Animal Welfare Vs. Animal Rights

(Provided by the Responsible Dog Owners Alliance)

Animal Welfare Activists Beliefs:

They believe animals must be treated humanely and not subjected to unnecessary pain. People have the "right" to "own" animals, but should provide loving care for their lifetimes.

Animal Rights Activists Beliefs:

Animals and humans are equal. Humans have no more rights than animals. Any use of any animal is exploitation, not only must we stop using animals for food and clothing, but pet ownership must be outlawed as well

The Twelve Steps of the Animal Rights Agenda

(taken from the Animals' Agenda, Nov. 1987)

1. Abolish by law all animal research

2. Abolish by law all other types of animal testing

3. Encourage vegetarianism for ethical, ecological and health reasons.

4. Phase out intensive confinement livestock production

5. Eliminate use of herbicides, pesticides, etc.

6. Transfer animal law enforcement of Department of Agriculture to another agency

7. Eliminate commercial trapping and fur ranching

8. Prohibit hunting, trapping and fishing for sport

9. Urge US action to prevent destruction of rainforests and end international trade in wildlife and goods produced from exotic and/or endangered fauna or flora

10. Discourage any further breeding of companion animals, including pedigreed or purebred dogs and cats. Promote spay/neuter of all pets by government subsidized clinics.

11. End the use of animals in entertainment and sports, with reappraisal of zoos and aquariums.

12. Prohibit genetic manipulation of species.

Quotes from The Animal Rights Movement

Ingrid Newkirk: National Director of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

"For one thing we would no longer allow breeding. People could not create different breeds. If people had companion animals in their homes, those animals would have to be refugees from the animal shelter and the streets.... But as the surplus of cats and dogs declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship -- enjoyment at a distance."

"Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation."

Wayne Pacelle: Vice President Humane Society of the United States, former Exec. Director of Fund for Animals

"One generation and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding."

Gary Francione & Tom Regan: "A Movement's Means Creates Its Ends" Animals' Agenda

"There are fundamental and profound differences between the philsophiy of animal welfare and that of animal rights ... Thus welfare reforms, by their very nature, can only serve to retard the pace at which animal righs goals are achieved."