Rights advocates heavily lean on the concept of speciesism—a term coined by Richard D. Ryder—which is the assignment of different values to beings based solely on their species. They argue that discriminating against a sentient being because it has fur or feathers is logically identical to racism or sexism.
Key Outcome: A world where animals are not property. This implies veganism (strictly no animal products), the closure of all animal testing labs, and the end of horse racing, rodeos, and pet breeding (adoption only).
How does the law treat these concepts? Almost universally, the law adheres to Animal Welfare. Rights advocates heavily lean on the concept of
In nearly every jurisdiction, animals are legally classified as property. You cannot "murder" a dog; you can only "destroy" property or commit "cruelty to an animal." The law allows the killing of animals for food and science but explicitly outlaws "unnecessary pain."
The closest we have come to legal rights is the Non-Human Rights Project (NhRP), led by Steven Wise. The NhRP has filed habeas corpus petitions (a legal action against unlawful detention) on behalf of chimpanzees and elephants. They argue that these cognitively complex animals are "autonomous beings," not legal things. Key Outcome: A world where animals are not property
While mostly unsuccessful (except for a recent ruling in Argentina regarding a chimpanzee), these cases represent the legal bleeding edge of the rights movement.
If you eat meat but care about suffering: Almost universally, the law adheres to Animal Welfare
You cannot be "pro-animal" without deciding where you stand on this spectrum.
If you believe that humans are part of the ecosystem, and that using animals for food and work is a natural reality, you are an Animal Welfare proponent. Your job is to make those lives as painless and natural as possible before the inevitable end.
If you believe that humans are the guardians, not the masters, of the earth, and that possessing a nervous system grants a being a right to existence free from human use, you are an Animal Rights proponent. Your job is to abolish the category of "livestock" entirely.
The conversation between these two camps is often hostile, but it is vital. Whether we eventually settle for better treatment or demand no treatment, one fact remains undeniable: Our relationship with the 70 billion land animals we raise every year defines our moral character as a civilization. The cage door is open. The question is only whether we intend to lock it with a new latch—or tear it off completely.