But we have all seen miserable or bored animals or heard them yelp with pain - it is difficult to believe seriously that they do not have feelings, and scientists have confirmed these everyday observations by methodical research. It is hard to be sure about the feelings of animals, but animal welfare scientists are beginning to work out more precisely what animals feel and what causes suffering. But the more like us they are, the more they deserve our concern and respect. Humanists would prefer not to cause unnecessary suffering to sentient beings, and discussion tends to focus on what constitutes unnecessary suffering. Many people think fur coats are unnecessary luxuries and that the cruelty involved in farming or hunting animals for their fur cannot be justified.
Many people also think that hunting and fishing for food or sport are cruel and unnecessary.
Many people are willing to eat less meat, or no meat, in order to discourage what they see as the unnecessary cruelty involved in factory farming. Some people think that all killing of animals is wrong, whilst others argue that death cannot mean as much to animals as it does to us, and so all that matters is rearing and killing them humanely. Humanists make use of reason and compassion when thinking about these questions, and will arrive at different conclusions, often depending on specific circumstances or situations. The sharpest divisions of opinion are over the use of animals in experiments. Most people, whatever their religious beliefs, would probably agree there are enough cosmetics and shampoos in the world to make the testing of new ones on animals unnecessary.