Ganzert 1

Lindsey Ganzert
Mr. Conrad
Expository Reading and Writing - Period 3
21 September 2015
Rights For All
The ALDF, or the Animal Legal Defense Fund, has created a very reasonable list of
rights that should be given to animals. Many of our current practices involving animals would be
considered abuse if this bill were to pass. Also, all animals deserve rights to keep them safe and
healthy, and there should not be a deciding factor for determining what animals would be
protected. Because we are finding out more and more about animals and how similar they are to
humans, they need a Bill of Rights.
Animals need a Bill of Rights because after years and years of being mistreated, they are
finally being recognized as capable of having feelings. According to new studies, animals are
capable of self-awareness and have a sense of individualism (Rifkin). Many people believe
that animals are not similar to humans therefore they do not need rights. This is continuously
being proven wrong. People need to realize that humans share this world with many creatures
deserving of our care and respect (Frazier). Because people do not have respect for animals, the
proposed Bill of Rights should be enforced to protect animals from people who do not care.
Animals are very similar to humans, and they need to be protected from ignorant people
therefore the Animal Legal Defense Funds proposed bill is completely reasonable.
If animals had a Bill of Rights, it would help stop many current practices of animal abuse.
There are millions of domestic animals raised under the most inhumane conditions and destined
for slaughter and human consumption (Rifkin). The way we treat our animals today is not

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humane. Even the animals Americans are eating are suffering during their short lives. The
proposed bill would protect them from all of this and more. All animals have a right to live
without being confined, exploited, tormented, or eaten (Frazier). Animals today experience
many forms of abuse, like lab experiments, captivity in zoos, drug testing, and physical and
emotional abuse by their owners. The proposed Bill of Rights would protect all animals from the
abuse and suffering they are experiencing now.
There should not be a deciding factor when it comes to which species deserves respect
from humans. Through numerous studies, it has been proven that nonhuman animals have
emotions and feelings (Braithwaite). If animals have the ability to feel emotions, then they
should not be treated with the disrespect they all receive now. Also, all creatures that can feel
pain should have a basic moral status (Yong). If animals are feeling the same things we do, they
should receive the same protections as us. With the overwhelming amount of proof that animals
are more like us than we know, all of them should be respected equally.
The Animal Legal Defense Funds Bill of Rights is extremely reasonable and protects
animals from abuse therefore it should be enforced. With this new surge of information regarding
animals, we should extend rights to a wide range of nonhuman animals (Yong). This proposed
bill would change the nation entirely. The products we eat would become healthier and all
animals would be happier. This new information is allowing us to expand our respect to all
animals.

Works Cited
Braithwaite, Victoria. "Hooked on a Myth." Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles] 08 Oct. 2006: n.
pag. Print.

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Frazier, Lois. "Letter to the Editor in Response to "A Change of Heart about Animals"" Letter to
Jeremy Rifkin. N.d. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.
Rifkin, Jeremy. "A Change of Heart About Animals." Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles] 01 Sept.
2003: n. pag. Print.
Yong, Ed. "Of Primates and Personhood: Will According Rights and "Dignity" to Nonhuman
Organisms Halt Research?" SEEDMAGAZINE.COM. N.p., 12 Dec. 2008. Web.