how can we fight for animal rights and educate others about how terrible and a serious issue it is?

Answer 1

1. Carefully define your terms. What rights do animals have and how did they earn them? Rights imply responsibilities- what responsibilities do animals have?

2. Consider the terminology. 'Animal rights' implies a ban on all animal testing, stopping all pet keeping, closing all zoos, total vegetarianism, no meat or leather products, etc. This is pretty extreme for most people- especially pet lovers like on this board. Other terms, like 'humane treatment' are better accepted.

3. Think the stance through. What is the logic to each part? Why should we not eat meat? Why should animals deserve protections not afforded to all humans? Is all animal testing equally in-humane?

Your response to people asking questions should be based on something real and meaningful. How do *I* personally benefit from enforcing animal rights? As long as there is not good answer to this question, only a few people will fully sign on.

4. Choose your fights. Instead of a total ban on pets, how about laws that restrict exotic and wild-caught pets and then enforce proper care? Instead of a ban on meat, how about laws that enforce clean, safe, and humane conditions at packing plants? 'Deputized' and trained volunteer inspectors for conditions at puppy mills, circuses, fur farms, etc. that can document and report violations of standards of care?

If we whittle away at the profit motives and edges of the issues, we can both win some important victories, raise awareness, and build a support base.

5. Distance the issue from the crazy people. Issues being championed by crazy people do not win the hearts and minds of the population- especially if the issue goes against the common social practices.

Throwing blood on furs, publicity stunts, torching fast food places, releasing lab animals to die, protesting what look like perfectly good and appreciated businesses, angry screaming, extremeist rhetoric, etc. does not win friends and gain influence.

PETA is an example. On one hand they champion animal rights, on the other, they kill animals. On one hand, they are against animal-based medicine. on the other, several key members USE animal-based medicines. They support terroristic actions and so forth. With groups like that in the mix, the average American will ignore them until they get too annoying, then will try to shut them down.



Change happens slowly. All of the ducks need to be in a row. When all civil and social changes occured, they were based on a foundation that was laid over time- things were ready for the change.

We are not ready for a total 'Animal Rights' position in the US. For it to take place, you will need to invest in the long haul, getting society ready step by annoyingly small step for the idea to start really catching hold.

Good luck!

Answer 2

EDUCATE instead of using twisted information designed to shock. Stop using lies. Know facts about what you're talking about. The tactics of animal rights people make it a serious issue because it crosses the line to violence too many times. That is "justified" but it big time turns people off. Instead of listening to the good of the animal it comes across animal rights is a movement for wacko vegans who are less interested in animals than control of everyone who has one.

Having seen too many cases of lives ruined by animal rights I speak just as actively against it. It's not about *equal* rights for animals..it's about preferred rights. If you look at it another way - most already have food, water, medical care, little work etc they have it better than most people.
The genuine cruelty too often goes unpunished while the "cruelty" that can be twisted to generate donations and publicity is stressed.
Example...while animal rights people were protesting racing a herd of horses were starving to death nearby. When it came time to evacuate the survivors and some on death's door NO animal rights people were there to help - protesting horses that are fed, have medical care, daily grooming and much more on a daily basis while working less than an hour a day - that is more important than a herd of horses starved to death. To most people that makes NO SENSE. The priorities simply don't wash.

Answer 3

Hi!
There are several organizations out there. There is P.E.T.A. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), there is the Humane Society, there is the Humane Society of the United States (different from the Humane Society), and there is the A.S.P.C.A. (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). In addition, you could get involved at your local animal shelter by offering to be a volunteer. Try offering something like bringing the dogs toys or washable blankets or something like that. You can also offer to foster animals if you are so inclined. On the web, there is a site called Hugs for Homeless Animals. They need things all the time. One of the areas of their website is a page called Sunggles Project. This page consists of directions on how to knit, crochet, sew, or quilt small, medium, or large blankets. To help you out so that you will know where to send the blankets, there is a nationwide list of animal shelters. They are not all listed by any means but there are a good many shelters there. Some of them have a red star by their name. This means that the Snuggles (pet blankets) are accepted there. However, you are invited to contact the others and ask them if they'd like some too or you might contact them and tell them that you would like to help their animals--is there anything the animals need like toys, blankets, or anything like that. They will tell you. Just type "Hugs for Homeless Animals" in the search box of Yahoo or whatever search engine that you use. You will get a list of sites back and in that list, you should find several references to Hugs for Homeless Animals. I am not sure of the web address or I would post it, but you can't go wrong with the site name. Oh, by the way, on these blankets if you make any they give you a receipt for your taxes (tax credit) so I thought that you should know.

Answer 4

Contact your local humane society and see what they are doing. Also, your local government probably has a time set up where the public can say stuff in front of the government officials. That would be the perfect forum to express your concern over the plight of abused animals, etc. I have made speeches at conventions, spoke to politicians, written letters, appeared at court hearings, that kind of thing. Every little bit of information you can get out to people is helpful. I'm very happy to see that there are other people out there who think that animal abuse is a disgusting and serious issue.

Answer 5

I wish i knew the answer to this question. I try to do the best i can, but things are so cruel in this world. Now a days its hard to fight for human rights as well. There are strict laws against animal abuse, but yet our congress is trying to take the wild horses from nevada and sell them for 300.00 a head to agents that is going to do what with them. Most of them will go to slaughter. Go to the aspca website and find help save the sheldon horses. they need all the people they can to speak up. If you are for animal rights this will only take a few minutes of your time. Sign up for their newsletters and you can have differant oppurtunities to try and make a differance.

Answer 6

contact the humane society volunteer try looking on the animal planet or akc websites for suggestions or advertise in the paper maybe on the radio or you could make an xanga site and link it to everyone you know in a chain mail and tell them to pass it on there are ways but i am afraid it will still happen no matter what
here are some links
gotpets and xanga are to make a website

Answer 7

Oh please DO educate people about animals because then they'll know the animal rights groups are heavly populated with extreamists who rely on peoples ingurance to get them behind false causes created by their agenda- and miss the real problems altogher.

Answer 8

Just PLESE DON'T join PETA! They don't want anyone to have pets at all and they perform terrorist acts. You should be for animal welfare not animal rights! Animal welfare means animals are treated correctly, animal right means that animals should be completely equal to people.

Answer 9

We cant even get human rights...so where does that leave the animals?

Answer 10

i wish i knew cause i think that they are treatin the animals very bad and that we should do something. but other people are just gay and dont care. now if it were them then they would care. im sorry i dont have n e thing but thats somthing that people should stand up for.