The idea of animals having rights may seem new, but it's actually very old. Teachers in ancient Greece debated with their students about eating meat and using animals for work. In the Roman Empire, writers like Cicero, Virgil, and Plutarch argued that eating animals was cruel and unnecessary. The first laws protecting animals were written in India around 240 BC.

The modern Western animal rights movement began in the late 18th century, and quickly gained support. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was founded in England in 1824. Elsewhere, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in 1866. These organizations worked to prevent animals’ suffering and pain. They protested against circuses and farms that treat their animals badly. They also fought against laboratories which perform painful or deadly experiments on animals. In 1966, the US Congress passed the Animal Welfare8 Act to help protect animals in labs. Since then, many other countries have passed similar laws.

The animal liberation movement began in the 1970s. It argued that animals should have the same rights as people and should not be used for meat, fur, or labor. Animal rights organizations promote vegetarianism and show people how painful fur-making and factory farming really are. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is one of the best-known groups in this movement. Others, like the Animal Liberation Front, believe that helping animals is more important than following the law. Not everyone agrees with their methods. In recent years, organizations like Sea Shepherd, which focuses on protecting ocean life, have made animal rights a more wide-ranging issue. The fight goes on, but victories are being won. Apes were given basic rights in New Zealand in 1999, and German law has recognized animal rights since 2002.

「動物權」的概念看似新穎，實則已經行之有年。古希臘的哲人會針對吃肉和利用動物進行勞務等主題，來與學生進行辯論。羅馬帝國時期，西塞羅、維吉爾和普魯塔克等作家，均提出「食用動物屬於殘忍且不必要之行為」的論點。而保護動物的法律，則於西元前240年首次出現於印度。

現代西方世界的動物權利運動始於18世紀末，並且很快獲得響應。「防止虐待動物協會」（SPCA）在1824年成立於英格蘭，而「美國防止虐待動物協會」（ASPCA）則於1866年創立。此類機構旨在保護動物免於苦難和痛楚。他們奮抗未善待動物的馬戲團和農場，以及對動物進行痛苦或致命實驗的實驗室。1966年，美國國會通過「動物福利法」，來保護被用於實驗 室的動物。自此之後，許多國家均通過相似法律。

動物解放運動始於1970年代。該運動的宗旨，在於主張動物應享有與人類相同的權利，不應淪為盤中飧、皮草或勞動工具。動物權利組織提倡素食主義，向世人宣導製作皮草與工廠化的農耕技術，對動物而言有多麼痛苦。「善待動物組織」（PETA）可謂此運動重要的一員。而諸如「動物解放陣線」等其他團體，則深信幫助動物遠比守法來得重要。但並非人人認同他們的做法。近年來，旨於保護海洋動物的「海洋守護者協會」等組織，更加寬了動物權利此議題的範疇。這場戰役尚未結束，過程中亦打下不少勝仗。1999年，紐西蘭法律認可猿類的基本權利，而德國法律則於2002年承認了動物權。