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Pit bulls are still banned in towns around Kansas City. These dog lovers are fighting for a repeal

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Independence, Kearney and Leawood are the last remaining cities in the Kansas City metro that still ban residents from owning pit bulls. Dog-loving residents in Independence are trying to collect more than 3,000 signatures in order to force a city-wide vote on repealing the ban.

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Over 100 U.S. cities have repealed BSL since 2018. Learn why breed bans are being replaced with effective, breed-neutral laws focused on real bite prevention.

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In the United States, animal protection laws can be enacted and enforced at every level of government.

Most animal protection legislation happens at the state level. There are also a handful of federal animal protection laws. Additionally, some cities and counties pass ordinances to protect animals.

This is why it's critically important to advocate for better animal protection laws with lawmakers in all government bodies. Each has the power to help.

Federal Animal Protection Laws

There are only a handful of federal animal protection laws:

The Animal Welfare Act: Signed into law in 1966, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the primary federal animal protection law. The AWA mainly involves animals kept at zoos and used in laboratories, as well as animals who are commercially bred and sold like those in puppy mills.

The AWA directs the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture to set minimum standards regarding these animals' "handling, care, treatment, and transportation." Dog fighting and cockfighting are also prohibited under the Animal Welfare Act, so long as the activity in some way crosses state lines.

The AWA itself, as well as its enforcement by the Department of Agriculture, are frequently criticized for allowing inhumane practices to go unchecked.

The "28 Hour Law": This law, enacted in 1873, requires vehicles transporting certain animals for slaughter to stop every 28 hours to allow the animals exercise, food and water. The law does not apply if the vehicle in which animals are being transported contains access to food or water, and there are many other exceptions as well. Birds like chickens and turkeys, which are the most-farmed animals in the United States, are considered exempt by the federal government.

The Humane Slaughter Act, or the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act : This law was first passed in 1958, then amended in 1978. The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act requires that animals be stunned into unconsciousness before slaughter, to minimize pain.

Though chickens, turkeys and other birds feel pain just like other animals, they are not protected by this law. Enforcement of this law has been found by government inspectors to be "inconsistent."

The Endangered Species Act : Enacted in 1973, the Endangered Species Act protects fish, mammals and birds - as well as plants - listed as threatened or endangered in the United States and beyond. The ESA outlines procedures for federal agencies to follow regarding listed species, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violations. This law is chiefly administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service.

Companion animals:

Companion animals - a category often limited to dogs and cats, but that sometimes includes birds, horses, and other animals as well - usually receive the strongest level of protection under state laws. However, there have been cases where someone has been prosecuted for having committed egregiously cruel acts against wildlife or farmed animals.

This can even extend to marine animals. In 2017, three Florida teenagers were charged with animal cruelty for their torture of a shark.

Each state also has laws governing some aspects of the "hands-on" care of animals. For example, there are laws regulating how long animal shelters must "hold" stray animals before they can be adopted or euthanized. There are also laws about how frequently pets must be vaccinated against rabies. States often also have some regulations concerning commercial breeding of companion animals.

"Hot car laws" criminalize leaving an animal in a vehicle in extreme weather, and some hot car laws allow these animals to be rescued from vehicles in certain circumstances and make the rescuer immune from civil or criminal liability. Anti-tethering laws limiting how long pets can be tied up or chained outside, especially in extreme weather, are also growing in popularity, as are laws allowing pets to be included in domestic violence protective orders.

California is at the forefront of some other statewide animal protection measures. In 2017, California became the first state to pass a statewide "retail pet sale ban." Under this law, retail establishments like pet stores may only sell cats, dogs and rabbits coming from shelters and rescue groups-and not from commercial breeders. Maryland passed its own statewide retail pet sale ban in 2018, becoming the second state with this type of law.

Wildlife:

Each state also has wildlife protection laws, as well as laws regarding the time and manner under which it is sanctioned to kill wildlife through hunting and fishing.

Wild animal performance bans: Some states regulate the use of wild animals in performances. In 2017, Illinois and New York passed the country's first statewide bans on the use of elephants in entertainment. This is generally seen as the beginning of a more widespread trend.

Farmed animals:

While farmed animals are often left out of state animal protection laws, a number of states have adopted measures to limit the use of "intensive confinement" farming practices. Such practices entail confining animals in restraints that are so small the animals often can't fully stand up or move around. Chickens and hens kept in battery cages don't have room to stretch their wings.

Local animal protection laws: Many other companion animal protection measures are enacted and enforced at the local level. For example, hundreds of cities and counties have retail pet sale bans like California's and Maryland's.

Similarly, in states without anti-tethering laws, many cities and counties pass their own such laws. A growing number of cities are passing and enforcing their own wild animal performance bans.

