Animal rights: what can we do to respect them while staying by their side?

The choice is in your hands.

International Animal Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 10th and for us at Yuup! this anniversary has a deep meaning, because we believe that love towards animals is equal to the love it’s good to feel for human beings and for nature in all its forms.

Exploring the meaning of this celebration is a way to understand its origins, but also to take a journey through animal rights, which too often are forgotten or even trampled on in the world.

This article, therefore, helps us understand which are the animal rights, humans’ obligations towards them, and also what we can individually do to safeguard them and to spread the idea of ​​freedom throughout the world for all creatures of the planet.

Freedom from mistreatment, in whatever form it occurs, freedom from testing, freedom to be able to live a life marked by well-being, joy and love that all animals deserve with their rights.

Shall we get started?

What is International Animal Rights Day?

As mentioned, this day dedicated to animal rights is celebrated on December 10^th every year. Its aim is raising people’s awareness on the values ​​of freedom and justice and also on the rights that must be effective for all animals in the world, both domestic and wild.

The main objective is to raise people’s awareness on the rights and topics of cruelty towards animals and to reaffirm the values ​​contained in the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights which was signed by UNESCO in Paris in 1978.

It is important to consider that this day was established precisely in conjunction with the signing of the declaration, which contains the fundamental steps to define the principles of existence, equality and respect that human beings must apply in their relationship with animals.

In particular, regarding animal rights, Article 1 reads as follows:

“All animals are born with an equal claim on life and the same rights to existence.”

And animal rights according to the Article 2:

“a) All animals are entitled to respect.

1. b) Man as an animal species shall not arrogate to himself the right to exterminate or inhumanely exploit other animals. It is his duty to use his knowledge for the welfare of animals.
2. c) All animals have the right to the attention, care and protection of man.”

In this link all the articles of the Universal Declaration of Animal Rights.

What are animal rights?

Regarding rights, the Italian Government Ministry of Health mentions the five freedoms of animals:

It all starts from the concept of well-being which, according to the definition of the World Health Organization, is: “the state of complete physical and mental health that allows the animal to live in harmony with his environment”

To assure this state it is necessary to guarantee animals some rights which are translated into five freedoms:

1. freedom from hunger, thirst and poor nutrition, through easy access to fresh water and a diet supporting his health
2. freedom to have an adequate physical environment, including shelter and a comfortable rest area
3. freedom from disease, injury and trauma, through prevention or rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment
4. freedom to show species-specific behavioral characteristics, providing sufficient space, proper areas and the company of other subjects of the same species
5. freedom from fear, ensuring conditions that avoid mental suffering.

Let’s delve into some data about animal rights in Italy which, in the last recent years, have unfortunately been trampled on.

The available data regarding the violation of rights is mainly linked to Zoomafia, that is to say the exploitation of animals for economic, social and territorial control reasons handled by criminal organizations.

These delinquent behaviors include, unfortunately, illegal horse racings as well as illegal gambling, but also cattle raiding, i.e. the theft of cattle, illegal fishing, poaching, fighting – especially of dogs and roosters – and illegal slaughter.

Recently, the Zoomafie Observatory has been established and the 2023 report has been defined in collaboration with the Prosecutors. It comes to light that the total number of legal actions in 2022 for crimes against animals, both against known and unknown persons, reaches the shocking number of 7510.

This has probably allowed to proceed with caring actions for animals saved from mistreatment, restoring their rights. In any case, numbers suggest that there is still a lot to do to protect them and to ensure that these crimes will never be committed again.

What does the law say about pet rights in Italy?

As regards the rights of pets, our “companion animals”, the reference law is the n. 201 of 2010 through which the Italian Government ratified the 1987 Convention of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

This law contains 23 articles regarding their rights. The first ones are about the fundamental principles for animal welfare and their maintenance.

There are therefore articles concerning the reproduction, the detention of companion animals, the prohibition of the use of animals in advertising, entertainment, exhibitions or competitions in case their well-being or health rights are put in danger.

The law deals with the aspects connected to surgical interventions and killing of pets, measures addressed to stray animals and the development of information programs to spread the content of the Convention.

The reference law for the rights of wild animals is the n. 157 of 1992 which, in Article 1, establishes that the wild fauna is a heritage belonging to the State and it is protected in the interest of the national and international community.

How can we protect the freedom and dignity of animals?

Animals are sentient beings; it means they have self-awareness just like humans.

Starting from this assumption, we can understand that we are sharing the planet with other beings identical to us, who therefore deserve equal respect and equal rights.

International Animal Rights Day is just a way to highlight this absolute truth and to ensure that it is shared with as many people as possible.

In schools it can be done a lot to spread this message to children and young people who, in turn, can help transmit it around the world.

The topic of animal rights in the world is addressed both during special days such as the International Animal Rights Day, and during the academic year. So, its consciousness-raising is still ongoing.

Schools give specific lectures by calling on experts and organizing excursions and trips in the middle of nature to help children and young people understand how animals live today, what we can do for them and what their lives could be like if we learned to respect their rights and to protect their natural habitat as well.

In Italy, as in the world, there are therefore active associations and non-profit organizations dedicated to the protection of animal rights.

From volunteers who help out in dog shelters to global associations, the commitment of the individual is what makes the difference in the world.

These associations, mainly composed by volunteers, operate with active campaigns, committing themselves to defend the rights of all animals and raising awareness among the population. Even the youngest are involved through training programs in schools.

These interventions in schools today are very important because they raise awareness among young people, who are the generations who will inhabit the world in the future.

Furthermore, associations activate fundraising campaigns and encourage donations or bequests to them or to structures that take care of animals and their rights.

The protection of animal rights, in any case, always starts with the individual, every single person can do their part to take care of them, whether they are domestic or wild, every possible help can make the difference.

For wildlife, it is essential not to pollute and not to disturb animals during nature trips. It is also fundamental to make ethical choices in terms of the food supply chain.

These concepts naturally also apply to pets and breeding animals, who we can take care of with everyday gestures.

There are many solutions and ideas for taking care of them, such as adoptions from the heart, if we have the possibility we can add a life partner to our family through recognized associations or kennels and shelters by giving a second life to them and to us as well.

Long distance adoptions are also a great gesture of love, in which we can help improve the life of some furry friend in need, as well as donations or the application to become volunteers, helping other people to choose, but also preferring recognized breeding centres that operate in accordance with the law, guaranteeing the rights and respect of little friends.

Why can we all protect animals (even with small gestures)?

If we own a pet we can do a lot to guarantee him all the love he needs, and the well-being and freedom he deserves to live a full and happy life.

From nutrition to the commitment to take him for the daily walk (if he’s a dog), to the choice to take him with us only if we have adequate spaces where he can live.

Furthermore, it is important that anyone who adopts an animal, whatever the type, has a balanced personal and family situation and that he’s willing to provide for his health and needs, which also include time dedicated to activities to do together, such as physical and mental activities, cuddles, time for playing and maybe even some sport activities.

So, we can do a lot to ensure our pet gets the well-being he deserves, such as feeding him with good foods and taking care of his hygiene needs with natural products that respect his skin, his fur and the environment as well.

The commitment of Yuup! for animal rights

For us at Yuup! animal rights have always been very important and we try to translate this value into corporate choices aimed to their well-being.

Our mindset finds its foundation in: “ Only pure beauty in all its forms”, because we believe that the choice to use pure natural ingredients can ensure our furry friends treatments having as goal their well-being and which are sustainable for our planet as well.

For us, animals have the same importance as humans, that’s why our products are for them and NOT tested on them.

All our products are based on high quality natural ingredients, botanical extracts and natural oils. In Yuup! labs we only use raw materials from human cosmetics, carefully selected to preserve the natural balance of the skin and for a more hydrated, strengthened and bright coat.

For years we have been studying the toxicity and the effects of a prolonged use of products with Parabens, which is why our products are free of them, to safeguard the health of our pet friends.

We do the same with the Phthalates, dangerous elements for human health and for our four-legged hearts, that’s why our products and packaging are absolutely free of them.

We do not use any derivatives of petrochemical products, but just ingredients of natural origin and, in Yuup! Shampoos, we exclusively employ surfactants of vegetable origin, absolutely free of SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate).

These choices lead us to offer maximum transparency to those who choose our products, which is why another of our claims is “A philosophy of transparency”, because those who choose our cosmetics perfectly know what they are purchasing, what the ingredients are and what origin they have, because everything is clearly displayed in the INCI present in the packaging and in the dedicated sections of our online shop.

To help spread the respect for the rights and well-being of animals, we also chose to activate a communication that is committed to talking about their characteristics, needs and how each of us can take care of them with targeted and adequate gestures to make them feel good, whatever their breed and age.

We accurately handle the contents, with the supervision of experts in the grooming sector and with the help of a dog trainer. This allows us to spread verified and controlled messages, therefore useful to those who want to take care of their pet with love and awareness.

A phrase attributed to the writer Marguerite Yourcenar reads as follows: “Animals have their own rights and dignities like you. It is a warning that sounds almost subversive. So let’s be subversive: against ignorance, indifference, cruelty.”

We hope that the International Day dedicated to their rights can spread more and more a message of respect, care, attention and protection of all our animal friends on the planet, because each of us has the will, the power and the ability to do it.

An individual, in his own small way, by doing his part, can always contribute to save precious lives, creating a better world day after day.

Article written with the consultancy of Chiara Festelli, Dog Trainer.