A Bill of Rights for Animals?

For those of you who didn’t know, today kicks off National Justice for Animals Week!

Started by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), February 22-28 is a week dedicated to raising awareness of animal abuse and to share information on how communities can come together to create and enforce tougher laws to protect animals.

As part of this week, the ALDF would like to send a message to Congress that we, the people, support legislation that protects animals and provides them with basic legal rights.

Enter the Bill of Rights for Animals, which would entitle animals to the following:

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 farm animals to an environment that satisfies their basic physical and psychological needs.
The Right of companion animals to a healthy diet, protective shelter, and adequate medical care.
The Right of wildlife to a natural habitat, ecologically sufficient to a normal existence and self-sustaining species population.
The Right of animals to have their interests represented in court and safeguarded by the law of the land.

These all seem to be fairly straightforward ideas. Unfortunately, from backyards to factory farming and labs, animals are still suffering and cases of abuse and neglect aren’t a scarcity.

That being said, it’s time to speak up for out voiceless friends and send a clear message to Congress that we want legal protection for animals. While it’s not an actual bill, hopefully someday it will be. It’s also something that legislators will certainly have to consider the next time a piece of legislation to protect animals passes through their hands.

As of today, there are 261, 659 signatures and counting. Just kidding, it’s 261, 686. 27 people signed in the time it took me to write this!

Please take a moment to add your name in support of the Bill of Rights for Animals, and be sure to spread the word to at least 500 of your nearest and dearest!

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Doris A R.

12:09PM PST on Feb 21, 2011

All Animals should have rights. Also since our government has it's nose in everything else, it should step up to the plate and pass laws to spay and nuter all house pets. There should be no backyard breeders, it should be in a state controled place. People that let their pets go unnutered should be fined severely, and all pets removed from them. If you are convicted of animal abuse, neglect, or unwanted breeding you should loose the right to own any pet. Taking responsibility for your pets is the only way to counteract unwanted animals and death for thousands of unwanted animals.

send a green star

James W.

8:52PM PST on Jan 21, 2011

ANDREA IS PERFECT

AndyNoMail O.

6:15PM PST on Jan 18, 2011

Animals cannot sin and are perfect. On principle they deserve more rights than humans! We destroy everything we touch.

Eco M.

2:11AM PDT on May 14, 2010

found this on petition site

As atrocities in China are continuing I urge you to continue to act for the animals of China by writing a letter requesting China introduce and enforce legislation to protect animals agains unwonted cruelty and to prmote animal welfare.

Please write to your local embasssy http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/

Please also go to the following sites to add support to petitions

http://www.endbearfarming.org/en/

http://www.arazpa.org.au/China-Bear-Rescue/default.aspx

http://www.animalsaviors.org/

Aiming for a world with compassion.

2:10AM PDT on May 14, 2010

As atrocities in China are continuing I urge you to continue to act for the animals of China by writing a letter requesting China introduce and enforce legislation to protect animals agains unwonted cruelty and to prmote animal welfare.

Please write to your local embasssy http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/

Please also go to the following sites to add support to petitions

http://www.endbearfarming.org/en/

http://www.arazpa.org.au/China-Bear-Rescue/default.aspx

http://www.animalsaviors.org/

Aiming for a world with compassion.

Elizabeth S.

4:54AM PDT on Apr 23, 2010

All life deserves basic rights and protection against violence and cruelty.

HannahNoMail H.

6:44PM PDT on Apr 16, 2010

Signed.

MeowFoul B.

10:13AM PDT on Mar 31, 2010

They have feelings, brains, minds and they live, so YES!

Laura C.

7:43AM PDT on Mar 13, 2009

Sandy, that is a wonderful idealistic sentiment. I wish it could be true

But as Mark Twain said....."Humans are the only animal that can blush.....or needs to."

Until this planet is rid of humans, animals will never be safe.

Xochitl d.

4:08PM PDT on Mar 8, 2009

Critters have feelings and soul too!