Despite the negative hype in the media portraying the animal rights movement
as the lunatic fringe, and efforts by some to discredit the movement by
claiming it is composed of fanatical terrorists, most Americans support the basic
idea behind animal rights. According to a 1995 survey commissioned by the
Associated Press, two-thirds of Americans agree with the statement, “An animal’s
right to live free of suffering should be just as important as a person’s.”
This overwhelming public support shouldn’t come as a big surprise. No one
likes to see an animal suffer. Indeed, kindness towards animals is a praised
virtue in our society. Animal rights is really little more than an effort to live up
to this ideal.