Animals are in possession of themselves; their soul is in possession of their body. But they have no right to their life, because they do not will it.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
I urge you to ask yourself just how honorable it is to preside over the abuse and suffering of animals.
The most important of all rights is the right to life, and I cannot foresee a day when domesticated animals will be granted that right in law.
Every animal is related to its own constitution and the consciousness of it.
Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened.
I wish people would realize that animals are totally dependent on us, helpless, like children, a trust that is put upon us.
At any rate, we can see that they are given into our care, that we cannot just do whatever we want with them. Animals, too, are God's creatures.
If man limits himself to a satisfied animal existence, and asks from life only what such an existence can give, the higher values of life at once disappear.
The animal kingdom is destined by nature to serve, and that service is fulfilled in alleviating the temporal and physical needs of man; the animal spirit or soul is limited by time - it dies with the body.
Every animal has his or her story, his or her thoughts, daydreams, and interests. All feel joy and love, pain and fear, as we now know beyond any shadow of a doubt. All deserve that the human animal afford them the respect of being cared for with great consideration for those interests or left in peace.