by Emily Rubinov, May 10, 2024

Every act of animal abuse diminishes our collective humanity. We must work together to create a world free from cruelty and violence. – Sangdeun “Lek” Chailert.

Our responsibility to protect animals is deeply rooted in our coexistence on Earth. As vital components of ecosystems, animals contribute significantly to biodiversity and help maintain ecological balance. Recognizing that animals, like humans, can experience emotions such as pain and joy obliges us to treat them with compassion and respect. This ethical stance reflects our societal values and promotes a culture of empathy and responsibility. Protecting animals underscores our commitment to justice and ethical conduct, enhancing our collective pride and reinforcing our duties towards our planet. Ultimately, animals’ welfare is intertwined with ecosystems’ health, which provides essential services, including pollination, nutrient cycling, and pest control, which are crucial for sustaining life, including human life.

Chailert’s belief that every act of animal abuse diminishes our shared humanity encapsulates a profound truth: our actions toward animals reflect our collective values and aspirations. 

This is where advocacy against animal abuse comes in. While responding with strong emotions to the mistreatment of animals is natural, effective advocacy requires a balance between emotion and reason. Allowing emotions to dominate can sometimes cloud judgment and lead to actions that undermine the cause. Instead, it is essential to couple heartfelt concern with rational arguments and well-thought-out strategies. This approach not only garners more comprehensive support by appealing to a broader audience but also ensures that the message is conveyed clearly and constructively. Balancing the heart and mind in this way strengthens the case for animal protection and increases the likelihood of achieving meaningful and lasting change.

Emotions play a critical role in moral judgments and actions. According to renowned philosopher Martha Nussbaum, emotions are not just the outcomes of judgments but also forms of judgment that influence our behavior towards others, including animals (Nussbaum 2001). In the face of animal abuse, anger and sadness go beyond simple reactions; they indicate a deep recognition of injustice and a drive to correct or react to ethical violations. However, without proper management, these emotions can lead to harmful results, like confrontational behavior or weak advocacy tactics. 

While emotions can trigger instant reactions, guiding these responses into thoughtful, rational actions is crucial. Philosopher Peter Singer states that the principles of compelling generosity should direct our responses to animal suffering. This approach combines the heart and the head. The heart would be moved by empathy for suffering beings, and the head, guided by rationale, reason, and evidence, would take the most effective action (Singer 2015). By embracing this approach, activists can create strategies in animal welfare that are compassionate, strategic, and grounded in evidence.

The success of animal advocacy campaigns often depends on a balance between passionate emotional engagement and methodical, evidence-based strategies. An example is the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) campaign against puppy mills. Puppy mills are large-scale dog breeding operations that produce puppies for profit while neglecting the well-being of the young dogs and their mothers. Grounded in thorough investigations, public awareness, and legislative advocacy, this approach led to significant reductions in these facilities. 

The investigations carried out by HSUS discovered distressing conditions in these mills, including cramped living spaces, poor medical care, and a lack of basic hygiene, all of which contribute to severe health and behavioral issues in the animals. By bringing these conditions to light through detailed reports and compelling visual evidence, HSUS effectively motivated public sentiment and gathered support for legislative amendments. This strategic application propelled the campaign and influenced policymakers to enact stricter regulations on breeding facilities, thereby ensuring improved dog treatment and welfare.

This case shows that well-planned advocacy efforts can significantly improve animal well-being. HSUS’s strategy, which integrates thorough research, community involvement, and focused legislative measures, tackles current problems and aids in preventing future cruelty. Their approach’s rationality and ethical foundations are supported by a study published in the Journal of Animal Law and Ethics. The study examines the methods and outcomes of various Animal welfare campaigns, highlighting HSUS’s campaigns as examples of effective and ethically sound practices (Smith 2021).

In debates about animal advocacy, supporters of emotionally charged tactics often argue that such approaches are essential for capturing the public’s attention and triggering immediate action. Emotional responses to animal cruelty, characterized by visible outrage or sadness, attract individuals to take action and can be a driving force behind rallying support. Advocates believe that public demonstrations and provocative installations are crucial for exposing the realities of animal suffering that might otherwise remain hidden from the public eye. 

Animal Equality’s global protests on Animal Rights Day utilize visible emotions as a critical element in their advocacy. These events are designed to draw attention to the conditions within the meat, dairy, and egg industries, aiming to engage public empathy and provoke change. Emotional displays in these contexts often attract public attention by creating a palpable sense of urgency and making the suffering more relatable, leading to increased engagement and support. According to Faunalytics, well-communicated emotional expressions during protests can enhance the issue’s visibility, potentially affecting public and policy attitudes toward animal welfare. This engagement is often due to the powerful impact of seeing human emotion, which can humanize the protest message and make the abstract suffering of animals more tangible and immediate to onlookers (Animal Equality, 2024; Faunalytics, 2024).

