Abstract
Do animals have rights? Almost everyone believes in animal rights, at least in some minimal sense; the real question is what that phrase actually means. By exploring that question, it is possible to give a clear sense of the lay of the land - to show the range of possible positions, and to explore what issues, of theory or fact, separate reasonable people. On reflection, the spotlight should be placed squarely on the issue of suffering and well-being. This position requires rejection of some of the most radical claims by animal rights advocates, especially those that stress the autonomy of animals, or that object to any human control and use of animals. But this position has radical implications of its own. It strongly suggests, for example, that there should be extensive regulation of the use of animals in entertainment, in scientific experiments, and in agriculture. It also suggests that there is a strong argument, in principle, for bans on many current uses of animals.
Highlights
There are nearly sixty million domestic dogs in the United States, owned by over thirty-six million households
Do animals have rights? Almost everyone believes in animal rights, at least in some minimal sense; the real question is what that phrase means
The first is to reduce the intensity of the debate by demonstrating that almost everyone believes in animal rights, at least in some minimal sense; the real question is what that phrase means
Summary
If we understand “rights” to be legal protection against harm, many animals already do have rights, and the idea of animal rights is not at all controversial. As recognized by state law, are sharply limited, and for two major reasons.[18] First, enforcement can occur only through public prosecution. The anticruelty provisions of state law contain extraordinarily large exceptions. They do not ban hunting, and generally they do not regulate hunting in a way that is designed to protect animals against suffering. About ten billion animals are killed for food annually in the United States; twenty-four million chickens and some 323,000 pigs are slaughtered every day.[20] The cruel and abusive practices generally involved in contemporary farming are largely unregulated at the state level.[21] Because the overwhelming majority of animals are produced and used for food, the coverage of anticruelty laws is very narrow
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