Twice in the past 24 hours (once here and once on Stephanie's blog, in the comments )I have come across the following statement: "[insert animal here] are safe from predators, get fed regularly, and are better off on farms than if they were in 'the wild.'" The animals on farms are created for the sole purpose of human consumption. And their lives of exploitation, torment, torture and slaughter cannot be compared to an animal's life in the wild. MORE

Meanwhile, "new speciesism" is the notion that within a paradigm where rights are included for nonhuman animals, some are more deserving of rights than others for any of a variety of reasons (e.g., Here are some of the my favorite quotes: In reality, species don't evolve toward greater humanness but toward greater adaptiveness in their ecological niche (105). No nonhuman alive today belongs to the same species as some ancestor of humans. MORE

Mars Petcare and Human-Animal Interaction. For decades, Mars Petcare – through its world-renowned WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition – has led the way in research in Human-Animal Interaction (HAI), the scientific field that studies the bond between humans and companion animals. The Power of Pets Initiative originally appeared on 4 The Love of Animals on October 1, 2010. Mars Petcare recently launched The Power of Pets! What is The Power of Pets? MORE

We believe in the importance of the human-animal bond, and our goal is preserve that bond for individuals who are at risk of losing their pets during difficult times. people helping animalsWe are in love with PAWS NY for the work they are doing. MORE

Alec Baldwin wrote a great piece for the Huffington Post about the vilification of Michael Vick, and how in a lot of ways it’s hypocritical of a lot of people – specifically, if you are a meat eater, a leather-wearer, and an animal user. MORE

Riddle me this: Why would any human animal use as a default position that nonhuman animals do not have personalities as rich, distinct, obnoxious, obsequious and varied as human animals? Have they not ever observed nonhuman animals? I'm going to try hard to have this not become a rant, but " Even Among Animals: Leaders, Followers and Schmoozers ," by Natalie Angier in yesterday's New York Times begins with "even." We're all animals, aren't we? MORE

Because when you compare two species, or rather a nonhuman animal species to the human animal, the humans almost always come out on top. The social life of dogs is much more complex, much more like human teenagers at that stage, interested in who is moving up in the pack and who is sleeping with who and that sort of thing. MORE

Notice that the author is not opposed to the use of nonhuman animals as resources for human consumption. Notice that we (including, I assume, the author) would never allow such treatment of a human being. Perhaps she would argue that there is no double standard, i.e., that there is a morally relevant difference between human animals and nonhuman animals that justifies the difference in treatment. MORE

Because I've been thinking about the evolution of my own thinking--and languaging--regarding animal rights. Both animal rights groups and animal welfare groups use "compassion" frequently. Then again, so do people who kill animals for a living. After all, they "love" the animals they kill. Nonviolence" is much more difficult to finesse if you're killing animals for a living. Why all the quotation marks? MORE

Hal Herzog’s “ Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat ” (Harper 2011), though fascinating, is ultimately depressing for vegans and animal rights activists. Well, as it turns out neither a trip to a slaughterhouse nor killing an animal yourself is powerful enough to make people go vegan. MORE

From the Humane Society's press release. Further advancing its leadership in human-animal studies, Humane Society University, an affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States, announced today that it has received a license as a higher education degree-granting institution by the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission. The HSUS is the first animal welfare organization to receive such authority and distinction. Very cool! MORE

Responsible Policies for Animals Members & Friends! Today, March 30th, at 3:00 East Coast time, Susan Soltero of Puerto Rico will interview me live on the air at WALO Radio about Responsible Policies for Animals' 10,000 Years Is Enough campaign to get our universities out of the meat industry! We humans, herbivores like ruminants, are fine with one stomach -- we don't eat the really tough stuff like grass. MORE

Yesterday, regarding being a minority within a minority , mikey commented (among other things): While I am fairly new subscriber to this blog, therefore not knowing your particular stance, I've often felt like a minority within a minority for my stance on animal birth control. When taking the issue to simplest common denominator, spaying/neutering is essentially exercising human dominance over non-human animals. MORE

More than 250 human/animal causes benefit as Surf Dog Ricochet achieves this major fundraising milestone on New Year’s Eve! dogs people helping animalsSurf Dog Ricochet celebrated New Year’s Eve by reaching a new milestone… raising ½ million dollars! MORE

It was not a whim or an attempt to get attention, as the sensationalist press will say; instead this is a response to the domination, objectification and commodification of millions of animals (mink, chinchilla, fox, raccoons, etc.) raised in the infernal fur farms, which are nothing more than concentration camps, where non-human animals are subjugated and forced to live a life of torture and imprisonment waiting for their murder, sick and crazed due to the denial of their wild natures. MORE

Dog Medicine, shares the power of the human animal bond, as Julie recalls the darkest point in her life. A year out of college, she was struggling … Continue reading → The post Dog Medicine; How My Dog Saved Me From Myself appeared first on 4 The Love of Animals. MORE

The Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) announced today it has launched a one-year national animal research education campaign. Since 2004, public support for humane animal research to advance human and animal health has fallen 10 points. As we went out and talked with the public, we realized many people truly don't understand why animals are such a critical part of the scientific process. From their press release.such BS. MORE