While state and federal laws would offer more protection to more animals, these local laws are very important. They not only protect the animals in that area - but they can also act as a bellwether for more expansive protections to come. It is not infrequent for new animal protection measures to begin at the city or county level, and then as the public increasingly demands it, to be taken up by the state legislators.

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In the United States, animal protection laws can be enacted and enforced at every level of government. Most animal protection legislation happens at the state level.

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There is no one definition of a plant-based diet, but it means primarily eating plants. Two specific versions of a plant-based diet are well-defined: vegetarianism and veganism.

Both vegetarianism and veganism include plant-based foods-such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains-and exclude meat and poultry. However, the main difference between vegan and vegetarian diets is that veganism does not include any animal-based products. Read on to learn more.

What Is the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian?

Though the diets are both plant-based, they differ slightly based on what's allowed as part of the diet.

What Is a Vegetarian Diet?

Vegetarianism generally means that no meat, poultry, or seafood is consumed. Eggs and dairy can typically be included in a vegetarian diet. There are three types of vegetarians:

Lacto-vegetarians: Consume dairy products in their diet

Lacto-ovo-vegetarians: Consume dairy products and eggs

Ovo-vegetarians: Eat eggs as their only animal protein

What Is a Vegan Diet?

Veganism excludes all animal foods, including dairy, eggs, meat, and seafood. People following this diet also will not eat ingredients derived from animal sources, such as honey. Some subtypes of veganism are:

Frugal or frugivorous: A diet of mostly fruits and a small portion of nuts, seeds, and select vegetables

Raw food: A diet where foods are eaten in their raw state

Additionally, veganism isn't just a diet for some individuals. It generally extends to a lifestyle that involves not using any materials derived from animals, such as leather.

Vegetarian Health Benefits

A vegetarian diet has its advantages. Vegetarianism is beneficial for protecting against or reducing the risk of:

Autoimmune diseases

Heart diseases

Inflammatory diseases

Type 2 diabetes

Weight management

This diet is low in saturated fats and high in fiber. Saturated fats can raise bad cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease; fiber helps with digestion and weight loss.

It's also beneficial for the intestinal microbiota, which are good bacteria within the body. Researchers found that vegetarian diets make the microbiota more diverse. A diverse microbiota positively affects a person's health as it plays a role in chronic disease prevention.

Vegan Health Benefits

Research has found that veganism has many of the same benefits as vegetarianism. A vegan diet can potentially:

Decrease blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance, and triglycerides

Improve heart function

Lower risk for overweight and obesity

Provide higher levels of anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants, and healthy fats

Reduce heart disease risk

Vegan vs. Vegetarian: Which is Healthier?

Vegan and vegetarian diets are relatively comparable. The basis for vegetarian and vegan diets is plant foods, and a healthy diet contains nutrient-dense foods like plant foods. Also, people who partake in these dietary patterns have an increased intake of the following nutrients:

Some research indicated that vegan diets might be healthier. Diet quality relates to how closely a diet follows evidence-based health and disease risk reduction recommendations. One review suggested that the quality of a vegan diet is higher than that of a vegetarian diet based on the restrictiveness of veganism. However, this finding was based on limited evidence.

At the same time, vegetarian diets have a few more nutrients than a vegan diet. For example, a vegetarian diet may have a slight upper hand over a vegan diet regarding protein and calcium. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy have a few more protein options. They can access additional calcium sources if they consume only dairy beyond plant-based foods.

Risks and Considerations

Plant-based diets can include foods to eat in moderation, such as refined carbs, vegetarian ultra-processed foods, and tropical oils. With a focus on these foods and without a balanced diet, veganism and vegetarianism can also result in:

Bone fractures

Hemorrhagic stroke

Hormone disruptions

Increased depression, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes risk

Lower energy levels

Weight changes

Also, nutritionally speaking, omitting more animal foods means a person will need to look to sources of the following nutrients to meet their needs:

Obtaining all the necessary nutrients on a plant-based diet is possible if you know which plant foods contain vital nutrients. You can consult a registered dietitian who specializes in plant-based diets for guidance.

Using supplements can also help you get the nutrients you may be missing. However, the effects of dietary supplements can vary individually and depend on factors like the type or dosage of the supplement you're using. You'll also want to talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any supplements.

How To Get More Plants in Your Diet

Regardless of your plant-based style of eating, prioritize nutrient-rich, whole-plant foods. Aim for a daily intake of:

At least 2 cups of veggies and 1.5 cups of fruit

Pulses-the edible seeds of certain plants in the legume family-such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas

A variety of nuts and seeds

Whole grains, like quinoa and brown or wild rice

Vegan goodies, such as coconut milk ice cream and vegan cupcakes, also contain plant-based ingredients. Consider eating them in moderation.

