Join The Animal Rights Movement
Historically, animals have been treated as mere “things” and property in the law. They are treated like inanimate objects rather than living beings[i]. Many times, even unknowingly, the society we live in teaches humans to believe that we are better than all other species on this planet, this is called speciesism[ii]. We are instilled with a belief that we are entitled to use and exploit animals as we wish, despite the negative impacts this exploitation has on animals and the world we inhabit. Fortunately, as public awareness increases through the Animal Rights Movement, we can change society’s views and values so this exploitation and view that humans are better than all other species, solely because they were born human, is not no longer accepted and taught. The tides are already beginning to change as public awareness increases regarding the daily injustices happening to animals and the lack of holding wrongdoers accountable.
During the last century, animals’ status in the law has seen great advancements. These advancements have led to some improvements in standards set to prevent animal abuse and impose more accountability towards those who neglect or abuse animals. While these advancements are promising, there is still a long road ahead of us to help the millions of animals who continue to suffer in our consumer driven world. The Animal Legal Defense Fund said it perfectly by stating that “[t]he core purpose of our system of laws is to protect the vulnerable from exploitation and to ensure fairness. Animals deserve a legal status that reflects the kinds of beings they are-individuals with their own desires and lives, who have the capacity for pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow, fear and contentment.[iii]” The ultimate goal is to have animals’ legal status elevated so more stringent guidelines can be set regarding their care and so animals’ maltreatment is no longer acceptable industry standards and people can be held strictly accountable for animals’ maltreatment. However, because we likely have a long way to go before society fully accepts this sentient classification, many want to know what steps they can take now to help the Animal Rights Movement. Through bringing awareness and educating yourself and those around you about the plight animals face in our world, through advocating on animals’ behalf, veganism, activism and conscientious spending habits, individuals can easily join the Animal Rights Movement and make a big difference. Activism is the policy of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change. Advocacy is the public support or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. Although activism and advocacy are different, both avenues are vital to strengthening and advance the Animal Rights Movement.
It is easy to become an Animal Activits. You can look up animal rights marches in your area or look to events that you can travel to. Showing support at marches and other events that spread awareness about animals suffering under our current societal constructs shows the public that there are large number of people who care about animal rights and can persuade others to join the cause as well. At first, activism in the form of attending marches or participating in public protests can feel uncomfortable but all forms of participation helps to bring about change. Even if at first you are not comfortable participating in public displays, just showing support by attending events is extremely beneficial. And who knows, you may find yourself one day being the individual grabbing the megaphone and leading the chants at marches! Online activism is also a great way to become involved and through sharing articles or blogs on activism or writing your own article, a large audience can be easily reached. Some resources and organization you can turn to if you want to become more involved in activism is the Animal Save Movement: https://thesavemovement.org/list-of-save-groups/, Animal Rebellion: ttp://www.animalrebellion.org/, Challenge 22: https://db.challenge22.com/mentor-application-form, Nation Rising: https://nationrising.ca/, and PETA: www.peta.org/actionteam. Animal Rights Events being held in Toronto are also listed at https://animalrightstoronto.com/events/?fbclid=IwAR3M3EjpzRBbATiCRolSE–Jq5nkzyYidoZrZPfK9O7AdVg1_J_UzHNn_Rs.
A great place to start to join the Animal Rights Movement is to use the skills you have to aid the movement. Suzana Gartner is a great example of both an animal advocate and an animal activist. Ms. Gartner uses her finely tuned legal skills to aid and grow the Animal Rights Movement. Ms. Gartner advanced a new model for animal advocacy. The Acceptable Companion Animal Philosophy (ACAP) is the recognition that animals are sentient beings and the need for proactive, collaborative efforts to improve the legal system for animals[iv]. Ms. Gartner uses her skills, knowledge and passion for animal law to speak publicly about animal law issues. She is also the past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Animal Law Section and serves on the board of advisors for Animal Justice which is Canada’s largest animal charity. Ms. Gartner is paving the way for the Animal Rights Movement. In 2014 she launched Gartner & Associates Animal Law which is Canadas first animal law firm and mediation practice in Canada. Ms. Gartner also attends protests to support animals’ rights and to change current policy which are not serving animals’ best interests. Recently for example Ms. Gartner attended the commercial dog sledding industry protest and spoke up against and brought awareness to the inhumane conditions these dogs are forced to work under. Ms. Gartner is an outstanding example of an animal rights advocate and activist. Whatever skill set you personally possess; you can use it to help the Animal Rights Movement. For example, if you are a teacher, you can incorporate animal rights and compassion for animals in the classroom, if you’re a landscaper you can volunteer your services at animal shelters to improve their grounds, simply volunteering your time and learning about the Animal Rights Movement and spreading the message is a great way to help. The more that public awareness increases regarding these issues, the faster change will occur.
