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Animal Rights Animals do not have a nationality and exist without borders. An animal’s quality of life is ultimately determined based on arbitrary lines drawn on a map. Some animals are more fortunate than others to be born within a country with exemplary animal rights policies. A chicken in Australia feels the same level of sentience as a chicken in India, yet both will be treated entirely differently. The Voiceless is an animal rights organization in Australia that developed the Voiceless Animal Cruelty Index (VACI).  The VACI ranks 50 countries according to the following categories: Producing Cruelty This index considers the number of animals slaughtered weighed against how well these animals were treated. Countries that treat their animals more humanly before slaughter will rank higher in this category. This category also considers dairy cows and egg-laying chickens, two animals that are not slaughtered but still live in appalling conditions. (source) Consuming Cruelty Consuming cruelty measures the direct number of animals consumed per capita and the ratio of plant-based protein to farm-based protein that the population eats. This category highlights how high-income countries rely on factory farming to meet the appetite of their people. (source) Sanctioning Cruelty This category ranks how well the legislation in a country protects against the misuse of animals. The VACI relies on a ranking set by the Animal Protection Index, a scale of 50 countries based on how well their policies protect animals. (source) Which countries have the worst animal rights policies? Based on the VACI, the following countries have the worst animal rights policies: Australia & Belarus Australia and Belarus are tied for being the worst countries for animals. Australia slaughters approximately 28.1 animals per person and maintains poor animal rights policies. 64% of the average diet in Australia also relies upon animal-based protein. (source) Belarus slaughters 37.7 animals per person annually, mostly comprised of factory-farmed animals. The average Belarus diet is also composed of 52% animal-based protein. (source) United States of America Widespread factory farming and insufficient policies put the United States the 3rd worst country for animal rights. The average American eats a diet consisting of 62.3% animal protein (source). The United States also slaughters approximately 29.3 animals per person per year. Argentina Like the previous countries, Argentina has widespread factory farming and a population that consumes a lot of animal protein. The average Argentinian eats a 63% animal protein diet, and the country slaughters 17 animals per person per year. What countries have the best animal protection laws? The top 3 countries with the best animal protection laws are: India India has the best animal rights of the 50 countries surveyed. This is due to the small amount of meat consumed by the average Indian, and factory farming is not prevalent in this country. The average Indian consumes a diet with 20% animal protein because 23 – 37% of the population is vegetarian (source). The culture emphasizes vegetarian diets and butchers less than one animal per person annually. Tanzania Tanzania is tied with India for having the best animal rights worldwide. Tanzania consumes an average diet consisting of 12.4% animal protein, and they butcher approximately 1.9 animals per person per year (source). While Tanzania does not have factory farms; instead, they have a large population of small farms that raise livestock. Kenya Kenya is currently the 3rd best country worldwide for animal rights. Factory farming is not prevalent in Kenya, but it is a practice that is spreading. Kenya must reject factory farming to remain 3rd on this list. The average Kenyan eats a 24% animal protein diet, and they butcher approximately 0.8 animals per person annually. Overview of US Animal Rights At the federal level, only a small handful of laws exist that issue protections and rights to animals. One of these laws is the US Animal Welfare Act of 1966. The US Animal Welfare Act protects show animals, pet animals, animals used for research, and animals transported commercially. Any facilities that house animals under this criteria must provide adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, and veterinary care. However, the Animal Welfare Act does not cover all animals. Animals excluded from the Animal Welfare Act include farm animals used for fur or food, reptiles and amphibians, horses not used for research, fish, birds, rats, or mice.  There are no federal laws regarding animal testing (source). Animal testing is legal and not regulated federally. However, numerous states are passing bans on selling products that have been tested on animals. By 2021, several states will have bans on the sales of animal-tested cosmetics. These states include, but are not limited to, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Virginia, California, Illinois, and Nevada (source). Banning animal-tested cosmetics is a step in the right direction. State policies must also consider testing medicine and other products on animals. Conclusion Animals endure all manners of inhumane treatment. Between being subjected to animal testing or slaughtered for food, animals cannot catch a break. Thankfully, several countries worldwide are pioneers in having groundbreaking animal protection laws. Additional countries must follow their example and eliminate factory farming and the public dependence on animal-based protein. Here are a few ways you can help end animal cruelty.