A Quick Review

People who are vegan or vegetarian consume plant-based foods, but the difference between vegetarian and vegan diets is veganism's exclusion of animal-based foods and products. Both diets share many of the same benefits, though vegan diets might be a little healthier.

Also, you may miss out on some nutrients, like vitamin B12, when eating plant-based diets. Talk to a registered dietitian about trying these diets and to ensure you are eating a well-rounded, balanced diet.

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The Truth About Vegan vs. Vegetarian Diets

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There's a clear difference between vegan and vegetarian, but both plant-based approaches can yield health benefits. Learn more about these diets.

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Vegetarian diets have reportedly been around since as early as 700 B.C.

Several types exist, and individuals may practice them for a variety of reasons. These include health, ethics, environmentalism, and religion.

Vegan diets appeared a little more recently, but have been getting a good amount of press.

This article takes a look at the similarities and differences of these two diets.

It also discusses how they affect your health and the environment.

According to the Vegetarian Society, a vegetarian is someone who does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish, or by-products of animal slaughter ( 1)

Vegetarian diets contain various levels of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts, and seeds.

The inclusion of dairy, honey, and eggs depends on the type of diet you follow.

The most common types of vegetarians include:

Lacto-ovo vegetarians: vegetarians who avoid all animal flesh, but do consume dairy and egg products

Lacto vegetarians: vegetarians who avoid animal flesh and eggs, but do consume dairy products

Ovo vegetarians: vegetarians who avoid all animal products except eggs

Vegans: vegetarians who avoid all animal and animal-derived products

People who do not eat meat or poultry but do consume fish are considered pescatarians, whereas part-time vegetarians are often referred to as flexitarians.

Although they're sometimes considered vegetarians, pescatarians and flexitarians do eat animal flesh. So, they do not technically fall under the definition of vegetarianism.

Summary
Vegetarian diets exclude meat, poultry, game, fish, and shellfish. Certain types of vegetarians also avoid eggs, dairy, or other animal by-products.

A vegan diet can be viewed as the strictest form of vegetarianism.

Veganism is currently defined by the Vegan Society as a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty as much as possible ( 2).

This includes exploitation for food and any other purpose.

So, a vegan diet not only excludes animal flesh, but also dairy, eggs, and other ingredients that come from animals. These include:

Vegetarians and vegans often avoid eating animal products for similar reasons. The largest difference is the degree to which they consider animal products acceptable.

For instance, both vegans and vegetarians may exclude meat from their diets for health or environmental reasons.

Vegans also choose to avoid all animal by-products because they believe this has the largest impact on their health and the environment.

In terms of ethics, vegetarians are opposed to killing animals for food, but generally consider it acceptable to consume animal by-products such as milk and eggs, as long as the animals are kept in adequate conditions.

On the other hand, vegans believe that animals have a right to be free from human use, whether it's for food, clothing, science, or entertainment.

As a result, they seek to avoid all animal by-products, regardless of the conditions in which animals are bred or housed.

The desire to avoid all forms of animal exploitation is why vegans choose to forgo dairy and eggs - products that many vegetarians have no problem consuming.

Summary
Vegetarians and vegans differ in their beliefs regarding the use of animals by humans. This is why some vegetarians may consume animal-derived products, whereas vegans do not.

Research shows vegetarian and vegan diets tend to be low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

They also tend to contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy plant compounds ().

What's more, both diets contain a high amount of nutrient-dense foods. These may include fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and soy products ().

On the other hand, poorly planned vegetarian and vegan diets could result in low intakes of some nutrients, particularly iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin D (, ).

Both diets also tend to contain limited amounts of vitamin B12 and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, although levels of these nutrients are generally lower in vegans than vegetarians ().

While vegetarian and vegan diets tend to lean heavily on fruits, legumes, and vegetables, some items might be diary- and meat-free but are still:

Cookies, french fries, candies, and even nut based ice creams may fall into the vegan and vegetarian category yet still contain refined carbohydrates, are highly processed, are high in added sugar, or are deep fried.

These items should be consumed in moderation.

Summary
Vegetarians and vegans generally consume similar levels of most nutrients. However, poorly planned diets could result in low intakes of several nutrients.

According to a report from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and several scientific reviews, both vegetarian and vegan diets can be considered appropriate for all stages of life, as long as the diet is planned well (, , , ).

An insufficient intake of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamins D and B12 can negatively impact various aspects of health, including mental and physical health (, , , 10).

Both vegetarians and vegans may have lower intakes of these nutrients. However, studies show that vegetarians tend to consume slightly more calcium and vitamin B12 than vegans (, ).

Nonetheless, both vegetarians and vegans should pay special attention to nutrition strategies meant to increase the absorption of nutrients from plant foods ().

