2. Do Animals Have a Right to Liberty?

So Do Animals Really Have Rights?

What I Think

If someone was to ask most people if they thought animal had rights, I am sure that most people would respond... "YES!". The problem lies with WHAT RIGHTS DO ANIMALS HAVE?. Before I was more aware of the rights animals have (and do not have), I was unaware of the extent of how rights are classified in the animal world. 

When I think about woman's rights or the rights of blacks in America, what I see is an unjust system who limit their rights because they are considered a minority. After tonights class, I was able to understand how animals rights and the rights of minorities are connected. Human rights have always been broken into sections...throughout time you have had mens rights, the rights of men who own land, black men rights, black woman rights, white woman's rights, black/minority woman's rights, and I could truly go on on how much human rights have been broken up into categories. Throughout time as a society, we have come to realize that there should be no separation between rights. HUMAN RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS...many would argue that we still continue to divide these rights into categories (raises hand!). 

Animals are more than a barcode at a grocery store or a puppy store

(No Gods No Maters)

Looking at animals rights and especially after reading the article by James Rachels, Do Animals Have a Right to Liberty? I would argue that we also categorize animals rights by the value we give them. As was stated in the article, some would argue that non-human animals have no rights as they are not sorts of being that can have rights. So because an animal is not fury and cuddly and sleeps in our bed, it does not have rights? Again, like discussed in the article, it is like saying that because someone is not white they are not worthy of the same rights. So why is it that we have better rights for a dog or cat but a dairy animal who is capable of feeling the same pain and giving the same love, than a domesticated pet is granted less protection by law?

I look at my dog for example, he has many rights that other animals do not have. If I was to leave him abandoned or provide inadequate care, I would be held accountable. If he wants he goes in my bedroom, living room or kitchen. Yes many would argue that I confine my dog by keeping him in my house but I can honestly say that I do my best to give him the best of both worlds. 

When he was a pup, his mother nursed him and did all she could to take care of her newborn pup. We discussed in class that by Locke's definition, those who are able to provide for their families should have all access to rights and liberty. So why is a mother in a puppy mill, or a mother on a dairy farm, not given the same rights as a human mother to freely provide for their young? Why are dairy cows locked away in small pens instead of given the freedom to take care of their calfs?

Personally, this is a sore subject for me. As I believe that all animals should be given the "same" rights and freedoms to liberty. Do we have the right to confine a cow in horrible conditions and deny it rights because we see ourselves as more powerful than them?....no. As long as animals continue to be seem as a profit and not as beings they will always be denied their liberty and their right to happiness. As long as big corporations continue to use their money and power to dictate what animal rights should look like there will be no equal rights or liberty to all animals...always creating a divide. 

This article by the Onion shows how truly divided people are on the subject...

http://www.theonion.com/articles/do-you-believe-animals-should-have-the-same-rights,36364/