I believe the human species is doomed if we continue to assume we are entitled to more protections than all other species...

My point was and is that humans shouldn't be entitled to less or fewer protections.

"Companion Animlal" is defined differently in different areas in the U.S.; and its a false distinction that elevates the "worth" of some animals over others - and in many cases elevates their "worth" over that of humans.

In sume jurisdictions livestock are defined as "companion animals" situationally - wch should be really interesting next time some are taken to slaughter- presumably the owner of the livestock and the owner of the abbatoir could be proscecuted for "aggravated animal cruelty".

While shooting "wild" animals - deer, elk, moose, rabbits, squirrels, (some) birds, muskrats, bears, raccoons, etc. etc. is perfectly all right and a "sport"?

This is an entirely idiotic system, and it is getting WAY out of control...

If its an animal fer chrissakes, its an animal & its past time to let go of the anthropormorphism & hypocricy.