It may also be necessary to consume fortified foods and supplements, especially for nutrients such as iron, calcium, omega-3, and vitamins D and B12 (, ).

Vegetarians and vegans should strongly consider:

analyzing their daily nutrient intake

getting their blood nutrient levels measured

taking supplements accordingly

The few studies directly comparing vegetarian to vegan diets report that vegans may have a somewhat lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and various types of cancer than vegetarians (, , , ).

That said, most studies so far have been observational in nature. This means that it's impossible to say exactly which aspect of the vegan diet produces these effects and to confirm that diet is the only determining factor.

Summary
Both vegetarian and vegan diets can be considered healthy eating choices. However, if not well planned, a vegan diet could lead to nutrient deficiencies.

Although vegetarians and vegans may choose to avoid animal products for similar purposes, this choice often extends beyond diet for vegans.

In fact, veganism is often considered a lifestyle strongly anchored in animal rights.

For this reason, many vegans also avoid purchasing clothing items containing silk, wool, leather, or suede.

What's more, many vegans boycott companies that test on animals and purchase only cosmetics that are free of animal by-products.

People known as "ethical vegans" also tend to steer clear of circuses, zoos, rodeos, horse races, and any other activities involving the use of animals for entertainment.

Finally, many environmentalists adopt a vegan diet for its reduced impact on the earth's resources and the benefits it has against climate change (, , ).

Summary
For many, veganism is more than just a diet. This explains why many vegans refuse to spend money on clothing, beauty products, or entertainment that involves the exploitation of animals.

Vegetarians and vegans may avoid consuming animal products for similar reasons, but do so to various extents.

Several types of vegetarians exist, and vegans are at the strictest end of the vegetarian spectrum.

Both types of diet can be considered safe for all stages of life, but vegan diets may even offer additional health benefits.

However, it's important for both vegetarians and vegans to plan their diets well in order to avoid health complications over the long term.

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Vegan vs Vegetarian - What's The Difference?

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Vegetarian diets have reportedly been around since as early as 700 B.C. Several types exist, and individuals may practice them for a variety of reasons. These include health, ethics, environmentalism, and religion. Vegan diets appeared a little more recently, but have been getting a good amount of press.

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The animal rights movement strives to make the public aware of the fact that animals are sensitive, emotional, and intelligent beings who deserve dignity and respect. But first, it's important to understand what the term "animal rights" really means.

What are animal rights?

Animal rights are moral principles grounded in the belief that non-human animals deserve the ability to live as they wish, without being subjected to the desires of human beings. At the core of animal rights is autonomy, which is another way of saying choice. In many countries, human rights are enshrined to protect certain freedoms, such as the right to expression, freedom from torture, and access to democracy. Of course, these choices are constrained depending on social locations like race, class, and gender, but generally speaking, human rights safeguard the basic tenets of what makes human lives worth living. Animal rights aim to do something similar, only for non-human animals.

Animal rights come into direct opposition with animal exploitation, which includes animals used by humans for a variety of reasons, be it for food, as experimental objects, or even pets. Animal rights can also be violated when it comes to human destruction of animal habitats. This negatively impacts the ability of animals to lead full lives of their choosing.

Do animals have rights?

Very few countries have enshrined animal rights into law. However, the US and the UK do have some basic protections and guidelines for how animals can be treated.

The UK Sentience Bill

In 2021, the United Kingdom's House of Commons introduced the Animal Sentience Bill. If passed, this bill would enshrine into law that animals are, in fact, sentient beings, and they deserve humane treatment at the hands of humans. While this law would not afford animals full autonomy, it would be a watershed in the movement to protect animals-officially recognizing their capacity to feel and to suffer, and distinguishing them from inanimate objects.

The US Animal Welfare Act

In 1966, the United States passed the Animal Welfare Act. While it is the biggest federal legislation addressing the treatment of animals to date, its scope is fairly narrow-the law excludes many species, including farmed animals, from its protections. The law does establish some basic guidelines for the sale, transport, and handling of dogs, cats, rabbits, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, and hamsters. It also protects the psychological welfare of animals who are used in lab experiments, and prohibits the violent practices of dogfighting and cockfighting. Again, this law does not recognize the rights and autonomy of animals-or even their ability to feel pain and suffer-but it does afford non-human animals some basic welfare protections.

What are some examples of animal rights?

While few laws currently exist in the UK or US that recognize or protect animals' rights to enjoy lives free from human interference, the following is a list of examples of animal rights that could one day be enacted:

Animals may not be used for food.

Animals may not be hunted.

The habitats of animals must be protected to allow them to live according to their choosing.

Animals may not be bred.

What's the difference between animal welfare and animal rights?

Animal rights philosophy is based on the idea that animals should not be used by people for any reason, and that animal rights should protect their interests the way human rights protect people. Animal welfare, on the other hand, is a set of practices designed to govern the treatment of animals who are being dominated by humans, whether for food, research, or entertainment.

