Why animals deserve access to justice

Access to justice is a cornerstone of any fair and civilised society. It ensures that rights are not merely theoretical, but enforceable; that harm can be redressed; and that the vulnerable are protected against abuse. Yet one group remains conspicuously excluded from meaningful legal protection: animals.

Despite being sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, fear, joy, and distress, animals are still largely treated as property under the law. This legal classification often strips them of the protections afforded to others in society, leaving them voiceless in systems designed for those who can speak for themselves. Recognising animals’ entitlement to justice is not only a moral imperative, it is a legal and societal necessity.

The moral imperative of justice for animals

Animals, from companion animals to farmed and wild species, are capable of suffering. Modern science has confirmed what many have intuited for centuries: animals are sentient. This basic fact makes the denial of justice to animals ethically indefensible. When humans harm other humans, legal systems step in. When humans harm animals, whether through neglect, cruelty, or exploitation, the response is often inconsistent, under-resourced, or absent altogether.

Justice requires more than sentiment. It requires enforceable rights and meaningful consequences for violations. If animals are to be truly protected, they must be visible to the law, not merely as objects of concern but as beings with interests that deserve representation and remedy.

The enforcement problem: Laws without teeth

The UK, along with many countries, has animal welfare statutes on the books. These laws acknowledge animals’ need for protection from cruelty and neglect. However, enforcement remains an enormous challenge. Often, such laws are underutilised or applied selectively, and prosecutions are rare. This reveals a stark gap between the laws as written and the lived reality for animals.

Without consistent enforcement, legal protections are symbolic at best. For justice to function, there must be mechanisms to monitor compliance, investigate harm, and bring offenders to account. Access to justice for animals requires that these mechanisms be resourced, professionalised, and applied with the same seriousness as human-related crimes.

You can find out more about The Enforcement Problem and data on the scale of the issue here.

A role for the legal system: Representation and reform

Because animals cannot speak or act for themselves in court, they depend on human intermediaries to seek justice on their behalf. This introduces a crucial concept: legal representation for animals. Whether through organisations, public prosecutors, or designated guardians, there must be actors within the legal system whose role is to advance the interests of animals.

Incorporating animals into the justice system involves recognising their unique status as sentient beings whose interests matter morally and legally. Legal systems can evolve to include such principles, just as they have evolved to recognise the rights of children, nature, and future generations.

Why professionalisation matters

Treating animal law as a professional legal discipline, rather than a passion project or moral sideline, is key to securing justice for animals. Professionalisation brings consistency, credibility, and long-term impact. It allows legal practitioners to specialise, advocate strategically, and bring about systemic change.

Access to justice for animals is not merely about stopping individual acts of cruelty. It is about challenging the structural and institutional factors that allow harm to persist. This includes practices in farming, entertainment, science, and trade that operate with impunity due to the animals’ legal invisibility.

Conclusion: A justice system worthy of the name

A just society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable. Animals, as sentient beings without a voice, fall squarely into this category. Extending access to justice to animals is not an act of benevolence, it is an act of legal consistency. It acknowledges that animals have interests worthy of protection, and that harm against them must not be tolerated or ignored. Animals deserve not just our compassion, but our justice.

Getting advice

This post is not legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you require legal advice on animal protection laws, please contact info@advocates-for-animals.com.