Animal rights have been the cause of debate among many people, involving multiple supporters in this important modern issue and those who disagree with this concept. Many people tend to invalidate this concept, saying that animals do not have the same mental capabilities as humans. While this may be a valid point, the issue of animal rights is much more complicated than one might think.
In my opinion, animals certainly have rights; however, this concept differs from the concept of human rights. Human rights involve such issues as marriage, voting, adoption and many more. While some of those problems are not that much of a concern among animals, there are multiple legal and ethical issues that go hand in hand with their lives. Since animals are incapable of speaking for themselves, humans are expected to take responsibility for them, especially if said animals are their pets.
The reason why it is important is because feeling empathy towards animals could be a testament as to whether a certain person has a sense of morals or not. Those who commit violent acts towards animals or neglect them intentionally may very likely become a threat to other people. This is why animal cruelty is just as serious as interpersonal crimes are, although it may not seem to be the case at first.
In conclusion, while animals may not have the same mental and intellectual capacities as humans, it is very important to persecute any possible animal rights violations. Since animals cannot speak for themselves or represent their interests in court, it is important for humans to be a guardian figure for them. Moreover, one’s empathy towards animals could mean the difference between someone who presents a threat to society and someone who is not.