by Hym Ebedes (Author)
It is with sensitivity that one approaches the emotional and controversial subject of animal welfare and animal rights. Can humans who claim to have many rights including the right to life, ask for or demand the same rights for all animals and if some rights were given, where does one draw the line? I ask this because they cannot have all the rights that humans have. Many perceptions regarding animals and their welfare have to do with feelings and emotions of certain humans and some religions. Some humans are very sentient and are more concerned about the welfare of the charismatic animals such as elephants, whales, dolphins, seals and dogs and are less concerned about sheep, donkeys, rats and mice, shrimps or prawns and oysters. A small group of humans like the Jains in India care about the welfare of all animals and even ants and worms and the birds and bees. Some Americans cared for a special king-sized lobster called Charlito and saved him from a fish tank and becoming somebody's dinner.