Why We Advocate for Animals

by Kristina Darnell and Unny Nambudiripad

War, hunger, isolation, environmental degradation, and overpopulation; issues we all care about. So why does Compassionate Action for Animals, with all of the pressing issues that humans are facing, use our limited time and energy to focus on animals in particular?

We suspect that human and animal exploitation stem from the same source. In our current society, we treat animals as part of our dominion. We have complete control over their lives. We use them for food, entertainment, clothing, or companionship, and the humans always use their power to dominate the animals.

Treating animals as things for us to control influences how we think about other humans. Empathy, compassion, and understanding are virtues toward which we all strive, yet humans forget these ideals during our dealings with animals. Why would it be wrong to control another individual? Why might we be okay with dominating relationships?

Humans become desensitized to exploitation by dominating those most vulnerable in our society: animals. Our desensitization applies to all that we deal with: humans, the environment, and animals. We learn, from the way we treat animals, that violence is acceptable and even normal.

Compassionate Action for Animals inspires people to shift their attitudes about animals. We believe that our advocacy for animals plays a crucial role in improving conditions for all of us, humans and animals alike.