It’s understandable that when looking at the various, widespread and unique instances of abuse and neglect animals face, the problem can become overwhelming. It’s easy to fall in the mistaken mindset that the problem facing animals’ is too large and one person cannot make a difference, so why try. However, one individual taking steps towards protecting and spreading awareness, whether through activism, advocacy or volunteering their time and/or resources, creates a rippling effect throughout society. One individuals’ effort can make a huge difference in the Animal Rights Movement. As Dr. Seuss said in his famous book, and now movie, the Lorax, “[u]nless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” So, let’s get into more of what you can do to help!
Education
Animals of all species unfortunately face unique and substantial hardships. They are made into mere commodities for people to profit from. If we, educate ourselves about animals’ capacity for complex feelings and emotions and the huge adverse impact industries that exploit animals have, I believe we as a society would call for immediate and drastic changes. This is especially true when the knowledge of the negative effects on animals is coupled with the knowledge of the negative affects such industries have on human health and the environmental. Knowledge is power and when the public is armed with the unfortunate facts facing animals, human health and the climate, change could be faster effectuated. Besides the resources listed in this article, there are numerous documentaries, online resources, books, and podcasts individuals can turn to in order to learn about how animals are negatively treated in our society. Many sanctuaries also now have social media platforms. Following these sanctuaries and spreading the animals individual stories and the sanctuaries values and mission gets information out to more people and helps people see these animals as individuals and not just commodities. A few of my personal favorite organizations to follow on social media platforms such as Instagram are Farm Sanctuary, “boochaces” from Rancho Relaxo, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, Kittenxlady, Animal Haven, North Shore Animal League, and The Animal Legal Defense Fund. I share the animals’ stories from these organization with friends and family to spread awareness about the unique individuality of each animal and the unfortunate realities many of them were forced the endure before rescue.
Farm Animals
Regarding factory farming, many people do not know just how bad conditions are for the animals born and raised for slaughter. Learning and spreading awareness to the grave abuses and inhumane treatment factory farm animals endure can influence others to either consume less factory farmed products or to stop consuming such animal products completely. A sanctuary for farm animals called Farm Sanctuary has great educational resources on their website which teaches about the animals affected by factory farming including chickens, pigs, cows, turkeys, sheep and goats. Farm Sanctuary also teaches about the affect factory farming has on the environment. If you are a teacher, Farm Sanctuary even has a curriculum which can be used in classrooms to teach children about factory farming[v].
Many know that animals are raised and killed to eat however they are not educated about the animals’ horrible existence before they are slaughtered. Just one example of the horrors that result from the factory farm industry is the poor existence cows are forced to endure until they are slaughtered. Many don’t know that research has found that “cows and other farm animals definitely have feelings and emotions. It is even suspected that cows have the capacity to worry about the future[vi].” Many aren’t aware that cows are constantly impregnated and then have their babies are torn from them almost immediately following birth. Cows are emotionally complex, social animals who develop close relationships with other animals[vii]. Mother cows love their babies; they would stay with them their entire lives if they could. The bond between cows and their calf remains long after the calf becomes an adult. Naturally, cows and their babies remain together as grazing partners for years[viii]. When separate from family, friends and even human companions, cows grieve the loss. What many farmers know, but most consumers of diary do not, is that mother cows continue to call frantically for their babies for days after their calves have been taken from them. If the mother and calf have been separated by a fence, the mother will wait by the fence through rain and extreme heat, forgoing meals and water waiting for her baby. Some mothers will even break through fences and wander for miles searching for babies sold at auctions[ix].
Baby calves ripped from their mothers can be seen trying to suckle on anything, trying to comfort themselves. After seeing and understanding that this is the harsh reality of the dairy and meat industry, most would say that this is not the way cows should be forced to live and that it is inhumane and changes need to be implemented, but the truths of the dairy industry are hidden from most.