Do animals need rights? Pros and cons

The idea of giving animals rights tends to be contentious, given how embedded animal products are within societies such as the United States. Some people, including animal activists, believe in an all-or-nothing approach, where animal rights must be legally enshrined and animals totally liberated from all exploitation. On the other end of the spectrum are people whose livelihoods depend upon animal-based industries. Below are some arguments both in favor of and opposing animal rights.

Arguments in favor of animal rights

Should the rights of animals be recognized, animal exploitative industries would disappear, as would the host of environmental problems they cause, including water pollution, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and deforestation.

Halting the widespread use of animals would also eliminate the systematic cruelty and denial of choice that animal industries perpetuate. The physical and psychological pain endured by animals in places like factory farms has reached a point many consider to be unacceptable, to say the least. Animals are mutilated by humans in several different ways, including castrations, dehorning, and cutting off various body parts, usually without the use of anesthetic.

Many species never see the outdoors except on their way to the slaughterhouse.

As their name suggests, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) pack vast numbers of animals in cramped conditions, often forcing animals to perpetually stand in their own waste. Many species-including chickens, cows, and pigs-never see the outdoors except on their way to the slaughterhouse. Recognizing animal rights would necessitate stopping this mistreatment for good.

Arguments against animal rights

Most arguments against animal rights can be traced back to money, because animal exploitation is big business. Factory farming for animal products is a multi-billion-dollar industry. JBS, the world's largest meatpacker, posted $9 billion in revenue for the third quarter of 2020 alone.

A lesser-known, yet also massive, industry is that which supplies animals for laboratories. The US market for lab rats (who are far less popular than mice for experiments) was valued at over $412 million in 2016. Big industrial producers of animals and animal products have enough political clout to influence legislation-including passing laws making it illegal to document farm conditions-and to benefit from government subsidies.

Many people depend upon animal exploitation for work. On factory farms, relatively small numbers of people can manage vast herds or flocks of animals, thanks to mechanization and other industrial farming techniques. Unfortunately, jobs in industrial meatpacking facilities are also known to be some of the most dangerous in the US. Smaller farmers coming from multi-generational farming families more directly depend upon using animals to make a living and tend to follow welfare standards more judiciously. However, smaller farms have been decreasing in number, due to the proliferation of factory farms against which they often cannot compete.

Although people may lose money or jobs in the transition to animal alternatives, new jobs can be created in the alternative protein sector and other plant-based industries.

When did the animal rights movement begin in the US?

The modern day animal rights movement in the United States includes thousands of individuals and a multitude of groups who advocate for animals in a variety of ways-from lobbying legislators to support animal rights laws, to rescuing animals from situations of abuse and neglect. While individuals throughout history have believed in and fought for animal rights, we can trace back the modern, US-based animal rights movement to the founding of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in 1866. The group's founder, Henry Burgh, believed that animals are "entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law." The organization worked with the New York City government to pass and enforce anti-cruelty laws that prevented the abuse of carthorses and provided care for injured horses. Since then, the ASPCA has expanded its advocacy across different non-human animal species-including farmed animals-and many more animal protection groups have sprung up, both locally and nationwide. Currently, there are over 40,000 non-profit organizations identified as animal groups in the US.

Why are animal rights important?

Animal rights are important because they represent a set of beliefs that counteract inaccurate yet long-held assumptions that animals are nothing more than mindless machines-beliefs popularized by western philosopher Rene Descartes in the 17th century. The perception of animals as being unthinking, unfeeling beings justified using them for human desires, resulting in today's world where farmed mammals outnumber those in the wild, and the majority of these farmed animals are forced to endure harsh conditions on factory farms.

Farmed mammals outnumber those in the wild.

But the science is increasingly clear: The animals we eat ( pigs, chickens, cows), the animals we use in laboratories ( mice and rats), the animals who provide us with clothing, and those whose backs we ride upon have all been found to possess more cognitive complexity, emotions, and overall sophistication than has long been believed. This sophistication renders animals more susceptible not only to physical pain but also to the psychological impacts caused by the habitual denial of choice. Awareness of their own subjugation forms sufficient reasoning to rethink the ways animals are treated in western societies.

The consequences of animal rights

Currently, laws in the US and UK are geared toward shielding animals from cruelty, not giving them the same freedom of choice that humans have. (Even these laws are sorely lacking, as they fail to protect livestock and laboratory animals.) However, the animal rights movement can still have real-world consequences. Calls for animal liberation from places like factory farms can raise public awareness of the poor living conditions and welfare violations these facilities perpetuate, sometimes resulting in stronger protections, higher welfare standards, and decreasing consumer demand. Each of these outcomes carries economic consequences for producers, as typically it is more expensive for factory farms to provide better living conditions such as more space, or using fewer growth hormones which can result in lower production yields.

