Animal rights are beliefs that animals should be free from hunting, medical research, and industrialized farming. Despite popular belief, the resources animals are used for are not evil. In fact, the use of animals in medical research has been a main contributor to life saving cures and treatments. Although pets can make their way into the family, what happens to the other animals? Most people find animal testing, hunting, and industrialized farming to be inhumane, but should the world have to struggle to find new ways to support its people just so an organism without the same capabilities as humans be free to roam as they please? Additionally, there is a difference between wanting animals to have rights and being concerned about the welfare of animals. When thinking of the animal kingdom it is important to keep in mind the benefits they bring to the modern era, for example, medical research and food. Even though animal rights and suffrage has been a problem for hundreds of years the spark of modern interest in the state of animal rights seemed to ignite with Australian philosopher, Peter Singer. Regardless of scientific evidence that humans share a lot of qualities with that of a chimp and close to other animals, there is a line to be drawn at intellectual levels. Animals can be trained to act as humans, but that does not mean they should be treated as equals. Damon Linker’s article in The Week titled, “No, Animals Don’t Have Rights,” discusses the, perhaps, “intellectual line.” Linker refers to one of his past essays and states, “…to demonstrate that it possesses inviolable rights, a chimp or bonobo would need to do nothing less than ‘stand up and, led by a love of justice and a sense of self-worth, insist that the world recognize and respect its dignity.’ That 's what it would take to prove that the members of an animal species possess the same intrinsic moral worth as human beings” (Linker 1). Linker challenges his fellow companions and animal rights activists by describing the only way he feels animals can prove they deserve rights similar to those of a human. On the other hand, there have been actions taken to help animals and prevent them from inhumane treatment. The first law passed in the United States in favor of animal rights was in 1873. When transporting animals on trains there were long hours where those animals did not see sunlight or have much to eat. The “28 Hour Law” made it mandatory for every 28 hours of transport the trains would stop, let the animals off to eat, drink, and rest, this would be for five hours. (Clemmitt 14). Passing this law would give animals the ability to get fresh air and refresh themselves from a long journey and prepare for another. Also in Clemmitt’s article “Animal Rights” she says, “In 1985, Congress passed amendments to the Animal Welfare Act requiring that labs doing animal research improve housing of cats, provide regular exercise for dogs and consider the psychological well-being of primates like monkeys, by allowing group-living animals to be housed together and providing mental stimulation like toys and chances to forage for their food” (16). These examples show the growth of animal rights in America. There is a fine line that splits animal rights and animal welfare. As stated earlier, animal rights are the belief that animals should be free from hunting, medical research, and industrialized farming. On the other hand, animal welfare takes in perspective the physical and mental needs of an animal. This ensures the protection of
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When animals are used in medical research, it is great way to uncover the mysteries and find treatments or even cures for various diseases. For example, in Shany Sun’s Young Scientists Journal article, “The Truth Behind Animal Testing,” the author says, “…medical advancements that have been discovered through animal testing include penicillin, blood transfusions, insulin (that controls blood sugar levels of diabetics), kidney transplants, and vaccines for polio and meningitis” (Sun 1). This example shows just how beneficial animal testing in medical research can be. These medical advancements would not have been available for years if animal testing had not
When animals are used in medical research, it is great way to uncover the mysteries and find treatments or even cures for various diseases. For example, in Shany Sun’s Young Scientists Journal article, “The Truth Behind Animal Testing,” the author says, “…medical advancements that have been discovered through animal testing include penicillin, blood transfusions, insulin (that controls blood sugar levels of diabetics), kidney transplants, and vaccines for polio and meningitis” (Sun 1). This example shows just how beneficial animal testing in medical research can be. These medical advancements would not have been available for years if animal testing had not