The history of animal rights What gives humans the right to abuse, neglect, and ultimately kill helpless animals? Corporations abuse animals simply to make an extra buck when allowed to do so. After all, why should they treat animals more humanely when it means cutting into their bottom line. Animal rights have come a long way since the early 20th century, but they are still far from perfect. Corporations will only abide by the rules and regulations set by the government, and the current laws are not adequate to protect animals. History of the Animal Rights Movement In 1906 Upton Sinclair published The Jungle, which highlighted the appalling work conditions in slaughterhouses. Although the novel was famous in the early 20th century, animal rights as an ideology did not become established until the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1970’s various organizations, such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), gained traction with the public after the release of Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. Varying campaigns, such as the campaign to ban the testing of cosmetics on animals, originated during this time. Animal Welfare Act The animal welfare act was signed into law in 1966, and it governs the treatment of animals that are sold as pets, shown in exhibitions, and used for research (source). The animal welfare act states that these animals must be provided with adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, and veterinary care when in a licensed facility. USDA inspectors have the right to conduct unannounced inspections of licensed facilities to ensure that animals are being treated humanely. However, the Animal Welfare Act has its fair share of limitations (source). This act does not extend to farm animals used for fur or meat, reptiles, fish, birds, horses not used for research, rats, or mice. That’s a large number of animal species that currently have no federal protection. The Animal Welfare Act was a good starting point in 1966, but it must be expanded to include all animals. What are some examples of successful animal rights?  Farm animals have successfully gained rights in the passage of two USDA-enforced laws, the 28-Hour law and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. The 28-Hour Law states that any animals being transported for longer than 28 hours need to be allotted 5 hours off transport for food, water, and rest. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act states that animals must be given a quick and effective death and be treated humanely at the slaughterhouse. The main issue surrounding farm animal rights is the lack of legislation. Farm animals are the most unprotected animal group within the United States. Although weak legislation exists that provides low-level protection, other laws must be passed to end animal cruelty in factory farms. For example, poultry are exempt from the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the 28-Hour Law. One proposed law, the Farm System Reform Act, is currently sitting in congress without overwhelming support. The Farm System Reform Act will end factory farming by 2040 and provide factory farms with funding to transition to humane methods of farming animals. Petition your local representatives to support the passage of this act! How you can join the movement With the advent of lab-grown meat and imitation meat, joining the animal rights movement is easier than ever. Many people support the movement internally but find it hard to pull the trigger because they like to eat meat and other animal products. Not only are plant-based meats preventing needless animal cruelty, but they are also better for the environment. Plant-based meats emit 30 – 90% fewer greenhouse gases and use 72 – 99% less water than conventional meat (source). Other ways you could join the animal rights movement include: Volunteer Volunteering your time is a simple but highly effective way to support your local organizations. Your nearby humane society or other no-kill animal shelters could always use additional fosters, adopters, and trappers during the spring and summer months when kittens and puppies are flooding in. Donating to charity Most animal rights organizations are nonprofits that are funded solely by contributions from supporters. Your donations directly impact the success of these organizations. Without your contributions, these organizations cannot continue to save the lives of helpless animals. Contacting your state representatives Reach out to your state and federal congressmen to let them know how strongly you feel regarding animal rights. Research pending animal rights legislature in your state and remind your congressmen that they work for you. If their core beliefs do not align with yours, you should be supporting a different candidate in the next election. Conclusion Supporting animal rights should be an intrinsic value that all people hold. Animals should not suffer because fast-food restaurants want to keep hamburgers on their dollar menu. The animal rights movement has a long way to go in the United States. Support the movement by boycotting factory-farmed meat and petitioning your representatives for better legislation.

