Animal rights take the discussion a step further, advocating for the intrinsic rights of animals to live free from exploitation and harm. This philosophy posits that animals have inherent value and should not be used for human benefit, especially when it involves suffering. Key rights include the right to life, freedom from suffering, and the right to live in their natural environments.
The welfare model can be co-opted. "Humanewashing" is a real phenomenon—labels like "free-range" or "pasture-raised" often have minimal legal definitions. Furthermore, welfare does not solve the ultimate problem: the animal is still a unit of production that will be killed when it becomes unprofitable. Animal rights take the discussion a step further,
When we can grow a steak from a cell without ever creating a sentient being, the welfare/rights debate will shift. The only animals left in the industrial system will be there by choice (or by ancient legacy). Until then, we are left with the messy, necessary tension between treating them better and leaving them alone . The welfare model can be co-opted