Inherent value; animals have fundamental rights to life and liberty.
Traditionally, wildlife conservation focused on species, not individuals. That is changing. Debates now rage over:
Welfare advocates focus on tangible improvements within existing systems. This includes campaigning for larger cages for poultry, stricter regulations on laboratory testing, and "no-kill" policies in shelters. It is a pragmatic, incremental approach that seeks to balance human needs with a moral obligation to prevent cruelty. The Philosophical Shift: Animal Rights
: The RSPCA was formed in 1824, followed by the ASPCA in 1866, focusing initially on carthorses and livestock. The Shift to Modern Rights (1970s–Present)