>

Animal Rights: Facts and Issues

The Legal Landscape

In the United States, the Animal Welfare Act has cited every circus that uses animals for violations. Additionally, the California Orca Protection Act prohibits keeping orcas in captivity.

Defining Animal Rights

Animal rights refer to the moral or legal entitlements attributed to nonhuman animals. These rights are often based on the cognitive, emotional, and social complexities of animals, as well as their capacity for physical and psychological experience.

The Moral Argument

Animal rights advocates argue that animals have moral worth independent of their utility to humans. They believe that animals' basic interests, such as avoiding pain and suffering, should be respected.

The Movement

The animal rights movement seeks to end the exploitation and mistreatment of animals. Advocates believe that non-human animals should be free to live as they wish without interference or harm.