Author Topic: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?  (Read 2113 times)

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Offline CC27

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Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« on: December 29, 2009, 08:49:31 AM »
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The Straight Story  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Tue Dec-29-09 12:38 AM
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Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?   Updated at 11:28 PM
   
DO YOU BELIEVE ANIMALS DESERVE BASIC LEGAL RIGHTS?

Deprived of legal protection, animals are defenseless against exploitation and abuse by humans. Through the Animal Bill of Rights, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to show Congress a groundswell of support for legislation that protects animals and recognizes that, like all sentient beings, animals are entitled to basic legal rights in our society.

More than a quarter-million Americans have already signed the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Bill of Rights. Sign on your support and speak out to your lawmakers today!

A Petition to the United States Congress

I, the undersigned American citizen, believe that animals, like all sentient beings, are entitled to basic legal rights in our society. Deprived of legal protection, animals are defenseless against exploitation and abuse by humans. As no such rights now exist, I urge you to pass legislation in support of the following basic rights for animals:

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.

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5154/t/3755/petitio...


Animals Shouldn't be 'Property' -- Changing the Law

I’ve got Australia on my mind lately, probably because it is summer there. While many of us are digging out from piles of snow and surviving on what feels like about four hours of sunlight, they are down there frolicking around on Bondi Beach, right now, not a care in the world except avoiding death by a man-eating shark.

Earlier this year, ALDF attorney Bruce Wagman did a speaking tour in the land down under with the excellent Australia-based animal rights organization Voiceless. Among the many interviews he did while on his Australian tour, he spoke with “The Law Report” at ABC Radio National, which just posted his interview on their site as “one of the best programs of 2009.”

It’s a terrific primer on the challenges, and the progress already made, in working to protect animals through the legal system. Bruce explains how, according to law, animals are property—and that, while our ultimate goal is to change the property status of animals, there is much incremental progress we can make until that day comes. For example, some courts are now recognizing that companion animals are a special kind of property, and therefore have a special value—making the critical recognition that animals are sentient, and that they provide their guardians with emotional and therapeutic value.

He also discusses that in some pet custody disputes, judges are actually now considering the best interests of the animals in awarding custody. In a legal context where animals are by definition mere property, it’s a truly remarkable step forward when a judge asserts that an animal not only has special value to his human companions, but in fact has interests of his very own.

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/opinion-animals-s...

http://www.democraticunderground.com//discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7346228

Offline Chris

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2009, 09:11:19 AM »
The things the mind comes up with when not burdened by employment... :whatever:
This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

Offline kenth

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2009, 09:18:57 AM »
The things the mind comes up with when not burdened by employment... :whatever:

:rotf:

Offline Carl

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2009, 09:19:18 AM »
Rather strange op coming from him in light of...

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I have nothing to give my baby at Christmas, The little kitties she loved and adored - well I had to shoot one of them after the flea bath the wife gave them with dog flea shampoo put them into seizures and they were biting off their own tongues (she still thinks they are at the vets and daddy calls em each day
http://www.conservativecave.com/index.php/topic,17543.msg210399/topicseen/highlight,straight+story+kitten.html#msg210399

Offline Lord Undies

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2009, 09:24:24 AM »
Do these legal rights start at conception?

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2009, 09:37:08 AM »
Is it murder when animals eat other animals?

Only liberals teach that man is wholly a product of natural forces...but only man has no place in nature and should be condemned for acting natually.
According to the Bible, "know" means "yes."

Offline Splashdown

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2009, 10:23:07 AM »
Is it murder when animals eat other animals?

Only liberals teach that man is wholly a product of natural forces...but only man has no place in nature and should be condemned for acting natually.

 :agree:

See, it's posts like THIS that make me wish we still have the hi-5 option.

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Offline thundley4

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2009, 11:25:55 AM »
The Right of animals to be free from exploitation, cruelty, neglect, and abuse.
 Most states already have laws doing this.

The Right of laboratory animals not to be used in cruel or unnecessary experiments.
 Unnecessary experiments?  DUmmies believe animals are more important than humans.

The Right of farm animals to an environment that satisfies their basic physical and psychological needs.
 That would drive the cost of meat right out of the price range of the poor.

The Right of companion animals to a healthy diet, protective shelter, and adequate medical care.
 This was covered under the first on the list.

The Right of wildlife to a natural habitat, ecologically sufficient to a normal existence and self-sustaining species population.
 So many environmental regulations already cover this.

The Right of animals to have their interests represented in court and safeguarded by the law of the land.
 They already are represented by the state in most cases, but collectively by laws.  This would throw a bone to trial lawyers, and the government would pay their fees for representing an animal, right?

Offline GOBUCKS

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2009, 11:32:42 AM »
If we had a compassionate society, there would be a public option for veterinary coverage.
The cost for covering poor critters could be paid by those who are gainfully employed, like Mr. Ed, Lassie, Alvin, and Scooby Doo.

Offline Lord Undies

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2009, 11:50:20 AM »
I had a possum steal my cat food.  I want him arrested at once!

Offline Baruch Menachem

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2009, 11:52:43 AM »
This is the way for the lady with 27 cats to be allowed to vote for all her friends.
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Offline The Village Idiot

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2009, 11:59:15 AM »
These people are stoopid

Offline njpines

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2009, 12:05:49 PM »
My dog believes she has a right to snacks 24/7 but I'm infringing on that right!  :-)  Can she take me to court??
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Offline AllosaursRus

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2009, 12:24:03 PM »
I think I am the one who needs the lawyer! My Dogs and cats have enslaved me! They even have the nerve to demand I get up in the middle of the night to play "doorman"! Ungrateful curs!

Where's my protection from unfair pets? Oh yeah, who do I talk to about the frikkin' moose that keeps walking thru the fence in the north 40? I want reparations! He does it with no thought of me having to get out in sub zero weather to fix it!

I want equal protection under the "law of the land"!

frikkin' nitwits!
I'm the guy your mother warned you about!
 

Offline AprilRazz

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #14 on: December 29, 2009, 12:40:16 PM »
To quote the great philosopher "The Nuge"
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Animals have the right to garlic and butter.
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Offline jukin

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Re: Are animals entitled to basic legal rights?
« Reply #15 on: December 29, 2009, 02:18:31 PM »
Short answer, NO.

However, **** with one of my dogs and justice will be swift and sure.
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