Welfarists do not seek to end the use of animals. They seek to regulate the conditions of that use. A welfarist approves of "free-range" eggs over battery cages, not because the chicken is free, but because her suffering is reduced. They support humane slaughter laws, not because death is good, but because a painless death is better than a terrified one.
In the 20th century, the animal welfare movement gave rise to the animal rights movement. Animal rights activists argued that animals had inherent rights, and that they should be treated as individuals with interests and needs, rather than simply as commodities or property. Welfarists do not seek to end the use of animals
, conversely, posits that animals are not property or resources for human consumption. This philosophy argues that sentient beings have inherent moral value and possess basic rights—most notably the right to life and the right to bodily integrity. Proponents of animal rights often advocate for the abolition of practices considered "humane" by welfare standards, such as owning pets (which they view as ownership/slavery), eating meat, or using animals in circuses and zoos. They support humane slaughter laws, not because death