[Lestat]

Originally Posted by dj_venom

So because they are living how they choose, we can exploit that? Such as boxing kangaroos perhaps? Or maybe dancing pandas? Or how about using electro-therapy on animals to make them sit still while having their photo taken?

He said: to a certain point. Since he has not clearly defined up to which point exactly, I'm willing to give him the benefit of doubt.

Originally Posted by dj_venom

I think that statement there does push for animal cruelty. So you personally think rats are disgusting, so that gives you a right to use them as you will. Frankly I think some people are disgusting, but I don't think that gives me the right to use them as I want.

Nowhere he pushes for cruelty. As I said before his choice of words is poor, especially here the word "lowlife".
But please explain how that phrase "pushes for cruelty". You think it does, I think it doesn't. You're reading things that are not stated in the phrase. At most you can read in this phrase: "I prefer they use these animals I find disgusting in animal testing than other animals I find not disgusting, or humans or no testing."

Originally Posted by dj_venom

We have a right to protect and help these animals, not to abuse them.

I assume you mean duty.
Not always, sometimes you will have to choose between man and animal. Certain animals can spread diseases (rats, a whole host of insects), others damage important structures (muskrats undermine dikes, termites eat wooden structures) or eat up stored food (too large a list).

Originally Posted by dj_venom

I don't expect a threat from these either. But that doesn't mean we can treat them like dirt.

That was to lighten the mood a bit and go back to the original question. Nowhere I or even Masa suggested that we should treat animals like dirt.

That's as far as I read his comments. And others apparently too. So maybe wait until he comes back to explain further.