Another myth that many people believe, and that society had taught us is true, is that humans need animal products to lead a healthy life. We have been taught from a young age for example that cow’s milk is necessary for growth and strength, especially in children. However, this is just not the case. Cow’s milk is designed by nature to nurture a calf from 85 pounds at birth to a full-grown cow weighing in at a whoomphing 1,500 pounds or more. Humans are the only animals to routinely consume the mammary gland secretions of another species[x]. Numerous studies have shed light on the negative health effects of dairy consumption on humans. Regular dairy consumption leads to higher rates on cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease[xi]. But again, much of this information is not known by the general public. Another myth is that individuals who consume a plant-based diet lack nutrients and are weaker than those who consume animal products. The Netflix documentary “The Game Changers” examines the effects of a plant-based diet on top athletes and details how a plant-based diet enables these exceptional athletes to perform better[xii].
The negative affects factory farming has on cows is just one example of animals suffering under our currently imposed societal normality. Many people understand that their family pets, like dogs and cats, are capable of experiencing complex emotions like sadness, happiness, love and fear. However, many don’t understand that cows, pigs and chickens experience those same emotions. We as a society draw an arbitrary line between our family dog and the cow we have for dinner. However, that cow feels love, happiness, and excitement. Unfortunately, under our current social construct, that cow only experiences a lifetime of pain, hurt, fear and suffering before it is ultimately slaughtered at a far too young age.
Companion Animals
In the United States shelters alone, around 4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year[xiii]. Every time a dog or cat is brought from a pet store or commercial breeder, a home is taken away from an animal that desperately needs it. Buying from pet stores funds puppy mills. Puppy mills are inhuman high-volume dog breeding facilities that churns out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers. Puppy mills commonly sell through internet sale, online classified ads, flea markets and pet stores[xiv]. The dogs in puppy mills spend their entire lives in cramped cages with little to no personal attention and when the dogs are no longer profitable, they are abandoned or killed[xv]. If you feel you must buy a dog from a breeder, make sure you are choosing an ethical breeder. Ethical breeders will invite you to their house, will let your meet the parents of the puppy and will genuinely care for the animals under their care. If a breeder is an ethical breeder, once the animals can no longer produce offspring, the dogs are still cared for and loved. When considering adding a new addition to your home, the best thing you can do for the Animal rights movement is to adopt an animal that needs a home from a shelter or rescue organization.
Horse racing is another inhuman activity. Humans use whips and electric prods to force horses to sprint at speeds so fast they often sustain injuries including hemorrhages from the lungs[xvi]. Every week an average of 24 horses experience fatal breakdowns and injuries at racetracks in the United States[xvii]. This does not include the horses that are discarded by the racing industry when they are no longer profitable. Horses are seen as profitable commodities, their wants, needs and personal health are not taken into account. What many don’t know is when horses are no longer wanted or no longer making their owners a profit, many are discarded and sent to slaughter.
Wildlife Animals
Each year, humans encroach more on wild animals’ homes. Areas like breeding grounds, nesting grounds and hunting grounds that have been used by generations after generations of animals are suddenly taken away when humans decide to develop the land. When animals try to find food, water or a place to raise their young they are deemed “nuisance” animals or said to be overpopulated. These animals are not overpopulated, and they are not a nuisance, humans are just encroaching more and more on animals’ natural territory and making it impossible for these animals to carry out their natural behaviors. You can help these animals by driving cautiously in areas where animals are known to cross the street, by putting covers on your trash cans to make it impossible for wildlife to get into your trash, by lessening your use of plastic and recycling whenever possible, and by keeping your cats indoors to prevent them from killing wildlife (and to keep the cat safe as well)[xviii].
Poaching and the illegal animal trade is also a major problem for animals. Poaching is defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals. Numerous species of wild animals have been hunted to either extinction or to the brink of extinction. Wildlife crime is a huge and dangerous business akin to the drug trade. Because of this it is almost impossible to obtain an accurate representation of the value of the illegal wildlife trade but its estimated to be in the billions of dollars[xix]. The world wildlife foundation has an entire page where you can find resources on how to help wildlife locate at https://www.worldwildlife.org/how-to-help. You can help by fundraising, going green and become a wildlife animal ambassador and speaking up for wildlife species.
