Quote Originally Posted by ksst View Post
I don't believe animals have rights. With rights come rules of law and responsibility to obey them. We don't want to get into prosecuting polar bears or tigers for eating people, or deer for destroying crops, so we should not give them the rights that people have.
You mean only creatures that can live according to our rules can have any rights? Or, in other words, that only our species can ever have any rights? Not that we all do.

Welfare is a different issue for domestic or captive animals. We are responsible for them, therefore we should treat them well until they are to be slaughtered or die of natural causes, depending on the use of the animal.
I think so too, and personally I include proper slaughtering as well as proper hunting in this.

As far as wild animals, I believe it is in our own interest and an absolutely critical value to preserve habitats and species as much as possible. It's not the rights of the animals, though, it's our responsibility toward the planet and even our own welfare and survival.
I am trying to get my head around being responsible for the planet, but not giving it any rights - that is, respect. I think we are at the core of the whole thing right here.