animals determined by the close relationship between them and their owners. There are 6.4 million dogs and 7.0 million cats that comprise this category. The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) approves the ownership of companion animals to people with satisfactory standards of physical and emotional care for the animals (“Wild Animals in Entertainment” par. 1). Such animals include pets like cats, dogs, and other easily domesticated animals. The commissions are responsible to take care of pets like cats, dogs by spaying and neutralization that controls their breeding patterns (Hui 1). Overpopulation of some companion animals is common in Canada, but abandoning of these animals is not acceptable. It means that it is against the moral code of the Country. According to the Canadian animal regulatory laws, the unwanted animals are admitted to the local humane society for protection (Hui 1).
Laboratory Animals
Laboratory animals include any vertebrates bred and kept for the research testing purposes or training. The position of the animals in laboratory research, testing, and teaching is regulated by the Canadian laws (Hui 1). Such animals include rats, rabbits, and the squirrels as well as guinea fowls. There also laboratory animals total up to 216, 450. They are grouped into 126290 rodents, 61792 fish, 23691 reptiles and amphibians, 1358 birds, 1778 large mammals, 1981 small mammals, and 360 marine mammals species. The animals help in research and learning because their digestive systems resemble that of humans, which makes them relevant for investigations.
Wild Animal Kept For Entertainment
This group of animals is captured from the wild without domestication. They are entertain people in places like zoos, circuses, and aquariums. Wild animals kept for entertainment are not tamed. Therefore, they can be dangerous and are likely to injure or kill, which means they should be treated with care. The wild animal species vary but there are some commonly known ones such as giraffes, birds, wild snakes, antelopes, and wild cats kept for entertainment in circuses and zoos. The category of wild animals in this group sums up to about 200000 in the zoos and circuses
Globally, circuses have entertained numerous people for many years with the help of the animals kept for the entertainment. however, those animals suffer because they are confined in small cages. The animals’ social, behavioral, and psychological satisfactions fail under such conditions. Since the wild animals are used to staying in natural environments that do not restrict their movements, they die prematurely if kept in such restricted conditions. Although these animals seem to be friendly, they are very dangerous when provoked and can easily attack and kill people.
There are nearly one hundred zoos and wild animal collections in Canada, which provide perfect and quality care for the wild animals. There are policies by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies that regulate welfare of animals because of their relative importance to the economy and the visitors.
A Summary of the Total of the Animals in Canada
Conclusion
Canada has a wide variety of animals which are classified by the next categories: farm, entertainment, companion, and laboratory animals. Their numbers vary widely. For instance, there are 20874467 farm animals, 200,000 entertainment animals, 13400000 companion animals and 216450 laboratory usage animals. The statistics indicate that the farm animals are the largest group of the mentioned animals, while those used for laboratory experiments are in the minority. There are laws set that govern the usage of the animals, however regulations vary among provinces.
Works Cited
Hui, Stephen. UBC Used 216,450 Animals in Experiments in 2013. Georgia Straight Vancouver’s News & Entertainment Weekly. 2014:13. Web.
Wild Animals in Entertainment 2014. Web.
Faostat-Canada 2012. Web.