Protests originate as a result of emotion and often in response to perceived violent injustices. protest is inconceivable without emotions. It is emotions which ‘give ideas, ideologies, identities and even interests their power to motivate’. Social movements are carriers of meaning, and organizers do their utmost to create moral outrage and to provide a target against which this can be vented. (Troost, et al., 2013). Another example is rooted in the historical injustices experienced by the African American community over the last several centuries. Black people in the U.S. are not only three times more likely to be killed by police than white people, but they’re also less likely to be armed than white people during these interactions with police. For Black people who experience violence at the hands of the people and institutions that are supposed to protect them, the question becomes: “If they use violence, why shouldn’t we use violence?..They know that violence works, otherwise they wouldn’t use it” (Arntsen, 2020)

It is crucial to recognize that while emotional approaches in animal advocacy are practical for attracting public and media attention, they must be managed cautiously. The research compiled in Oxford Academic’s “Rational Approaches to Animal Rights” emphasizes that these emotional strategies, if not carefully handled, can backfire by skewing the public’s perception of the movement’s legitimacy. For example, activists who throw blood on fur wearers at protests, intending to shock and provoke thought, often generate negative media coverage instead, which can detract from the movement’s credibility and alienate the general public. (Oxford Academic, 2022). 

By advocating for a balanced approach that incorporates both emotional appeal and rational argumentation, this research suggests that such a strategy can significantly enhance the effectiveness of campaigns by making them more palatable and credible to a broader audience.

The study underscores the importance of integrating psychological insights into campaign strategies to maintain the integrity and impact of advocacy efforts (Oxford Academic, 2022). It is crucial to consider the benefits of a balanced approach that incorporates both passionate appeals and rational discourse to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the animal advocacy movement. This balanced strategy not only heightens the effectiveness of campaigns but also ensures they are ethically solid and less likely to provoke backlash or desensitization. The exploration through the complexities of animal advocacy highlights the profound impact of emotions and rationality in shaping our responses to injustice. Sangdeun’ Lek’ Chailert’s call for collective action resonates deeply, underlining the crucial role of unity in fostering a world free from cruelty and violence. 

The bond we often form with our pets—providing solace, bringing joy, and enhancing our lives—illustrates a fundamental, powerful truth: animals, like humans, experience emotions and suffering. The emotional depth of our pets, who seek comfort when frightened or express joy upon our return, exemplifies this. Their behaviors, far from mere instincts, are rich expressions of emotions that echo our own feelings of fear, joy, and security. Recognizing these parallels in emotional experiences strengthens the argument for a compassionate, balanced advocacy approach.  

Exploring ethical responses, guided by renowned philosophers like Martha Nussbaum and Peter Singer, underscores the significance of channeling our passions into thoughtful, strategic actions. Initiatives such as the Humane Society of the United States’ campaign against puppy mills illustrate that successful advocacy thrives on a delicate balance between emotional engagement and evidence-based strategies. While emotionally charged tactics can draw attention to animal suffering, their effectiveness relies on careful management and integration with rational discourse. By advocating for a balanced approach, we can protect the integrity and impact of our advocacy efforts. This approach upholds the principles advocated by Chailert and motivates individuals to embrace a strategic mindset in their advocacy. Embracing their wisdom, we understand that the strength of our actions lies in our emotional empathy and our ability to advocate thoughtfully and compassionately. It is about paving a path toward a world where the dignity of every living being is not just acknowledged but actively ensured and protected.

Jane Goodall once said, ‘The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.’ This powerful statement encapsulates the essence of animal advocacy—our responsibility to give voice to the voiceless. Goodall’s words remind us that our advocacy is not only an act of compassion but also a duty. They serve as a call to action, urging us to use our voices and abilities to effect real change and ensure that the dignity of all creatures is respected and defended.

Works Cited

Animal Equality. “Animal Equality Hosts Global Protests on Animal Rights Day. ” Animal Equality, 9 Apr. 2024, animalequality.org/news/animal-equality-hosts-global-protests-on-animal-rights-day. 

Arntsen, Emily. “Are Peaceful Protests More Effective than Violent Ones?” Northeastern Global News, 29 Nov. 2021, news.northeastern.edu/2020/06/10/are-peaceful-protests-more-effective-than-violent-ones/.

L., Gary, and Francione. “  Animal Rights Theory and Utilitarianism: Relative Normative Guidance.” Animal Law Legal Center, 1 Jan. 1997, www.animallaw.info/article/animal-rights-theory-and-utilitarianism-relative-normative-guidance

Millán, Gustavo Ortiz. “Nussbaum on the Cognitive Nature of Emotions.” Manuscrito, UNICAMP – Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Centro de Lógica, Epistemologia História da Ciência, 19 Sept. 2016, www.scielo.br/j/man/a/CHYgqpBddcY4YkRp7CBJfyG/?lang=en. 

Nobis, Nathan. “Rational Engagement, Emotional Response, and the Prospects for Moral Progress in Animal Use ‘Debates.’” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 30 Mar. 2012, academic.oup.com/mit-press-scholarship-online/book/22239/chapter/182431728. 

Polanco, Andrea. “The Challenges of Researching Animal Advocacy Protests.” Faunalytics, 13 June 2022, faunalytics.org/the-challenges-of-researching-animal-advocacy-protests

“Puppy Mill Investigations and Reports.” The Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org/resources/puppy-mill-investigations-and-reports. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.]

Troost, Dunya van, et al. “Emotions of Protest.” SpringerLink, Palgrave Macmillan UK, 1 Jan. 1970, link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137025661_10#:~:text=It%20is%20emotions%20which%20’give,which%20this%20can%20be%20vented.