| Animal Rights in 5 points In common speciesist language, the term "animals" is understood as non-human animals. Biologically speaking, humans are animals too, and these 5 animal rights points apply to both human and non-human animals. 1. Animals have the right to be treated as individuals, and not just as members of a species. All individual animals are sentient, and experience pleasure and pain individually. 2. Animals have the right to life unless their killing is absolutely necessary, like in cases of self-defence, or if their death would be a relief from a lifetime of unbearable and unending suffering. In the case of "mercy killing", the death should be as painless and instant as possible. 3. Animals have the right to raise their own offspring, unless in exceptional cases where in doing so, the offspring is harmed. 4. Animals have the right to live in conditions which are of benefit to them and satisfy their natural needs, which include freedom, adequate space and environment and natural bonds with other members of their own species. 5. Animals have the right to freedom from any form of exploitation, be it for economic, scientific, culinary or entertainment reasons. |
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