: Focuses on the physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions in which it lives and dies [19]. It accepts the human use of animals for food, research, and companionship, provided that "humane" guidelines are followed to minimize suffering [17].

(access to fresh water and a healthy diet).

In the modern era, the conversation surrounding our relationship with non-human animals has moved from the philosophical fringe to the center of societal debate. From the factory farms that produce our food to the laboratories that test our medicines, and from the zoos that educate our children to the wildlife struggling against habitat loss, one question persists: What do we owe to animals?

What can an individual do? The landscape is confusing. Is "grass-fed beef" better or worse? (Welfare: better life, but Rights: still dead). Is "cage-free eggs" a con? (Often, "cage-free" means thousands of birds in a crowded barn with higher rates of pecking and cannibalism).