It’s not unusual to see or hear people attributing human qualities to animals. With the increasing popularity of animal celebrities like Boo and Grumpy Cat, the lives, projected thoughts, and emotions of animals are more pervasive than ever. Scientific studies on dolphins, for example, show a higher level of animal intelligence than we previously thought possible. The line between humankind and the animal kingdom becomes increasingly blurry. But animals do not have voices to speak up for their own lives and experiences. We can only theorize and study their behavior to look for answers to our questions.

Because of this gap in understanding, institutions like animal parks and zoos are a contentious topic. Do animals benefit