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A Declaration of the Natural Rights of Animals

May 19, 2015 By Merritt Clifton

Monkey cat

(Beth Clifton photo)

by Jean Pearson

Based on the concept of Natural Rights as found in the language of the Declaration of Independence: the Laws of Nature as granted by Nature’s God, the Rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness:

We believe these truths are self-evident, that all creatures are endowed by the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God with certain rights, according to their natures, and that it is incumbent upon humans not to treat other creatures in ways less beneficial to them than the ways of Nature.

We perceive that Animals have the following Natural Rights:

  1. The Right of life
  2. the Right of freedom of movement (particularly necessary for dogs and related canines)
  3. The Right of companionship with like kind, or with those with whom there is good mutual understanding
  4. The Right of access to natural, appropriate food and clean water
  5. the Right of a home which offers protection from harm and danger
  6. the Right of privacy
  7. the Right of protection from detrimental captivity or experimentation
  8. the Right to affectionate concern for their wellbeing
  9. the Right to be treated with kindness
  10. the Right of continuity

––Jean Pearson

Center for Understanding Nature and Animals

2225 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017

(610) 866-7513

http://www.centerfornatureandanimals.org/



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Filed Under: Letters, Opinions & Letters Tagged With: Center for Understanding Nature and Animals, Jean Pearson

Comments

  1. Mary Finelli says

    May 19, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    Birds have the fundamental right to “live with dignity” and fly in the sky without being kept in cages or subjected to cruelty, Delhi High Court has said while holding that running their trade was a “violation of their rights”.

    Justice Manmohan Singh expressed anguish that instead of being allowed to fly free, they were “exported illegally to foreign countries without availability of proper food, water or medical aid”.

    The Economic Times, May 17, 2015
    more at:
    http://tinyurl.com/lkh2q4k

  2. Janet Schultz says

    May 23, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    Last year, in Oregon animals were given rights acknowledging their suffering. Debates are occurring “analyzing” the consciousness of their own pain, levels of torture and satisfaction in the abatement of pain.

    http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/08/animals_can_be_victims_just_li.html

    • Merritt Clifton says

      May 24, 2015 at 1:27 am

      This misrepresents both the original Oregon Supreme Court ruling and the present status of that ruling. For the particulars, please see http://www.animals24-7.org/2015/04/01/oregon-supreme-court-vacates-own-ruling-that-animals-may-be-considered-crime-victims/.

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