Controversies and shortcomings of animal support groups We need to talk about the elephant in the room: how some animal rescue organizations do not help as much as they could. In a perfect world, we would not need animal rescue groups to ensure that animals are being treated humanely. In the imperfect world that we live in, we have groups that have stepped up to fight for the rights of animals. However, even these organizations have their fair share of shortcomings. Humane Society shortcomings  A Humane Society is a nonprofit group dedicated to finding new homes for stray animals and advocating against animal cruelty. Each Humane Society operates independently of one another and obtains funding of its own accord. Unfortunately, Humane Societies cannot keep up with the hundreds to thousands of animals that rotate through kill shelters. These organizations rely on volunteers to care for the shelter animals and donations to keep their doors open. With funding in short supply, Humane Societies often only take in animals that they deem “adoptable.” Unadoptable animals stay at kill shelters where they are euthanized because the Humane Societies do not have the space, funding, or workforce to take in every homeless animal. However, the process to determine if an animal is adoptable is also flawed. Animals are under duress at animal shelters and will behave differently than if they were at home. Animal shelters are high-stress environments that cause dogs and cats to lash out aggressively or appear unsociable. The result is perfectly normal dogs and cats being euthanized after they are labeled as unadoptable. Commercial animals – Zoos, SeaWorld, tourism, and animal breeders Zoos that carry accreditation Association of Zoos and Aquariums maintain a high standard of care for animals, educate the public on animal welfare and keep endangered animals from becoming extinct in the wild. This accreditation is not easy to achieve because it requires that the zoo meets a high standard of animal welfare verified by a multi-day inspection by the Associate of Zoos and Aquariums. There are also copious amounts of fly-by-night zoos that are not accredited, and they house animals in poor living conditions. These zoos do more harm than good when supporting the animal rights movement. However, not all accredited zoos maintain a high standard of living for animals. For example, SeaWorld is accredited, and yet it houses its marine mammals in enclosures that are far too small. These animals develop stress habits and depression in these small, cruel enclosures. Animal breeders contribute to animal overpopulation. There are millions of stray animals in need of homes, so there is no need to breed additional animals. Every animal purchased from an animal breeder is one less that will be adopted from an animal shelter. Veterinarians and Animal Hospitals Studies show that 1 in 6 veterinarians has contemplated suicide (source). Veterinarians are three times more likely to die from suicide than the public. This is due to the crushing student loan debt from veterinary school, burnout from being overworked, and having to euthanize perfectly healthy animals. Veterinarians are for-profit businesses, and they cannot perform treatments on animals for free. Life-saving operations are often too costly for pet owners to afford, so the only available option is euthanizing the animal. Veterinarians desperately want to save every animal they come across, but their business would go under in a quickly if they worked for free. Rescue groups and nonprofit organizations Nobody wants to go into work having to decide which animal lives and which one dies. However, that is the reality for workers at animal rescue groups. Due to a lack of funding and staffing, they must make difficult decisions daily. Animals are left in kill shelters because there is no room or resources at the animal rescue groups. Obtaining funding for animal rescue groups is not easy. These organizations are staffed mainly by volunteers, but the process of applying for funding is lengthy. An extensive request for application (RFP) must be filled out when applying for grants. Dedicating personnel to grant writing is one less staff member available to care for the animals. It is also difficult for smaller organizations to get noticed. Most federal and commercial grants are awarded to larger nonprofits. These smaller animal rescue groups have a more challenging time competing for grants against organizations with a dedicated staff of grant writing lawyers on retainer. Conclusion Animal support groups try to do their best with the little they have. Unfortunately, not every homeless animal can be saved from animal shelters due to a lack of resources. You can make a difference in an animal’s life by volunteering at your local rescue group or donating supplies. Boycott commercial operations, such as SeaWorld, and refuse to purchase dogs or cats from animal breeders. Boycotting inhumane practices with your money and purchasing decisions is one of the best ways to make a difference in the fight for animal rights.

