Is the cow in a pasture who is loaded onto a truck and killed at 18 months better off than the cow in a feedlot? Absolutely. But is her right to life being respected? No. As philosopher Lori Gruen notes, "Humane slaughter is better slaughter, but it is still slaughter."
: A 2019 federal law making extreme animal cruelty (crushing, burning) a federal crime. 4. Contemporary Issues (2024–2025) Is the cow in a pasture who is
| | Relation to Dogs | Relation to Cows | Relation to Mice | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Rights Absolutist | End pet ownership; guardianship only. | End farming; veganism mandatory. | No cosmetic testing; no pest control. | | Dominant Welfare | Ban dogfighting; limit breeding. | Ban gestation crates; require stunning before slaughter. | Allow lab testing with pain relief; use humane traps. | | Basic Welfare | Don't beat your dog. | Don't starve your cattle. | Kill them quickly in traps. | | Utilitarian (Singer) | Keep pets if they are happy. | Massive reduction in meat eating, but maybe not zero. | Pain matters; if testing saves many humans, it might be justified. | Contemporary Issues (2024–2025) | | Relation to Dogs