Humanity Against Cruelty to Animals in Historical Literature, Timeline of Animal Rights History

Animal Rights History »» Rev. Wilfrid Lescher

1896 | Why I Oppose Vivisection

Rev. Wilfrid Lescher in "Why I Oppose Vivisection," argues that since "English law says that it is wrong to cut up animals alive…allow[ing] no excuse from the butcher, from the fishmonger, from the farmer" that it is only when the exception allowed by The Act against Cruelty to Animals which permits vivisection by license is "abolished" that "the theory of law will regain its completeness" (William Lescher, "Why I Oppose Vivisection," Animals' Friend Magazine [1896-Sep]).

It is strange that in all the discussions our opponents call animals anything but what they are. They are 'mere things'; they are 'not men,' 'not Christians,' etc. But what are they? They are animals. An animal is not a thing, meaning wood or a plant. It is a conscious living being. It has a distinct place of its own marked out by the great Creator's hand. (William Lescher, "Why I Oppose Vivisection," Animals' Friend Magazine [1896-Sep])

In English law animals have legal rights corresponding to a reality embraced by every sound mind. They have rights therefore—animal rights. (William Lescher, "Why I Oppose Vivisection," Animals' Friend Magazine [1896-Sep])

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1896-Sep | Rev. Wilfrid Lescher, "Why I Oppose Vivisection, No. XIV," Animals' Friend [London:1894-?] 2 (1896 Sep): 215-216 [Online at Animal Rights History, 2003].

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