Have you ever wondered what your cat or dog would say to you if they could speak? How about  the chickens and cows at a farm? Wouldn’t it be amazing to know their innermost thoughts and emotions? Since we are all not bestowed with the same special gift as Dr. Doolittle, we can only guess what our four-legged friends mean when they give us head bumps or touch their wet noses to ours. We can never really know what an animal is feeling and experiencing when they are trapped in a steel cage or chained up outside in the cold. While most of us balk at the thought of treating our pets in this cruel manner, we often fail to acknowledge all of the monkeys and rats experimented on in labs, or the calf that was sacrificed for the hamburgers we are eating. 

I love all animals, not just because they are cute, but because of the joy they bring to human beings, including myself. Sadly, however, we live in a world where humans often treat animals as a means to an end. Speciesism, the fallacious belief that one species is inherently better than another, is pervasive in our culture. Whether it is for their fur, their flesh, or simply for sport, innocent animals, whose only crime is that they exist, are killed. Together we can put an end to speciesism, and the negative consequences that result from this detrimental mindset.

Peter Singer, Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, and author of “Animal Liberation,” defines speciesism as “a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interests of members of one’s own species and against those of members of other species.” In essence, to diminish the value of an animal’s life for the pleasure and enjoyment of a human being is at the crux of speciesism. Speciesism can also be viewed as a form of oppression towards animals. In today’s world, some ways in which speciesism manifests includes using animals for cosmetics testing, medical experiments, and the production of products including clothing, soaps, candles, and more. Keeping animals in cages at zoos and circuses are also examples of speciesism. 

I truly believe that we can measure the worth of our society by the way we treat animals. Through our relationship with animals, we learn empathy and are shown unconditional love. In exchange, we must be their protector, and must not let harm come to them. To this end, I have formed a new club at RHS called Advocate for Animals. The focus of Advocate for Animals is animal rights. Defending animal rights starts with rejecting speciesism and taking action towards ending practices that hurt animals as well as increasing behaviors that support the health and well-being of animals. By examining your own choices and behaviors each day, you can become an animal advocate. You can start by only purchasing products that have not been tested on animals, and/or are labeled cruelty-free; choose to wear animal-free clothing; reduce the amount of animal derived foods you consume; and finally, donate to charities like PETA who staunchly defend animal rights.

Say it with me, “animal rights are human rights.” Animals deserve to be treated humanely and through educating others it is my fervent hope to spread this message. Won’t you join me in this fight?

If you are interested in supporting animal rights, please join the Advocate for Animals club today. As a member of Advocate for Animals you will have the opportunity to serve your community by making toys and baking treats for animals living in shelters, as well as participating in wish list donation fundraisers for the ASPCA. The Advocate for Animals club also focuses on educating others about speciesism. 

Please consider becoming a member of Advocate for Animals. Be their voice. For more information, please send an email to [email protected]  or [email protected].