Modern welfare assessments and laws are built on these core concepts:
In 2024, the state of New York passed a constitutional amendment affirming the "right to hunt and fish" (a step away from rights for animals). However, the real frontier is personhood . Courts in Argentina, Colombia, and India have granted habeas corpus to specific animals (a chimpanzee named Cecilia, a bear named Chucho), ruling that they are not "things" but legal persons with the right to live in appropriate environments. Modern welfare assessments and laws are built on
Critics argue that welfare is merely a way to make exploitation more palatable. As philosopher Peter Singer (a utilitarian, not a rights theorist) notes, "Animal welfare is not a compromise; it is a better way of treating animals that we are going to use anyway." But for many, welfare represents achievable, incremental progress. Critics argue that welfare is merely a way
is a philosophical stance that animals have inherent worth independent of their use to humans. It’s about no cages . Advocates argue that animals should have the right to their own lives, free from being used for food, clothing, entertainment, or experimentation. The Wins of 2026: Progress in Action It’s about no cages