In wasn't until 1775, that Peter Singer brought animal rights in the world light with his book "Animal Liberation." Before this book, Animal Rights were not an issue. People used animals for work, leisure, food, and clothing with very few resulting regulations. This book was the first to consider all things equal. With the writing of this book animal rights had been brought to attention on the national political scene. Over 25 years later, the issues raised in the book continued to stir controversy. Animal rights, though not among the most important of political issues were finally addressed. Singer's book did more than simply mark the beginning of an era for animal rights, but it highlighted a changing picture of animals and their place in a human world. The government in result established numerous laws to settle these issues.
It first has to be known that under the law, animals are not persons. Therefore, animals only have some legal protections from mistreatment. The government takes it upon itself to monitor society, ensuring that humans do not violate the rules of animal mistreatment. Because animals are not human, they are not able to protect their own personal interests in a court of law, taking away their opportunity to sue. To the law, animals are property: they are goods to be bought and sold, acquired and maintained. Treating animals as property is not only a matter of law, as it is also seen in Western religion. Also, the Old Testament, states that animals are goods over which humanity has dominion. Philosophers, too, have considered the property status of animals. John Locke, for example, wrestled with the nature of humanity's interactions with animals. To him, animals were something common to the world, not unlike the air we breathe. Animals have the potential and perhaps the purpose of serving humanity. Thus, to the law, animals are property whose future is directed by humans.
