I have witnessed first hand of animals being abused. I went to a the Dixie Stampede when I was about seven years old. It was a whole lot of fun until they brought out the animals. There were horses jumping through a ring of fire, dogs high jumping as they go head to head, and they star countless numbers of live stock such as pigs, long horn cattle, buffalo, and dancing chickens. The worst thing I saw was a calf running around the arena being chased by a person riding a horse. They had a bola in hand which is sometimes made of leather and sometimes made out of a chain to two metal balls on each end of the chain. They would throw the bola at the calves feet and it would rap around their feet and the calf would go tumbling down on it's face and slide across the dirt. There were people laughing at the horrific sight. I on the other hand was not and it traumatized me for life. Ever since then I have been an animal activist. Now I am 19 years old and am doing something about it. I am taking a stand for the voiceless. I also want to stop animals in circuses and especially in labs where they are tested on and then put to the death once they have served their purpose. I have done my research and there are plenty of alternatives such as In Vitro Testing which is organ on chips that contain human cells grown to mimic the structure and function of human organs and systems. Another alternative is Computer (in Silico) Modeling in which researchers simulate the human body to make accurate prediction. I say accurate because 95% of animal test that have shown successful on animals have failed in human trials because we are not going to react in the same way that animals do plus animals are living creatures not to be played around with because they have souls and feeling and they feel pain just like we do. One last alterative is Human Patient Simulators in which scientists computerize a fake human body that can breathe, bleed, convulse, talk, and even die. Although these way are much more humane and accurate we still continue to torture and test on animals. I know enough about all this from my research that I could have a debate on it at the capitol which I hope to someday and make a difference in the U.S.A for we are the land of the free and that counts for animals too. Speak up for those who can't speak. Make a difference. Thank you.