The Evolution of Anticruelty Laws

For many years there has been an ongoing debate on whether or not animals should be given rights, even there own bill of rights. Some who are against the animal bill of rights argue that testing products on animals is important to the safety of humans. Others who want the new bill of rights claim that animals have feelings and that science is treating them inhumanely. Animal activists also add that animals are intelligent beings and are aware of how they are treated. Based on science proving animal activists correct on many of their points, this calls for a new bill of rights, in the United States, especially written for the protection and care of wild and domestic animals.

One such important law that was signed in 1966 was the Animal Welfare Act that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers.

“In 1863, Bergh had been appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic post at the Russian court of Czar Alexander II. It was there that he was horrified to witness work horses beaten by their peasant drivers. En route back to America, a June 1865 visit to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London awakened his determination to secure a charter not only to incorporate the ASPCA but to exercise the power to arrest and prosecute violators of the law” (ASPCA Is Founded). He was horrified in what he saw and wanted to make a change. “Bergh’s impassioned accounts of the horrors inflicted on animals convinced the New York State legislature to pass the charter incorporating the ASPCA on April tenth, 1866. Nine days later, the first effective anti-cruelty law in the United States was passed, allowing the ASPCA to investigate complaints of animal cruelty and to make arrests” (ASPCA Is Founded). Anti-cruelty laws were and arrests were now made so that animals could live safely and happily. Many shelters were made around the world because of Henry

Bentham disputed that infants and the disabled should be treated such as animals because infants and the disabled are weak and defenseless like most animals. In the third place, the 19th century had an outburst of people who were interested in animal protection. The 19th century produced multiple laws, groups, and acts such as the Martins act, an act which focused on the treatment of horses noted Author Debbie Legge and Editor Simon Brooman in their book "Law Relating to Animals"2 (p12), and instituted groups whose purpose was preventing cruelty to animals. The groups sent men to inspect markets, slaughter houses and livestock reproduced by the Animal Legal and Historical Center 3, In fact, the most recognized organization for animals that was apart of the elite group that sent out inspectors was named the SPCA or more formally know as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Like humans, animals have rights too. Back in the old days, animals didn’t have any rights because some people thought they had no feelings of pain. Scientist used them in experiments because of this theory. It came to the point where animals, especially cats and dogs, who were homeless, unwanted, and even sheltered were sent to research institutes (Monamy 29). Monkeys also started getting attention from scientists. Many animals used for these experiments were being mistreated. Many humane groups were furious and started taking action. The Laboratory Animal Welfare Act was enacted in 1966 due to two

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first human society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world. Henry Bergh, a man of great conviction and a tireless fighter for animals founded the ASPCA on April 10, 1866. Mr. Bergh believed that all animals are entitled to being treated kindly and respectfully at the hands of humans and should be protected under the law. The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [ASPCA], 2014, About us section) When Mr. Bergh founded the ASPCA, he and his volunteers spent tireless hours fighting for the rights of

Many researches are finding that many of our fellow creatures are more like us than we had ever imagined. A percentage of people feel that concern should be brought upon how animals are treated. The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Bill of Rights is a petition to the United States Congress. The petition states the basic rights that all living beings other than humans should have and that our government should protect. It states the right of animals to be free from exploitation, cruelty, neglect, and abuse. The right of laboratory animals not to be used in cruel or unnecessary experiments. The right of animals to be in a healthy diet, protective shelter and sufficient medical care.The right of wildlife to a natural habitat, ecologically good enough to a normal existence and self-sustaining population.The right of farmed animals to an environment that fulfill their basic physical and psychological needs. The right of animals to have their interest represented in court and safeguarded by the law of the land. These are the six important keys in the act. No one can predict what actually happens to animals behind doors or even in nature, but it is fairly easy to say that not all animals are

§2143(a) (b) and §2149(b), which are part of the Animal Welfare Act, were enacted so that standards of humane treatment can be given to animals used by research facilities, dealers, and exhibitors. The Animal Welfare Act was passed in 1966 because of the increasing concern about the stealing of dogs and cats for use in research facilities (National Anti-Vivisection Society, 2015).

