Last year Leona Helmsley left $12 million to her dog, Trouble, setting off a heated courtroom battle. California just passed a proposition that says farm animals must be humanely caged. The legal line between humans and animals is blurring further everyday. When it comes to "animal rights," should your cocker spaniel be entitled to the same freedoms and protections as your kid?
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Animals Should Receive Equal Moral Consideration
- From Bob Torres
By Bob Torres - Author
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Moral Rights
Animals already have a certain amount of moral rights.
- Tanya Tye
January 25, 2009 7:55PM
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Animal Feelings VS. Human Feelings
Bob Torres brings up a good point about animals “seek[ing] out comfort, avoid[ing] pain, and desir[ing] companionship.” Most animals are just as social as humans are. They yearn for attention as children do; however, they are not children. There is a wall separating a human from an animal. Most people do not treat children as though they were animals. I am not saying that because animals are not human we should not treat them with respect or inflict intentional pain, but I am saying that we do not need to stop eating “livestock” and testing on animals because they may feel “uncomfortable” with the idea.
- Tanya Tye
February 12, 2009 8:01PM
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Morals
I think many people are too insensitive towards animals. People mistreat, brutally torture, and kill animals every day. Simply going on the PETA website would confirm this. But even in school I've heard stories about horrible things being done to animals. A lot of times, it makes me feel sick to my stomach knowing that people could be so cruel because animals are innocent and have little defense against a human wishing to hurt them.
I do not believe that animals should have the exact same rights as people. I think leaving huge amounts of money to your dog when you die is a bit ridiculous. But, they should be given equal moral consideration. When it comes to animals, I think in many situations people should live by the rule that we were taught at a young age: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated." Basically, if you would not abuse or kill a human, then you should not do it to an innocent animal.
- Emar
February 22, 2009 6:44PM
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