| The vast majority of animals have no rights as they are not Sentient or Sapient. Those animals which -do- appear to be Sen/Sap could be said to have certain rights which might approach those of humans; elephants, whales, dolphins, and the Great Apes for instance.
However, the remaining animal species do not have rights as we humans understand them. Humans do, however, being Sentient and Sapient, have a moral obligation to treat animals humanely and not to abuse them. This is not to say that they should not be killed; having no awareness of Death or Mortality it does not effect them. However, they can and do feel pain, and should therefore be killed in as painless and humane a manner as circumstances allow, and not made to suffer. People who consciously, intentionally, or negligently abuse animals are the lowest of the low, in my opinion. |