What you describe is animal welfare, the welfare of animals which is a completely different thing than animal rights.
Maybe by your definition H&H. Growing up on a farm, animal welfare was a part of life. To us it meant the state of an individual animal or the herd. It was giving an animal proper housing, food, disease prevention and treatment. It was handling them and slaughtering them in a humane way, without undue cruelty. Local vet would come out and regularly give us "Animal Welfare" checks to evaluate our performance as such. Back in High School in the 60s, I gave a speech on Animal Rights. The definition given to me by the dictionary at that time was the same one I hold today. That animals the right to be treated humanely and not be abused, this whether they are domestic or wild, and that they have more value than just food or beast of burden. Seems that the phrase "Animal Rights" has gotten defined differently as the years have gone by basically due to the stance of staunce Animal Rights proponents and their outlandish claims. My definition does not hold with theirs.
That, my friend, is a religious ideology..... just as it took a religious ideology to assert that humans had an inherent value, and that needlessly causing suffering is wrong.
You say that like it's a bad thing. My country and the basis of our American culture was founded on those same ideals. We humans are nuttin' but another animal.......Do you not believe that humans have inherent value and that needlessly causing suffering your fellow man is wrong? .
It doesn't matter whether we argue over how many accept that idea, if there is one observable fact about nature, it is that nature - either as individuals or en-masse - does not adhere to this idea that animals have "rights".
So no..... I don't believe that animals have Rights, either.
Not arguing, we are all entitled to our opinion. I agree, Nature does not argue for animal rights no more than nature recognizes any of our human rights. Nature makes humans suffer and agonize just like it does any other animal in it's kingdom.. Regardless, we are not talking nature in this discussion, but humans vs wildlife.
What I DO believe, is that humans have a responsibility as stewards, both to our fellow humans, and to nature's Creator.
Very much all I'm trying to say.
Disagree all you like, but I'm not demanding you follow my religion, why should you be able to make the same demand of me?
Don't know where I or anyone else ever demanded you follow my religion or my ideals. Only stated mine and asked who felt differently. You apparently feel differently and I give you that right. Kinda how it goes on social media.
Belief that animals are more than animals - that they are somehow deformed "people" - is one of the older superstitions. Apparently it is still popular.... especially among those who are separated from nature and only experience it through sterile glass windows, lenses and flat-screen tv.
Deformed people? Must be an Australian thing, eh? Never heard that one here, nor did I read anything like this on this thread till you came up with it.
But there is another phenomena that is at least as old as the Pharisees.
There are those who want to see themselves as "better". The easiest way to do this is to declare what you like "moral" and what you don't like, "evil". You then get to sneer at the sinners (and call for them to be stoned) for your heights of righteousness, while not having to make any effort at unpleasant self-control.
It is no coincidence that this is most prevalent amongst those who reject "traditional" morality...
We always called that "illusory superiority" or "superiority bias". Another coincidence is folks that fit into that category tend to try and elevate themselves(at least in their own eyes) by belittling and condescending others. I must be better, because you are worse kinda thingy. Guess they convince themselves anyway...........
Sorry if my values do not match those of yours. Don't make either of us right or wrong, just different. I do believe that animals have value......the bird dog laying at my feet as I type gives me more than just a staunch point on food every fall. Probably true to most dog owners. Same goes for equestrians and their steeds. Don't mean we don't eat meat or hunt. While most folks have a grudge against them, I believe that coyotes and wolves deserve to be killed just as humanely as deer when they become a pest or their numbers need to be thinned. I like to hunt, but I don't enjoy the kill. Never was one for pulling the wings off flies, but never had a problem with swattin' them.