Many people believe that treating someone well while still using them somehow makes their actions acceptable. They argue that if an individual, industry, or system provides food, protection, shelter, and care, and even love, it justifies the use of others—especially when the party being used appears to live comfortably and happily. But this logic is deeply flawed. Using someone ethically does not make you a good person. Likewise, some people will only treat you well as long as they can use you—discarding you the moment the benefits stop. DON’T BE DECEIVED! This illusion of morality is particularly pervasive in industries that rely on animal exploitation.
Conditional Care: A Misguided Justification
Some argue that animals enjoy a comfortable life because humans provide them with food, shelter, and care. Dairy farmers often attempt to persuade the public that their cows are well cared for, showcasing clean facilities, humane handling, and medical treatment. However, these portrayals ignore the relentless exploitation of their reproductive systems, as cows are continuously impregnated to sustain milk production.
Similarly, backyard egg farms claim to provide chickens with a comfortable life, yet these birds are still bred for human gain, often suffering from genetic modifications that compromise their health. Their existence is dictated by human ownership rather than autonomy.
Likewise, horseback riding often masquerades as a mutually beneficial relationship, where horses receive medical attention, well-maintained stables, and affectionate treatment—but only because they serve a function. Horses endure training regimens designed to suppress their instincts and force obedience, conditioning them through repetition and control until resistance becomes futile. Their well-being is tied directly to their ability to perform, entertain, and generate profit. The moment they are no longer useful, their fate often changes drastically.
The same logic applies across various forms of animal exploitation. Zoos, circuses, aquariums, and pet breeding facilities all operate under the same illusion: animals are “loved” only as long as they serve human interests. But love should never be dependent on what someone provides—it should be unconditional.
The Reality Beneath the Surface
Beneath it all, every animal—whether raised for meat, milk, eggs, labor, entertainment, or any other purpose—is valued only for their ability to serve human interests. Their worth is determined by their usefulness, and when they can no longer meet expectations—whether due to age, injury, or declining performance—they are frequently sold, abandoned, or killed.
This harsh reality underscores a deeper issue: when profit is the driving force, no amount of humane treatment can erase the fact that these beings are being used as property. Even when industries promote better living conditions or ethical standards, the ultimate beneficiary of “animal welfare” is not the animals themselves—but the system profiting from their exploitation, until the benefits stop.
The Right Not to Be Property
Does it matter how well someone treated their slaves? Or isn’t the issue rather that they owned slaves at all? The same principle applies when discussing animal rights. The central issue is not the degree to which an industry treats animals but rather that they are being bred into existence and used as commodities in the first place.
Some may argue that reducing suffering or avoiding unnecessary harm is enough. But even animals who are not directly harmed or killed are still victims of exploitation. The problem is not just pain or suffering—it is the mindset that allows animals to be used as resources.
Technological Advancement Has Made Animal Dependency Obsolete
For centuries, humans have depended on animals for survival, using them for food, labor, clothing, and entertainment. But thanks to technological advancements, this dependency is no longer necessary—it has become pure exploitation. Innovations in food production, synthetic materials, and automation have removed the need to rely on animals, making industries built on their suffering entirely unjustifiable.
If we can thrive without causing harm, why would we continue outdated practices rooted in domination and commodification? The moral imperative is clear: we must evolve beyond using sentient beings as tools for human benefit.
Moving Beyond Exploitation
True justice does not come from making exploitation more humane—it comes from eliminating it altogether. When we advocate for animal rights, we are fighting for one fundamental principle: the right not to be property. Living beings should not have to earn their safety by being useful to humans. Their worth is intrinsic—not transactional.
Recommended Reads: Unveiling the Oppressive Mindset: The Hidden Chains of Animal Exploitation
The Misguided Shift in Vegan Messaging: It’s Not About Killing or Fighting All Oppression
