We breed golden retrievers to be blind guides. The dog seems happy. It gets fed, loved, and exercised. Is that a violation of rights? Or is it a symbiotic relationship? The rights theorist says we are "domesticating slaves." The rest of us say the dog has a great life.

Millions of animals (mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, and primates) are used annually in biomedical research, cosmetic testing, and chemical safety (LD50 tests).

Regardless of whether you are a hardened abolitionist or a concerned meat-eater, there are concrete actions you can take to align your life with respect for animals.

If you lean toward Welfarism:

If you lean toward Rights:

Common ground: Companion animals. Nearly everyone agrees on the rights of dogs and cats not to be abused. The future of the movement lies in expanding that circle of compassion outward.

Most of us are not strict rights theorists (vegans) nor pure welfare advocates (who might still support industrial farming). We live in the gray zone.

Consider these three scenarios:

Regardless of your philosophy, you can reduce suffering today:

The modern movement did not emerge in a vacuum. Its roots run deep: