Where do rights come from?
There are many different views about the nature and origin of
morality. Animal rights activists have varying opinions about the
answer to this question, just as the rest of the public has
varying opinions about the answer to this question.
Some animal rights activists believe that all our ethical guidelines are the creation of human societies, and believe that animals should be included in our human made ethical codes. Other animal rights activists believe that our moral laws come from God, and believe that it is God's will for humans to include animals in our sphere of compassion. Other animal rights supporters have many other views.
My personal view is that objective moral laws come from the same place that the law of gravity comes from. I explain my reasoning for this view in my other web page, which deals with morality in general. I need to emphasize that the views I express there are my own personal opinions, and do not necessarily reflect the views of other animal rights supporters.
Follow up questions:
What is meant by the term rights?
Why should we behave better towards animals than they do towards each other?
Why do we have a moral obligation to animals who do not understand moral concepts?
Doesn't the Bible say that humans have dominion over the animals?
What do we gain by respecting the rights of other animals if they do not respect our rights?