Of course, should the animal rights movement achieve its goals, society would look much different than it does today. If people consume more alternative sources of protein, such as plant-based or lab-grown meat, the global environment would be far less impacted. Clothing would be made without leather or other animal products; alternative sources, such as pineapple leather created from waste products from the pineapple industry, could replace toxic tanneries. The fur industry is being increasingly shunned, with fashion labels rejecting fur in favor of faux materials. Ocean ecosystems would be able to recover, replenishing fish populations and seafloor habitats. Today these are razed by bottom trawling fishing, resulting in the clear-cutting of corals that can be thousands of years old.

How you can advocate for animals

A world in which animals are free from human exploitation still seems far off, but we can make choices that create a kinder world for animals, every day. We can start by leaving animals off our plate in favor of plant-based alternatives-a choice that recognizes animals as the sentient beings that they are, and not products for consumption.

When we come together, we can also fight for better protections for animals in the US and around the world. There's a robust movement to hold corporations accountability and end the cruelty of factory farming-an industry which causes immense amount of suffering for billions of animals. If you want to help end this suffering and spread compassion for animals, join our community of online animal activists and take action.

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Animal Rights: Definition, Issues, and Examples

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Animal rights advocates believe that non-human animals should be free to live as they wish, without being used, exploited, or otherwise interfered with by humans.

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Animal therapy or pet therapy refers to the use of animals as a way to help people cope with and recover from some physical and mental health conditions.

Depending on the function of the therapy, people may choose from various animals, including dogs, horses, and birds. Animal assisted therapy is not the only therapeutic option in most cases, but it can be a good choice for some people.

Keep reading to learn more, including how it works, who it may benefit, and more.

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Interacting with professionally trained dogs, horses, and birds may help people with physical or mental health conditions.

Animal therapy, also called pet therapy or animal assisted therapy, refers to various services using animals to help people with specific physical or mental health conditions.

Animals may be able to provide comfort, alert others if someone is in danger, or even perform direct actions to help a person's condition when they are in need. It is a type of complementary or alternative therapy. It should enhance but not replace other treatments.

On the whole, the goal of animal assisted therapy is to alleviate or help people cope with some symptoms of various conditions where possible.

The exact type of animal therapy can vary greatly depending on what condition the person has, the type of animal, and what kind of therapy they provide.

Animal therapy builds on a concept called the human-animal bond, which describes people's desire to interact with and relate to animals. For many people, by interacting with a friendly animal, they can form a bond with them. This bond can produce a calming state in the person.

This bond itself may help the person in several ways, :

reducing boredom

increasing movement and activity through walks and play

providing companionship and decreasing loneliness

increasing social interactions

improving mood and general well-being

The positive interactions with an animal may lead to benefits in the mind and body, such as reduced stress and an overall more balanced mental and emotional state.

Animal therapy partially uses this bond in a directed way to achieve the goals of the therapy.

Animal therapy can have several goals, and these will determine how it works. The type of therapy and target for this therapy may change depending on the condition and the type of aid that a person needs. Some examples include:

providing comfort and reducing levels of pain

improving movement or motor skills

developing social or behavioral skills

increasing motivation toward activities such as exercise or interacting with others

The process of animal therapy itself typically involves the animal's handler, who is often the owner, bringing the animal to each session. The handler will work under a doctor's guidance to help the person achieve the goals of their therapy.

A number of organizations train handlers and connect them to healthcare providers. Many handlers work as volunteers. Before getting approval for therapy use, both the animal and the handler will have to go through various certifications with these groups and organizations.

The handler must generally pass an instructional course on how to interact with people and perform the types of therapies that they may provide.

The animal also has to go through certain checks. These will include checking immunization records and performing physical exams to ensure that the animal is generally healthy and free of disease. They will also have to undergo temperament testing to make sure that they behave properly with both the handler and other people.

Additionally, the pair will go through obedience training. This rigorous testing and certification ensures the safety and professionalism of everyone involved and helps give the person access to the best therapy sessions possible.

It is important to note that a therapy dog is not the same as a service dog and does not have all of the same rights. For example, a therapy dog cannot accompany a handler into a business establishment.

Animal therapy may help people with a range of health issues.

Mental health

The Pet Partners organization note that these therapies may improve many important markers of stress and disorder by:

decreasing anxiety and stress

decreasing perceptions of pain

reducing feelings of fear or worry

increasing feelings of social support

providing motivation, stimulation, and focus

A review notes that animal therapy appears to provide general benefits for both physical and psychological health. Evidence for animal assisted therapy appears strongest for markers of anxiety and depression in the widest range of people.

