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Riley Slaight
Mr. Conrad
ERWC
22 September 2015
Do Animals Really Need Rights
Do you think that animals need rights? Or are the rules and regulations that have already
been established to protect animals good enough. This a very common question asked among
animal enthusiasts. Some people think that Rights need to established to protect animals because
the rules that are already established dont offer good enough protection. This topic is very
consivertional and seems over the top. How are we supposed to here the wants and needs of
animals, last I checked scientists havent found a way to talk with animals and find out what
their point of view on the topic. It sounds like people want rights for animals more than the
animals want it.
The idea to give animals rights seems a little far fetched since we have already
established rules against animal cruelty, Endangered species and lot more things that could affect
the wellbeing of the animals. A good example of this would be animal control. They are a group
that was established to help deal with animal issues, people who mistreat pets or do not give
them a good shelter and home. Where a Right might come in handy would be for species that
undergo inhuman experiments. Such as the great apes, such moves have already started The
Green Party in Germany is preparing two bills supporting the great apes project''(P7 Yong). The
Great apes is a great example for an animal that needs protection, They are constantly used for
experiments because they very similar to humans. Not all experiments are harmfull, but a some

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may be inhumane. The only counter to this idea is we will not have a good animal to perform
test on like the great apes who shares such similar traits as a human.
In the ''Animal Legal Defense Fund's Proposed Animal Bill of Rights''. I think Right five
is a good idea but not as a right just the law. Right V states that farmed animals have a right to a
good environment that satisfies their basic needs. This right could actually benefit the US by
making cow farmer free graze their cattle on grass not oats. When a cow free grazes it becomes
active healthy and produces good quality organic beef. But when a cow is held up in a small pin
and feed only oats they get sick infecting making low quality beef. A simple rule like that would
benefit the health of U.S. citizens health and also the cows.
In the Animal Bill of Rights I think the right II, and right V are the most beneficial to the
animals and their well being. These two rights could have a huge impact on the existence of the
great apes, and also the how farm animals are raised before slaughter. Other than these rights all
the other ones seem to be covered by Animal control or already have laws against bad actions
towards animals.
Focusing back on the topic of the great apes undergoing inhumane experiments and tests
to find out valuable info pertaining to humans because of the close resemblance. Not everyone is
fond of the great apes project lots of scientists feel that we have the right to perform test and
experiments because they can benefit the human population and health. Primatologist Frans de
Waal of Emory university claims I do think we have special obligation to the great apes as our
closest relatives, but if we give rights to apes, what would be the compelling reason not to give
monkeys, dogs, rats, and so on(P4 Young). In discussion to the quote from Frans de Waal
states that if we give the Great apes rights we are compelled to also give rats, dogs, monkeys, etc.
This opposes a huge issue when trying to give animals rights if you give one animal a right you

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are most likely to be obligated to offer the the same protections to other animals. Making this
topic a very hard one to write about let alone actually try to create a set of rights for animals.
The idea seems very over the top and hard to create and enforce the rights for animals. On the
other hand the rules and regulations already established to ensure the wellbeing of the animals
and house pets.