Farm animal abuses, policies, and solutions Farm animals have been suffering for decades on factory farms. Although the world is infatuated with chicken nuggets and hamburgers, it is unethical to raise animals in these conditions. Factory farms exploit animals by raising them in unsanitary conditions, and policy reform for farm animal rights is sorely needed. Overview of factory farming Millions of farm animals are raised in horrifying factory farm conditions annually. These animals include chickens, pigs, cattle, turkeys, and other aquaculture animals. Chickens are the most raised animal on factory farms. Over 9 billion chickens are slaughtered for meat in the United States annually. In addition to these 9 billion broiler chickens, 300 million are raised for egg-laying. Broiler chickens are raised in large sheds, typically full of 20,000 chickens each, where the chickens are exposed to dangerous levels of ammonia due to unsanitary living conditions. Laying chickens are not treated much better. Laying hens are crowded in small, windowless wire cages. It is common practice to remove part of a hen’s beak to prevent them from pecking each other to death due to overcrowding (source). The United States processed roughly 120 million pigs annually (source). These pigs are kept in pens without access to sunlight or fresh air. Similarly with chickens, these industrial pigpens become filled with dangerous levels of ammonia which causes health issues within the pigs. Roughly 39 million cattle are slaughtered in the United States annually (source). Meat cows are raised out in a pasture until roughly 6 months – 1-year-old, where they are sent to commercial feedlots. Commercial feedlots will deprive the cattle of grass and force them to reach butcher weight on grain alone. Turkeys are raised in similar pens as chickens, and over 240 million turkeys are processed annually (source). Turkeys suffer from the same health concerns and poor living conditions as chickens. Current farm animal rights policies and protections On a federal level, farm animal protections are lacking. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act provides protections for all animals in USDA inspected slaughterhouses. This Act does not encompass poultry or rabbits, and they are in dire need of policy reform. The Twenty-Eight Hour Law is governed by the USDA and requires animals to be unloaded from trucks, and given access to food, water, and rest once every 28 hours. The animals must be provided with rest for a minimum of 5 hours during this rest period. New farm animal rights policies The Farm System Reform Act has been reintroduced in 2021 by Senator Cory Booker and Representative Ro Khanna (source). Unfortunately, this act has been introduced in both 2019 and 2020 with limited success. The Farm System Reform Act intends to stop reliance on factory farms by phasing out commercial feeding operations and strengthening protections for family farms. The Farm System Reform Act would also require meat to be labeled with its country of origin for beef, pork, and dairy products. What is Restorative Farming? Industrial farming has killed biodiversity within the Midwest. Farming practices where fence rows are pushed out to maximize crop space have caused a significant decrease in wild animal populations. Restorative farming intends to reverse some of the effects of industrial farming through easy-to-follow farming principles. Farmers can follow restorative farming principles by not tilling soil. Rather, cover crops may be planted which will naturally restore necessary nutrients to the soil. This also decreases top soil erosion and soil run off. Farmers should also plant a diverse crop rotation to give the soil a chance to “rest” in between crop types and follow rotational grazing. Rotational grazing for farm animals moves them between pastures to allow time for the pasture to re-grow. This is greatly beneficial for farm animals as it prevents manure build-up and reduces the need for antibiotics. How can I help farm animals? One of the best ways that you can help farm animal rights is to report any witnessed abuse. If the abuse is occurring at your place of employment, this may be a difficult decision for you. However, several anonymous hotlines exist where you can report the abuse to: PETA’s National Hotline – 757-622-7382 Mercy for Animals – Dial Option 4 to Report Farm Animal Abuse – 866-632-6446 Animal Outlook – 800-65-FARM If you feel comfortable directly reporting the abuse to law enforcement, you should compile as much proof of the abuse as possible. You will have to fill out a police report, and cooperate with the police over the course of their investigation. Other actions you could take include writing your elected official to advocate for policy changes. Elected officials work for the people and your voice matters. Sending a written letter is a great way to showcase why your current state needs stronger farm animal rights. If you have the means and opportunity, you may also organize a protest or rally. Staging a peaceful protest by a local farm animal abuser is a great way to get the media’s attention. Check into local laws for details on which permits, if any, you will need to conduct a lawful protest. Conclusion Although farm animals are mistreated daily by factory farms, there are ways you could help. Encourage your friends and family to be proactive in the fight for farm animal rights. You could help by limiting the amount of meat you purchase from factory farms and supporting local family farms instead. 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