The researchers note that the therapy may be beneficial for people from many different age groups with various conditions. For example, a found that the use of therapy dogs improved the efficacy of mental health treatments among adolescents.

Together, these factors may make the therapy helpful for aspects of conditions such as:

Studies involving the use of therapy and have shown that animal therapy might also help alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Some people going through rehabilitation for a drug use disorder may also respond well and have a greater sense of well-being when working with an animal.

Physical health

Some forms of animal therapy may also help with markers of physical conditions, including:

Working with an animal in these cases may motivate the person to continue therapy, boost their mood, and reduce signs of pain. For physical conditions, it may help them move correctly and exercise often.

Additionally, some long-term care facilities may offer pet therapy programs to help improve the mood and general well-being of people in these facilities.

A study in found that dog assisted therapy in long-term elderly care facilities helped reduce symptoms of depression. The research suggests that the dogs help facilitate social interaction and create positive emotional responses.

However, more research is necessary to confirm the benefits of animal therapy.

While animal therapy may be helpful for people with certain health issues, it may not be right for everyone.

Some people may be allergic to the animals that commonly play a role in therapy. Many people are allergic to the dander from a dog's shedding, for example. For these individuals, animal therapy with a dog could cause far more harm than good.

Others may simply be uncomfortable with or afraid of the animals. They may not choose this type of therapy as it would cause them more stress.

In some cases, a person may become very attached to the animal rather quickly. This feeling could lead to possessiveness or actually decrease a person's satisfaction with therapy.

Additionally, therapy animals that visit hospitals and other long-term facilities may be carriers of certain infections or diseases. There may be a chance of them spreading these infections to other people, making thorough testing important for any animal.

Animal therapy is a complementary treatment. It is not a basis for the treatment of any condition and should only enhance or complement other treatment. It is not a replacement for other forms of therapy, such as psychotherapy or physical therapy.

This form of therapy might not suit everyone, however. People who do not respond well to animal therapy or are not interested in trying it may ask about other options. These alternatives will vary depending on the person's condition.
Learn more about several types of therapy options here.
Animal therapy involves regular sessions with professionally trained animals and their handlers. It aims to help people cope with both physical and mental health disorders.

Doctors or mental health specialists may recommend and administer animal therapy for various conditions, with different goals in mind for each person.

Some people may not enjoy animal therapy or have other reasons to avoid it, and they can choose from alternative therapies.

Anyone considering animal therapy should discuss the process and how they may benefit from it with a doctor or mental health specialist.

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Animal therapy: How it works, benefits, and more

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Animal therapy or pet therapy refers to the use of animals as a way to help people cope with and recover from some physical and mental health conditions. Depending on the function of the therapy, people may choose from various animals, including dogs, horses, and birds.

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We often talk about how much we do for our pets as opposed to how much they do for us. We work hard to feed, walk, and clean up after them. Their jobs seem less labor intensive. They act silly and make us smile. They snuggle on the couch to keep us company. They play games with us. They simply make us "feel good". Making people "feel good" is a very important job! Just ask anyone who knows a therapy pet.

What are therapy pets?

Therapy pets are animals that visit hospitals, retirement homes, hospice centers, nursing homes and schools. Although most therapy pets are dogs, other species such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses are good candidates. These lovable pets are well trained, have good temperaments, and are people-friendly. Plus, they have a good work ethic!

What are the benefits of pet therapy?

Successful pet therapy is based on the human animal bond and involves three parts: pet, owner and patient. The purpose of pet therapy is to help people cope with health or emotional problems and make them "feel good".

Residents of care facilities are often stressed or depressed. Pet therapy decreases depression and increases self-esteem while encouraging three-way interaction between patient, pet and pet owner. This interaction is calming, reduces anxiety and improves a patient's overall psychological state.

Specific benefits of pet therapy include: improvement of motor skills and movement (petting a cat is actually exercise!), decreased feelings of isolation (having a furry friend is a great emotional boost), improved social skills and verbal communication (pets are great social buffers and automatic conversation starters), decreased monotony and boredom (pets are entertaining) and improved overall emotional outlook (pets make us happy). Moreover, visiting with a pet stimulates endorphin release, decreases blood pressure and may improve cardiovascular health.

What are the different types of therapy?

There are three basic types of pet therapy:

1. Therapeutic Visitation is the most common type of pet therapy in which owners take their personal pets to visit health care facilities. Many hospitalized patients miss the pets they left at home. A visit from a pet can motivate them to get better so they can return home to their own fur babies.

2. Animal Assisted Therapy involves animals specially-trained to assist physical and occupational therapists with their patients. Pets can improve limb mobility and fine motor skills in patients as they stroke their coats. Imagine how a game of fetch could help improve a patient's physical AND mental state! Plus, therapy pets help patients re-learn pet care skills so they can take care of their own pets when they return home.

