Articles Index
The Obama Administration's Animal Protection Record
Where does President Barack Obama stand on animal rights issues, and what is his administration's animal rights record? This site will be updated continuously throughout Obama's administration.
What’s Wrong with Eating Fish?
The reasons for not eating fish range from animal rights concerns to the effects of overfishing on the environment.
What's Wrong with Fish Farms?
While some believe that fish farming is the solution to overfishing, they do not take into account the environmental destruction and the inherent inefficiency of animal agriculture.
Arguments For and Against “Humane Meat”
Most people would probably agree that factory farms are cruel, but is certified humane meat the answer? Animal activists argue both sides.
What are the Arguments For and Against Keeping Pets?
Do Animal Rights Activists Want to Take My Pets Away? Because of pet overpopulation, just about all animal activists would probably agree that we should spay and neuter our cats and dogs. But there would be some disagreement if you were to ask whether we should keep and breed cats and dogs if all the shelters were empty and there were good, loving homes available.
Arguments For and Against Horse Slaughter
While animal advocates argue against horse slaughter, some horse breeders and owners say that horse slaughter is a necessary evil. Issues include overbreeding, horse racing, and financial factors.
How Eating Pork Spreads the Swine Flu Epidemic
You probably won’t get swine flu from eating pork, but you will help spread the disease and increase the chances of another epidemic.
Historical Timeline of the Animal Rights Movement
Timeline of the modern Animal Rights Movement, including major milestones, setbacks and accomplishments.
Why It’s Wrong to Test on Animals
Vivisection FAQ: Why do animal rights activists oppose animal experimentation? Isn’t there a law to protect animals in laboratories? Doesn’t the end justify the means?
How Circus Elephants Are Abused by Their Trainers
Elephants in circuses experience abuse at the hands of their trainers, including beatings, confinement and electrical shocks. Part 2 of a 4-part series. Bullhooks, rampages, and unnatural behaviors.
Fur, Cruelty and Animal Rights - Trapped in the Wild
Fur and Animal Rights: Approximately 10 million animals are trapped and killed worldwide each year for fur. Several U.S. states and many countries have banned the steel-jawed leg hold trap, which is notorious for its cruelty. Trappers now get around this ban by using other types of traps, including snare traps, conibear traps or leg hold traps with a thin layer of padding added. If you spend time in the woods with your dog or cat, it is important to learn how to release these traps.
Fur, Cruelty and Animal Rights - Baby Seals Clubbed on the Ice
Fur and Animal Rights: Every year, hundreds of thousands of baby harp seals are clubbed to death in front of their mothers by Canadian fishermen. The quota set by the Canadian government for 2008 was 275,000 seals. The event has turned into an annual spectacle, with animal protection groups attempting to document the slaughter from ships or helicopters.
Fur, Cruelty and Animal Rights - Factory Farmed Fur
Fur and Animal Rights: Approximately 30 million animals are raised in cages and cruelly killed worldwide for fur every year. Minks are the animals most commonly raised on fur farms, but foxes, chinchillas, rabbits, dogs and other animals are also victims. Animals raised on fur farms live in intense confinement, and suffer psychologically. Methods of killing on fur farms include breaking the animal's neck, gassing, lethal injection, genital electrocution and anal electrocution.
Arguments For and Against Hunting
The arguments for and against hunting are both practical and ethical. This page explains the arguments about wildlife management, ethics, recreation, and human/deer conflicts.
Interview with Sea Shepherd Founder Captain Paul Watson
Interview with Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, about Greenpeace, pigs, fish, meat-eating environmentalists and the TV series Whale Wars.
What are Cruelty-Free Products?
What are cruelty-free products and where can I buy cruelty-free products? The answers are not always clear, and cruelty-free products are not always vegan.
How to Tell Fake Fur From Real Fur
Is it fake fur or real fur? Labels are not always correct, and you can't always tell by looking and touching, but there is one fool-proof test.
Think Twice Before Giving a Live Easter Bunny
Your child may want a live Easter bunny, but are you and your child prepared to care for a live Easter bunny for the next ten years? Includes interview with Susan Mangold, of the House Rabbit Society’s “Make Mine Chocolate!” campaign.
The Saddest Show on Earth: Elephant (Ab)use in Touring Circuses, Part 3
Elephants in circuses experience abuse and cruelty at the hands of their trainers, including beatings, confinement and electrical shocks. Stoney the elephant, the Ringling Bros. trial, and tuberculosis.
Biography of Mike Jaynes, Guest Author
Biography of Mike Jaynes, Guest Author for Animal Rights for About.com
The Saddest Show on Earth: Elephant (Ab)use in Touring Circuses, Part 1
Elephants in circuses experience abuse at the hands of their trainers, including beatings, confinement and electrical shocks.
The Saddest Show on Earth: Elephant (Ab)use in Touring Circuses, Part 4
Elephants in circuses experience abuse at the hands of their trainers, including beatings, confinement and electrical shocks. Moral consideration of different species, the ethical disconnect, and elephant sanctuaries.
Basic Tenets of Animal Rights
Animal rights is the belief that animals have an intrinsic value separate from any value they have to humans, and are worthy of moral consideration. They have a right to be free of oppression, confinement, use and abuse by humans. Here's why.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and Animal Cruelty
Background and history of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race; Cruelty to the dogs and other animals, including culling, beating, whipping and deaths, from an animal rights perspective.
Grassroots Lobbying
Grassroots Lobbying 101 - This page will explain what grassroots lobbying is, why you should do it, and how to do it.