Conscientious Spending Habits
When shopping for products and new companions to add to the family, it’s easy to say to yourself: the pig has already been killed, one person refraining from buying pork isn’t going to stop farmers from raising pigs for slaughter or that the cute puppy in the pet store from a puppy mill is already born, it needs a loving home and one person refraining from buying one puppy isn’t going to change the world. But your purchases can bring about change in a real way. Every time you buy a product, you are keeping that company in business and validating that company’s values. If you are still going to consume meat, research where your meat is coming from. Try integrating more plant-based foods into your diet. Start with implementing meatless Monday and be more conscientious and ethical about the food you’re spending your money on, brining into your house, and putting on your table. Try rescuing a puppy or at least find an ethical breeder who takes good care of their dogs even when that dog can no longer make money for the breeder. Buy products that have not been tested on animals and don’t use animal by products. If going vegan is too much of a change for you right now, make little changes where you can. Order the veggie burger at dinner, explain to your friends why you’re trying to eat more plant-based foods. You may find you inspire someone to incorporate more plants and less meat into their diets. With the internet and today’s technology millions of vegan and plant-based recipes are easily accessible. One of my favorite vegan food blogs is Namely Marley. Many are surprised how delicious and easy vegan recipes are.
Before you give money to zoos, aquariums or companies on vacation that advertise things such as swimming with dolphins or taking pictures with baby tigers, look into the company and its mission and values. Research how the animals under the company’s care are treated. Many companies exploit animals for money and treat the animals they are exploiting care horribly. Animals made to do unnatural behaviors and tricks that they would never do in the wild are many times beaten and fear/terror-based methods are used to force the animals to perform. If industries that treat animals badly loose funding, and the consumer no longer funds the unethical treatment of our animals, these industries will no longer be sustainable and will go out of business.
You can also help the animal’s rights movement by donating to organizations that rescue and fight for animals or by volunteering at your local shelter or sanctuary. These sanctuaries and organizations need help and by donating your resources and or your time you can make a huge impact in so many lives.
The world won’t change from a few people living a “perfect” vegan or cruelty free lifestyle, the world however will change by millions of people making a few ethical changes in the areas of their life where they can and no longer funding the unethical treatment of animals and influencing others to do the same. There is so many avenues for people to take and different ways to join the Animal Rights Movement. There is a way for every type of person to get involved.
[i] Animal Legal Defense Fund. Animals’ Legal Status, https://aldf.org/issue/animals-legal-status/
[ii] PETA. What is speciesism. https://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/what-is-speciesism/
[iii] The Animal Legal Defense Fund. “Animals’ Legal Status. https://aldf.org/issue/animals-legal-status/
[iv] Suzana Gartner. About Suzana. https://www.suzanagartner.com/about-suzana-gartner
[v] Farm Sanctuary. https://www.farmsanctuary.org/learn/factory-farming/
[vi] Global Action Network. Cows.
[vii] Wood Stocks Sanctuary. “COWS FOR DAIRY.” http://woodstocksanctuary.org/learn/animals-used-for-food/cows-for-dairy/
[viii] Wood Stocks Sanctuary. “COWS FOR DAIRY.” http://woodstocksanctuary.org/learn/animals-used-for-food/cows-for-dairy/
[ix] Global Action Network. Cows. http://web.archive.org/web/20140729150301/http://www.gan.ca:80/animals/cows.en.html
[x] Wood Stocks Sanctuary. “COWS FOR DAIRY.” http://woodstocksanctuary.org/learn/animals-used-for-food/cows-for-dairy/
[xi] Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “Health Concerns About Dairy.” https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/nutrition-information/health-concerns-about-dairy
[xii] The Game Changers. Louie Psihoyos. Netflix.
[xiii] PETA. Companion Animal Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/companion-animals-faq/
[xiv] The Human Society of the United States. Stopping Puppy Mills. https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/stopping-puppy-mills.
[xv] The Human Society of the United States. Stopping Puppy Mills. https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/stopping-puppy-mills
[xvi] PETA. Forced to Race. https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/horse-racing-2/
[xvii] PETA. Forced to Race. https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/horse-racing-2/
[xviii] PETA. Wildlife. https://www.peta.org/issues/wildlife/.
[xix] World Wildlife Foundation. Illegal Wildlife trade. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/illegal-wildlife-trade