Can anyone help to explain to me why Animals have rights?

Answer 1

Because the law grants them rights -- all rights are a matter of what the law allows and prohibits.

The law -- made by humans -- says that certain actions towards animals are prohibited -- thus, animals have rights.

From a religious (as opposed to legal) perspective -- the answer is very different, but in the same direction. Many religions grant special protections to animals -- for example, under Hebrew law, it is prohibited to cause an animal to suffer when killing it for food -- thus, the rules for kosher butchery which require the animal be killed quickly, so it doesn't suffer.

Answer 2

It's a pretty loose term- for example I'll bet if you really got to talking with a cow, she'd opt out of the slaughterhouse. But, I really like steak, so I'm not too fussed about her rights in that situation.

On the otherhand, there are psychopaths among us who enjoy torturing animals for no other purpose, and that's just wrong. There's no reason to cause unnecessary suffering. It's sad that there's enough of these sick people in the world that we had to make laws about it, but it's true.

Answer 3

Our country was founded on certain unalienable rights-those granted by our creator. In order to have an ordered society, we must acknowledge those rights and protect them for those in society who cannot. If we do not do that, we have chaos. For instance, if we do not protect property rights for those who cannot defend themselves we have no system of justice.

Similarly, natural law requires us to have a respect for the lives of other creatures. Whether this amounts to "animal rights" or not is a semantic argument. We cannot just kill all other creatures without regard for the consequences. We would not survive if we did that.

Answer 4

Animals don't have "rights" as you and I know it. But rather, there are certain laws, rules and regulations related to the proper care, feeding, and protection from cruelty to animals. These apply to animals that ultimately will be consumed as a manner to protect the population and to pets. Without these laws, imagine the atrocities that would be committed against animals.

Answer 5

Animals don't have "rights." They can't vote. They can't hold property. They don't pay taxes. They can't inherit money (although you can set up a trust for the care of the animal for its life)
(I'm reminded of the scene in the Big Lebowski where the dog comes to the bowling alley-- "I'm not buying it a f--in beer, I'm not renting it shoes; he's not taking your f--in turn, dude.")

What we have are statutes that protect animals from neglect or abuse. We recognize that animals are aware of their surroundings and do feel pain... and when we take animals in to our care, we owe duties not to neglect or abuse them. Thus, we have established penalities for such abuse. These statutes may be called "animal rights" statutes, but they're not "rights" really.

Answer 6

It isn't so much that animals have rights as it is people do not have the right to mistreat them. They have the right to hunt under certain guidelines but not indicriminately shoot animals because they want to. They have the right to raise cattle to kill and eat but not to starve them to death. They have the right to own pets and the obligation to give them proper care. The real issue is keeping people under control more than it is giving animals a kind of human status. There is a fine line there somewhere.

Answer 7

Just because animals don't have "language", doesn't mean that they have no rights. Therefore laws are written to speak for the voiceless. Science is prooving they are more intelligent than the meat packing companies would like to have you believe, they make a profit off of them.

Pets Bill of Rights

0. We have the right to be full members of your family. We thrive on social interaction, praise, and love.

0. We have the right to stimulation. We need new games, new toys, new experiences, and new smells to be happy.

0. We have the right to regular exercise. Without it, we could become hyper, sluggish...or fat.

0. We have the right to have fun. We enjoy acting like clowns now and then; don't expect us to be predictable all the time.

0. We have the right to quality health care. Please stay good friends with our vet!

0. We have the right to a good diet. Like some people, we don't know what's best for us. We depend on you.

0. We have the right not to be rejected because of your expectations that we be great show dogs or show cats, watchdogs, hunters, or baby-sitters.

0. We have the right to receive proper training. Otherwise, our good relationship could be marred by confusion and strife - and we could become dangerous to ourselves and others.

0. We have the right to guidance and correction based on understanding and compassion, rather than abuse.

0. We have the right to live with dignity...and to die with dignity when the time comes.

0. ~ Author Unknown ~

Answer 8

It is geared toward a human thing. If one is able to abuse animals for no real reason... not for food and such it implies much.

It implies no sense of caring if one tortures animals. It means that a person, if they can not make that jump in thinking are probably not going to going to treat a spouse or children well. It implies uneducated and stunted.

Answer 9

How is it that people who fight for justice are criticized for doing so? Do we all not desire freedom? Do we not desire love and a life free from unnecessary cruelty and pain? Of course we do. Nonhuman animals deserve those same basic rights and freedoms. !!!!!

We, as humans, sadly justify our domination and abuse of animals because we are capable of doing so. Simply having the ability to do something does not make it right. I believe that we should all strive to live a life of compassion. Adopting a vegan lifestyle is the best way to begin helping our dear animal friends, ourselves and our environment. No one can make you choose compassion. You must find that within yourselves.

Animals have feelings, too!
Enough said!

Answer 10

Animals have rights because people believe that they have rights. One can argue whether animals should have rights, but one cannot deny that animal rights are enforced by people.