Did you know that animals/pets are considered property under the law? A person’s beloved dog or cat has the same legal rights as his or her coffee table. If someone were to injure a companion animal, for example, the most one could do is sue for the market value of the animal. This is the same action that would be taken if someone were to damage your coffee table; they would compensate for its value.

A perfect example is the case of Gluckman who sued American Airlines, Inc. for the loss of his Golden Retriever who later died of heat stroke and brain damage due to the Airline’s hot luggage compartment during a flight.  Gluckman was not compensated for the loss of his companion because, like his luggage, his dog was only considered an item of property.          

You are asked to sign this petition if you think it is a good idea to change the status of animals as “property” to "living property", a term coined by David Favre, a professor of law at Michigan State University. To learn more about this, go to:  http://www.animallaw.info/articles/art_pdf/arus93marqlrev1021.pdf

This new status is simple: place a higher importance on the interests of animals, and take into account that they are living beings. This status came from the notion that animals, like humans, have certain interests. These include, but are not limited to: living, caring for young, socializing, consuming food, sleeping, and liberty of movement. It makes no sense to put animals in the same category as our furniture.

Watch our video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU2jdQXBGY8  and decide for yourself if you believe that the property status of animals should be changed to “living property”.  If so, sign below and we will let our lawmakers know that we believe this change should be made!

Watch our new video on "Animal Altruism": https://www.youtube.com/embed/OSSZ5VSw-gE