Or to get struck by an automobile, die slowly, of failing internal organs, and be unfit for human consumption." Let's deconstruct: What we have here is the myth that killing animals in the wild and then eating them is somehow a compassionate act. MORE

In this morning's New York Times editorial " There Is No 'Humane' Execution ," we have an imperfect yet nevertheless baby step toward acknowledgment of the HumaneMyth. But I'm dedicated to eking out the positive message here, which is that there is no way to take the life of another, no matter who they are or what they've done, and call that humane. But that doesn't mean we should work toward abolishing the death penalty first, and then move to the case of animals. MORE

There was no meaningful discussion about our inefficient use of resources (grain and water) in the feeding of animals to kill to feed people. With regard to cruelty and suffering, it's clear from the film that the human animal has been profoundly negatively affected by climate change, but there is no attention given to nonhuman animals. Did you ever wonder why people become subjects in a documentary when they know that they're going to look like fools? MORE

Sometimes being an animal rights advocate is emotionally exhausting. Last night I was watching Animal Planet, as I often do, and the show was about polar bears in the wild. What immediately hit me after getting so emotional about this is how nature is kind in comparison to the horrible cruelties humans impose on non-human animals, especially “food&# animals. Chickens, turkeys, pigs and other farmed animals get nothing of the sort. MORE

15): We are glad to see an article describing the intensive confinement of egg-laying chickens, but we disagree when it says that animal advocates and consumers are “driving big changes” in the treatment of chickens. Like humans, animals have a right to enjoy life. To the Editor: Re “ A Hen’s Space to Roost ” (Week in Review, Aug. MORE

Dear Ma'am, There is nothing wrong with bestiality unless the animal is being bound or forced, in relation to bondage, where the animal can not bite or flee. Now, mind you there are people who are actually mentally ill in the sense they 'can't get it up' without thinking of their mate as a fantasized non-human animal, I should mention this also includes mythological animals. This occurs in all animal breeders: bovine, horses, dogs, cats, pigs, and other animals. MORE

" Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals ," By Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce, is the most recent (for me) book that debunks myths about the differences between human and nonhuman animals. MORE

Alternatively, we may say that respect for persons overflows to the human body, which forms the visible aspect of the bulk of the persons with whom we are acquainted, and which persists when the person ceases to exist in death. Man is not only a rational being, but also an animal. MORE

I did go to Babies-R-Us for some odds and ends and here's the Animal Person-related experience. Animals are all over the place at Babies-R-Us. As long as the animals aren't on a farm or otherwise being used by humans, I love the idea of animals in the lives of babies. MORE

I was browsing for some quotes when I came across this group - The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA). They had a page with quotes from animal rights activists, but as I was reading, I noticed that they were very unfavorable quotes from such activists as Wayne Pacelle and Ingrid Newkirk. The membership roster of NAIA includes some of America's most respected animal professionals, advocates and enthusiasts. MORE

Does my proposal as to what makes killing another human being generally a major moral wrong in any way help us with deciding what, if anything, is wrong with killing non-human animals and foetuses? MORE

No doubt going after the coveted football loving animal abuser fan base. Hannah Tostensen, director of the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, and Lisa Norton, president of Citizens for Humane Animal Treatment in Brunswick, complained to Bealls' corporate office in Bradenton, Fla., Update- OK,I'm being unfair about the supporting animal abuse part. Who would be dumb enough to still be selling Vick jerseys? Why that would be Bealls Outlet Stores. MORE

The American Bar Association has an animal law committee. Animal law is broader than laws pertaining to animals. The status of animals in our legal system is in flux and attorneys are discovering creative and interesting ways to use legal arguments in the face of increasingly complex scenarios. Our clients are legally impacted by a vast array of human/animal interactions. Tags: animal law Here's the link. From the webpage. MORE

It is a great example of how loving and selfless non-human animals can be. The whole idea that so many people hold that says somehow humans have a monopoly on emotions kind of gets tossed out the window when you see something like this. Tags: Uncategorized companion animals compassion dogs videos This video just melts my heart. MORE

This is a guest post from Cherie, and I think that it is something everyone who rescues animals needs to read. “As an animal welfare worker (professionally or as a volunteer), you know what it feels like when you make a positive difference in the life of an animal. More than likely, when you decided to spend your time with animals, you did so because of the strong urge to make a difference, follow your heart and to do what you were called to do. MORE

The world is facing a growing threat from new diseases that are jumping the human-animal species barrier as a result of environmental disruption, global warming and the progressive urbanisation of the planet, scientists have warned. At least 45 diseases that have passed from animals to humans have been reported to UN agencies in the last two decades, with the number expected to escalate in the coming years. And people actually believe we've conquered nature? MORE

Since a number of "Animal Ethics" readers reside in the northern Illinois area, I thought I would call your attention to an exciting lecture that is taking place on Northern Illinois University's campus. She specializes in Environmental Ethics, Human-Animal Ethics, and Moral Psychology. Her coming Earth Day lecture couldn't be more timely in light of our increasing awareness of global warming and other human-induced negative impacts on the environment. MORE