This act ensured the safety of animals by enforcing all companies to have licenses for their "practices". The animal that was put on that list are dogs, cats, hamsters, monkeys,

The idea of animal rights has been around for centuries. Even decades ago, people were taking action for the welfare of animals. Marc Bekoff and Ned Hettinger share this idea all the way back in 1994 when they said that there is evidence that scientist are concerned with animal welfare by acknowledge that they use the guidelines in place to protect animals during research, in order to have their work published (Bekoff 219). Guidelines are the basis for the moral and ethical treatment of animals. Each person may have his or her own standard, but having a standard among the entire population ensures the welfare of the animals. Unfortunately, these standards are not at a level to where the animals are being protected. Many animals in captivity are treated in ways that would shock the average person. Orcas for example, are starved until they do the desired task (Cowperthwaite). This form of operant condition can lead to success, but often leads to resentment and hostility towards the trainers.

Many people may not know that animal cruelty has been around for hundreds of years. . In the article "Animal Cruelty Prosecution" published by American Prosecution Research Institute found that, The Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony established “The Body of Liberties” found by the Animal Cruelty Prosecution, in 1641. The Body of Liberties was a document written for the protection of animals from unnecessary pain and suffering. Animal cruelty happens every day whether it is from starving, beating, lack of medical care or proper housing for animals. We are in need of stricter laws to help fight the rights of animals. Animal laws should be more strict on people

“Nearly as many, 68 percent, were concerned or very concerned about the well-being of animals used in ‘sports’ or contests as well as animals in laboratories (67 percent) (Kretzer, 1).” Many people question whether an animal is capable of thought and emotions. Others feel as though animals are the equivalent of humans and should be treated as such. Since the 1800’s, animal rights has been a topic that has several different sides including two extremes. If animals can react to their environment, emote, and are aware of things done to or with them, then they should have similar rights to humans.

To my knowledge from interning and being employed at various law enforcement agencies, it is a crime to use company property such as gasoline to fuel personal vehicles which are not being used for work related encounters. I believe the officer who saw the officer stealing the gas should confront him. The officer whom is committing the wrongful act may concoct an excuse or lie which would think in terms of be generalism. Some may say the officer whom witnessed the theft should practice Antinomianism, who are we to judge whether the acts of others are right and wrong (basically mind your own business). I believe if the officer is stealing the gas for an emergency such as a hurricane evacuation then the act may be acceptable (situationism). I

Animal rights is the philosophy or idea that all animals should be able to live a life free from human exploitation pain and suffering. According to Gale ” The idea of animal rights has roots in ancient times. In Greek philosophy, the animists believed that both animals and people had souls. The vitalists believed that humans were animals but at the top of the chain and could use animals for their benefit.” ( Animals Rights, par.2). In the early twentieth century in the United States, there was no law that regards to animal experimentation. In 1937 there was a pharmaceutical company that developed medicine called Elixir Sulfanilamide. When the medicine was released the company was unaware that the substance was harmful because the drug

For many years now the world has seen controversy over the rights of animals and if they think and feel like humans do. Many people see animals as mindless creatures or as food, while others think they have emotions and can feel pain. In other countries animal protection laws are in place that are strictly enforced and seem to work well with the system. In the United States however; some of the animal rights laws are considered to be useless and under-enforced (Animal Legal & Historical Center). More people today are beginning to see that animals should have rights and should be protected by laws and regulations (Animal Legal & Historical Center). Sadly there are many people residing in the United States who don’t take animal rights or protection laws seriously. These people abuse animals in many ways, including food industries that disobey the regulations set in place for the slaughter of animals used for consumption. Luckily for the animals there are people who fight for their rights and the enforcement of laws called animal rights activists.