Basic Animal Rights Information
For further study: Tom Regan
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Animal Rights and Religion
Many people struggle with the accepted teachings of their faith pertaining to non-human species, while others use the Bible (and other sacred texts) to defend their mistreatment of animals. The following are some good resources to help demystify the issue.
Buddhist Resources on Animal Welfare
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The Link - Animal Abuse and Human Violence
The International Handbook of Animal Abuse and Cruelty
Looking back at some of society's amusement choices is enough to make you cringe. Traveling "freak shows," where those with disfigurements earned a living the only way they could - by displaying themselves to gawking audiences. The "tar baby" game, the goal of which was to throw a ball at little replicas of black babies, trying to make them spin. Singing minstrels in black-face.
While many unethical types of entertainment have gone by the wayside, we still exploit other species for our own pleasure. Sometimes we even rationalize it as good for the animals (i.e., zoos that suddenly claim they are a vital asset in the conservation of endangered species).
The following groups will give you all the information you need to see that exploitation of animals has no place in entertainment.
Animal Defenders International
Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe
Humane Society of the United States
In Defense of Animals – Elephants
Performing Animal Welfare Society
SHARK (rodeos, pigeon shoots, other blood sports)
Whether it's fur, leather, wool, silk, down, mohair, angora, feathers, cashmere, snakeskin, or some other animal-based material, it all belongs on its original owner. You may think some of these fibers don't kill the animal - wool, feathers, down, for example. But, no one raises sheep just for shearing. No one keeps ducks and geese so they can collect their surplus down. Milk and eggs do not in and of themselves kill the animals, yet these businesses depend on the eventual deaths of the animals. So, too, are animal-based "fabrics" just one part of a larger industry. Additionally, the methods used when raising the animals and harvesting their fibers are barbaric.
One facet of fur and skin manufacturing rarely discussed is the environmental damage. The chemicals employed in their processing are highly toxic for groundwater, the workers themselves, and those living nearby.
Animals Australia (wool)
Association for Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals
Born Free USA (trapping)
Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade
Environmental Impact of Animal-based Clothing
PETA (fur, leather, wool, down, angora, silk, cashmere, and others)
Respect For Animals (extensive facts and statistics on fur worldwide)
United Poultry Concerns (down)
Vivisection (experimentation on live animals) is unimaginably cruel. Adding insult to injury, it is also unnecessary and often leads researchers in the wrong direction. In the case of drug testing, animal models are no more predictive than flipping a coin, meaning dangerous medications are approved, while potentially valuable treatments never make it beyond the first step. Sadly, scientists don't seem to care, as medical journals are filled with redundant research. Please educate yourself and others, using these sites for the facts.
American Anti-Vivisection Society
Cruelty Free International(formerly BUAV)
National Anti-Vivisection Society
National Anti-Vivisection Society, UK
New England Anti-Vivisection Society
Photographic Exhibition on Vivisection
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Before you donate to that charity claiming to help babies, or boasting about its life-saving cancer research, find out exactly how they use your donations. Most of the health charities receiving the bulk of the attention (and money) fund animal experiments. PCRM may be of some assistance with this. But, you should always ask an organization where its funding is spent.
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Dissection is a heartless, outdated mode of teaching science. It is wasteful and environmentally damaging, and considering the range of superior alternatives, its continued practice is unjustifiable. If you need help for your child, teacher, or yourself, look into these resources. In addition to detailed information, there are sources for borrowing or purchasing alternatives.
NEAVS Ethical Science Education Campaign
PCRM(advanced medical, veterinary, and trauma training)
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Big corporations (like Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson, L'Oreal) continue to torture animals for household and personal care products. (You can learn about these tests on the websites under the Vivisection heading above.) But, the tide has turned. A variety of excellent companies either no longer use animal testing, or they never did. They are also easy to come by and affordable. No more searching obscure websites or taking out a loan just to put on make-up!
You will find lists on the following sites:
PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies Program
This site gives information on what "cruelty-free" entails and why we strive for it. It includes links to citations, and lists of companies.
Here are some good organizations and webpages for information on a variety of pet issues. A few of these are pages on unrelated company websites, so please keep in mind we are not promoting the products or services. We are also opposed to the breeding and selling of animals, and any suggestion otherwise is contrary to the basic animal rights philosophy. We are simply providing access to helpful animal care information.
(There are more companion animal resources on our Live Cruelty-Free page.)
Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation
MoneyGeek(figure the costs of a pet)
Opt to Adopt...No Matter What Species
Rat Fan Club (for rat care only)
Respect For Fish (much-needed, yet rarely seen, info on fish)
Disaster Preparedness Resources
ADT Disaster Preparedness Resources
Red Rover Disaster Preparedness
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Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Resources
You can foster children's natural love for (and curiosity about) animals. You can also introduce them to some of the realities of society's treatment of animals without traumatizing them. These websites were created for just such purposes.
Animal Facts(interesting facts about practically every animal there is)
TeachKind(for parents and teachers)
(veg nutrition and meal planning for kids and teens)
If you are doing research for a demonstration or presentation, a school project, or merely to better educate yourself, factual information is a must. The following are good places to start:
Reference Section
Animal Legal Center (laws and cases)
Animal Protection Laws of States(as of 2019)
Association of College & Research Libraries Animal Law Resources
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (animal ag data)
Faunalytics (research on animal issues)
Humane Scorecard (how your legislators voted)
Sentience Institute(research on animal issues)
Shippensburg University Library
VegFund (resources and assistance for activists)
World Animal Net (directory of groups, plus resources)
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Animal-Related News
The Guardian Animal Rights News
The Independent Animal Rights News
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Photo and Video Collections
Photographic Exhibition on Vivisection
PETA Photo Gallery:
This is probably the biggest contribution you can make to combat animal cruelty and death. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately 72-billion land animals worldwide are slaughtered for human consumption every year. This does not take into account fish and sea life. Animals used for food suffer from start to finish, from the castration of male animals and repeated rape of female animals, to the deprivation of transport and horrors of slaughter. Make no mistake, cruelty is not an anomaly here or there; it is built into the animal agriculture system.
Unfortunately, this industry has taken advantage of people who want to be kind and created a self-sustaining lie - the Humane Myth. There is no such thing as humane animal agriculture. Check out these other links to learn how you can go vegan, whether overnight or over a longer period of transition.
International Vegan Association
VegFund(activist resources and assistance)
Respect For Fish (much-needed, yet rarely seen, info on fish)
For an interesting look at The History of Veganism, check out this YouTube channel.
Local Help for Wildlife in Trouble
636-492-1610
1-800-945-3435
PO Box 6246
Chesterfield, MO 63006
314-567-2081
Wild Bird Rehabilitation (sick or injured songbirds only)
Note: WBR no longer accepts starlings - call or text 314-630-3702 for advice on starlings
9624 Midland Blvd.
Overland, MO 63114
314-426-6400
Wildlife Rescue Center of Missouri
1128 New Ballwin Road
Ballwin, MO 63021
636-394-1880
World Bird Sanctuary (sick or injured birds of prey only)
125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road
Valley Park, MO 63088
636-225-4390
Humane Wildlife Solutions, LLC
(humane wildlife removal and deterrent solutions)
314-567-2060
HSUS Answers to Wildlife Problems
“What to do if you find a baby bird”
“What to do if you find a baby mammal”
Global Wildlife Issues
Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
Performing Animal Welfare Society
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, UK
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