A non-profit I support, The Nonhuman Rights Project (NHRP), is making a difference through court actions. Their goal is for the courts to define various sentient species as “legal persons” with Rights.
Well, the US Supreme Court has defined corporations as people for certain purposes. Read NPR’s article, “When Did Companies Become People?”
So why not consider rights for nonhumans who love, problem solve, have personalities, emotions, and relationships?
I’m so excited to report that the New York Supreme Court recognized dogs as immediate family members. From NHRP’s report,
“Specifically, Justice Maslow ruled that Nan Deblase may recover emotional distress damages for having witnessed the death of her son’s dog Duke who was hit by a car while they were walking through a crosswalk.
“In 2024, the NhRP filed two amicus briefs in support of the plaintiffs in the case, arguing that justice and the flexible nature of the common law require allowing the plaintiffs to recover emotional damages for having witnessed Duke’s death.”
From a personal standpoint, I’ve had to go back to work immediately after losing one of my nonhuman family. I was expected to carry on because the company’s bereavement leave policy only included humans. This added to my burden of loss. I bet you or someone you know had the same experience.
The NhRP report explained so clearly today’s truth,
“Too often, courts reflexively apply outdated precedents that treat animals as mere property, even when those precedents no longer reflect common sense. Today’s decision shows the justice system at its best: fulfilling its fundamental duty to deliver justice based on facts and reason, not outdated legal fictions. The Nonhuman Rights Project is proud to have contributed to this important outcome. It serves the interest of justice to recognize that Duke was not a legal ‘thing.’ He was a member of the family.”
Good work is being done by so many organizations for nonhuman persons. The Nonhuman Rights Project’s strategy is bold and should give us “animal/nonhuman lovers” cause for celebration!
Read, 10 things you can do to increase kindness to animals
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