The ASPCA is gathering signatures on an worldwide petition to recognize non-human
animals as sentient beings. You'll be asked for the usual identifying information,
and then there will be a field titled "Why Animals Matter to Me." Why this petition matters
to me: Several years ago my very beloved cat sister was kidnapped. I tracked
the kidnapper, got his license plate number and gave it to the police. They
couldn't get a search warrant because--get this--the kidnapper's crime
was considered only "petty theft." So my sister died slowly and painfully
from kidney disease, possibly wondering why i didn't come and save her.
With sentience acknowledged, we might change this law.
https://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=animalsmatter