3. Facility Therapy is a little different. These therapy pets often reside at the care center and are trained to monitor and engage patients with Alzheimer's disease or other mental illnesses. They learn the limitations and boundaries of the residents and help keep them safe.

Who should participate in pet therapy?

People of any age with physical, medical, or emotional problems, whether long or short term, can benefit from pet therapy. From bed-ridden patients to more active residents, pet therapy helps a wide range of people. People, young and old find that the presence of a pet is comforting, entertaining, and distracting! So just about anybody can participate in pet therapy.

Provided their immune systems are functioning well, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may appreciate the company of a pet during treatment sessions. Pets may facilitate psychological therapy for people with post-traumatic stress disorder or other emotional issues. People with cardiac problems and hypertension may reap the rewards of lowered blood pressure associated with pet contact.

Who should not participate in pet therapy?

Pet therapy is great, but it isn't for everyone. Some people simply do not like animals and being around a pet may increase their stress level. Patients with weak immune systems also have to be very cautious about their contact with pets.

Are there safety issues with pet therapy?

Interacting with pets is usually a safe encounter, but people and pets can both be unpredictable. The key element in pet therapy is the pet, but the handler is important, too. Both need training. Dogs should be obedience trained and handlers should know how to control the pet. There are experienced organizations that assess and train pet therapy teams (dog and owner/handler).

Pets must be mild mannered and calm. An overly-active dog or cat that jumps up on a patient can cause unintentional harm. Even a small scratch could present physical and emotional problems for a patient. And pet owners/handlers have to be friendly and interactive, too. Their presence is an additional comfort to residents. Many therapy groups match health care facilities with suitable therapy teams.

On the flip side, patients must also be gentle with the pets. Dropping a small dog or cat can hurt them. Squeezing a larger pet can be uncomfortable. To minimize problems, pets should be desensitized to common handling: rubbing ears, patting heads, etc. The owner/handler should stay close to the pet to ensure safety of all concerned.

Pets also have to be healthy and clean! They cannot introduce pathogens to the medical environment. Dogs and cats should be bathed and brushed to reduce dander which can be problematic for people with allergies. All pets should be up-to-date with their immunizations and be free of internal (intestinal worms) and external (fleas, ticks, lice, mites) parasites.

Are therapy pets and service animals the same thing?

Although they are often registered with NSAR (National Service Animal Registry), therapy pets are not service animals. Service animals live with a disabled person and perform assistance tasks. Therapy pets live with their owners and are regular pets. They visit people at health care facilities but don't "belong" to any one patient and aren't specifically assistance trained.

Therapy pets are an asset to health care and have an important job, helping both children and adults with a variety of physical and mental issues. We do a lot for our pets, but they do a lot for us. And therapy pets do even more to make people "feel good". So, let's just say, "Good job"!

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Therapy pets are animals that visit hospitals, retirement homes, hospice centers, nursing homes and schools. Although most therapy pets are dogs, other species such as cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and horses are good candidates. These lovable pets are well trained, have good temperaments, and are people-friendly. Plus, they have a good work ethic!

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AVMA policy on the veterinarian's role in supporting appropriate selection and use of service, assistance, and therapy animals

Service, assistance and therapy animals provide valuable help, support, and comfort for people. Once it has been determined that use of a service, assistance, or therapy animal is appropriate, veterinarians have a role in assisting their clients in selecting the right animal for the right task, recommending that the animal receives appropriate training for its intended role, and ensuring that the health and welfare of that animal is addressed.

The AVMA encourages veterinarians to be familiar with the legal status and protections accorded to service, assistance, and therapy animals and their owners, and should discourage inaccurate or misleading descriptions of these animals' roles (e.g., "emotional support animals" status should be supported by a statement of need from a licensed mental health professional). Veterinarians should work collaboratively with their human health and other human service-provider colleagues in developing and supporting guidance for the appropriate use of animals for therapeutic purposes and to assist people with disabilities.
View this policy

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Service, emotional support, and therapy animals

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AVMA policy on the veterinarian's role in supporting appropriate selection and use of service, assistance, and therapy animals Service, assistance and therapy animals provide valuable help, support, and comfort for people.

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Learn more about the ASPCA’s work to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with shelters nationwide. Join our fight today!

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In the realm of pet ownership, the regulation of certain dog breeds has sparked heated debates across the United States. Known as breed-specific legislation (BSL), these laws vary dramatically from state to state, targeting specific breeds deemed potentially dangerous. Among the breeds often subjected to BSL are the likes of Pit Bull Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, and Rottweilers, known for their strength and protective instincts.

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Breed Specific Regulations - Nebraska Humane Society

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This ordinance applies to dogs that live in Omaha and display a majority of the characteristics of a Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentina, Presa Canario, or Cane Corso.