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Early 1800's
During this time most of the human population saw animals as lesser beings that did not feel. Animals were tools for labor. -
Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham was one of the first people to use the philosophy of utilitarianism for animals. -
Cruelty to Animals Act
The United Kingdom passed the first legislation that gave punishment to people that misstreated animals. -
Peter Singer
Proposed the idea and began the awareness that animals do have feelings. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was created by Henry Bergh. -
Cruelty To Animals Act Revised
The Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835 was revised to add more animals rights. -
The Animals Protection Act
Another legislation pass in the UK that protected not only household animals, but all animals from cruelty. -
Animal Testing
During the 1950's the testing of animals for science and other reasons began to increase in the United States and around the world -
The Animal Welfare Act
The Animal Welfare act was passed in the United States and it regulated the handling of small animals that were being used for testing purposes. The limit only consisted of six animal species and the animals must cross state lines to be regulated. -
Amendment to The Animal Welfare Act
The amendment took the restriction off of the rights for just six animal species and included all laboratory animals. Also, the animals no longer had to cross state lines to be registered. -
Amendment to Animal Welfare Act
Regulated the way animals must be transported and required the transporter to be licensed. There must be proper space, ventilation, food, water and other resources for the animal during transportation. -
Animal Liberal Front
The ALF was created. An extreme group fighting potection of animals, they are known to use violence. -
PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals was created. A group that lobbiesfor animals being equal with humans. -
Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act
This legislation was passed in the United States that requires labs to give animals large living space and ensure that the animals pain is at a minimum. -
The Pet Act
This legislation regulates the selling of animals and one of the rules is that all pets must be vaccinated before sold. -
Amendment to Animal Welfare Act
All dogs and cats must now be held in shelters for at least 5 days before being sold for research. -
Amendment to Animal Welfare Act
This amendment removes birds, mice, and rats that are bred for research from the defenition of "animal". Therefore, they are only subject to all the laws a normal animal would be protected under. -
Amendment to Animal Welfare Act
Animal Fighting Prohibition Act. Sharp objects are no longer allowed to be transfered with animals for use in animal fighting.