Legally, animals are property—things. You cannot sue a dog, and a cow cannot hire a lawyer. However, this is changing.
, in contrast, is a philosophical and ethical stance that is not concerned with how we use animals, but that we use them at all. Rooted in deontological ethics (duty-based rules), the rights position argues that sentient beings—those capable of suffering and experiencing subjective awareness—possess inherent value. They are not property. They are "subjects-of-a-life." Legally, animals are property—things
The most widely recognized framework for animal care is the , which set the bare minimum for animal living standards: Animal Welfare and Animal Rights: What's the Difference? this is changing.