Animal Rights and Confusion

Animal Rights - Me and Yuki are in the picture to the right. I have had this dog for four years and I do love the dog and the dog loves me but does the same rights I have. I don't think so but he does have the right to be treated with love, respect and humane treatment. Animal rights verses animal cruelty, I am confused.

Animal rights and animal cruelty, to me, is two different things. Does an animal have the same rights as a human? What do you think?

When I did a search on animal rights I came up with a lot of information but what interested me the most was wikipedia's information. Wikipedia, "Animal rights, also referred to as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of humans.[2] Advocates approach the issue from different philosophical positions but agree that animals should be viewed as legal persons and members of the moral community, not property, and that they should not be used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment.[3]

The idea of awarding rights to animals has the support of legal scholars such as Alan Dershowitz and Laurence Tribe of Harvard Law School,[4] while Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby argues that the movement has reached the stage the gay rights movement was at 25 years ago.[5] Animal law is taught in 113 out of 180 law schools in the United States, in eight law schools in Canada, and is routinely covered in universities in philosophy or applied ethics courses.[6] In June 2008, Spain became the first country to introduce an animal rights resolution, when a parliamentary committee voted in favor of limited rights for non-human primates, inspired by Peter Singer's Great Ape Project.[7]

Critics argue that animals are unable to enter into a social contract or make moral choices, and therefore cannot be regarded as possessors of rights, a position summed up by the philosopher Roger Scruton, who writes that only humans have duties, and that, "[the] corollary is inescapable: we alone have rights."[8] A parallel argument is that there is nothing inherently wrong with using animals as resources if there is no unnecessary suffering, a view known as the animal welfare position.[9] There has also been criticism, including from within the animal rights movement itself, of certain forms of animal rights activism, in particular the destruction of fur farms and animal laboratories by the Animal Liberation Front." Wikipedia.org

I am not sure an animal has the same rights as a human but if you think they do more power to you.

Animal cruelty is another aspect to this problem. I don't think any animal deserves to be treated like an animal. I have to laugh at that statement. I think a cow should be treated decent before it is shot in the head. I don't know about this issue and I certainly don't have all the answers. I do think we should be kind to all creatures. What about a roach? See, this doesn't seem to make much sense but it an issue which needs balanced logic in order to make any sense.

I read an article the other day, let me share it with you.

Animal Rights or Welfare
By Joseph Devine

Last year, Michael Vick, a famous football player, found himself exposed in a secret scandal much different from the scandals that we encounter everyday: the multimillion dollar superstar fought dogs on the side. News of this event shocked the nation and caused outrage among animal rights groups. How could a man, who had reached the pinnacle of his career and made so much money doing what he loved, be involved in such a brutal, vicious hobby? Those that weren't outraged were just confused.

It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone that dog fighting is ubiquitous throughout society. While it may be kept under wraps in the United States and in other first-world countries, the fact of the matter is this: in all the other parts of the world, animals have little if any legal protection from maltreatment. In a world where even humans are marginalized and stripped of their rights, how are we to protect the rights of animals (who cannot speak for themselves)?

The topic has been a hot debate for centuries in the academic world, particularly in philosophy. There are two main positions on the debate: Animal Rights and Animal Welfare. Proponents of Animal Welfare contend that the use of animals for human endeavors and consumption is morally okay, however, when engaging in the activity of cultivating them it must be done in a 'humane' way without putting them through 'unnecessary' suffering. Supporters of Animal Rights believe that it is absolutely wrong to use animals in any way for human consumption and exploitation. Animal Rights supporters have criticized proponents of Animal welfare for their subjective diction, citing that terms like 'humane' and 'unnecessary' will be interpreted many different ways . They believe that the lack of a clear definition will allow excuses for the continuation of animal cruelty.

Despite how we argue our position, it is clear that there is a connection between human beings and animals. Those of us who own pets know that it is very easy to develop an emotional attachment to our pets. They become part of the family and display emotions. When you come home from a long day of work, your dog jumps on you because he's excited to see you or your cat sits on your lap so you can pet it lightly. These are displays of affection that we cannot ignore.

It is up to every individual to decide his or her stance on the issue. The important thing is that your decision doesn't haunt your conscience to your grave.

If you would like more information on this or other topic regarding your animals and their rights please contact us at http://austinveterinarianclinics.com/

Joseph Devine

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animal cruelty - Endangered Species