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That distinction is changing laws around the world. In 2022, the United Kingdom formally recognized lobsters, crabs, and octopuses as sentient beings under its Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act. New York followed, banning the sale of foie gras. Germany’s constitution now includes animal protection as a state goal. Meanwhile, Spain passed a law granting legal personhood to the Mar Menor lagoon—its ecosystem and animal life—allowing citizens to sue on its behalf.

But the most dramatic shift is happening in the courtroom. In 2023, a U.S. judge heard arguments in Happy the Elephant’s case . Happy, a 51-year-old Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo, was petitioned for release to a sanctuary based on habeas corpus—the legal right not to be unlawfully detained. japanbestiality

Perhaps most telling is the cultural shift. TikTok videos of rescued farm animals forming friendships have billions of views. Children’s books now teach empathy for insects. The language we use is changing: “pet” to “companion animal,” “owner” to “guardian.” That distinction is changing laws around the world

“The fight for animal rights is not separate from human rights,” says Maria Flores, a Philippine-born activist. “The same systems that exploit animals—cheap labor, deregulated industry, violence—often exploit the most vulnerable humans too.” The road ahead is uncertain but hopeful. Spain has granted legal personhood to the Mar Menor lagoon, a move that could protect its dolphins and sea turtles. Chile is drafting a new constitution that includes animal rights. And in the U.S., the Better Chicken Commitment , a corporate pledge to improve poultry welfare, has been adopted by over 200 companies, including McDonald’s and Subway. Germany’s constitution now includes animal protection as a

As the late legal scholar Gary Francione once wrote: “The question is not, ‘Can they reason?’ nor, ‘Can they talk?’ but, ‘Can they suffer?’”