Animals not having reason is not a justification to torture and murder them. We do not kill and eat retards for that very reason. There are many human beings who are actually lower in intelligence than animals, but we do not eat them because a lack of reason and intellect is not a justification for murder.
We are supposed to protect the most vulnerable members of society, not abuse them.
So how do you propose dealing with all of these "rights" violations being committed by other creatures on the planet, most of which are killing and eating one another? Must humans intervene to stop this? From an animal's perspective, it's irrational to think they would only object to being killed and eaten by a human and not some other animal.
Comparing a wolf killing a sheep and what is outlined in this Post is ridiculous to say the least.
The sheep had the free will to be there and there was a chance of it escaping. But for the slaughtered animals they have no choice. Everything in their life is predetermined by us. If they live or die, if they get to walk or stand in one place for the whole duration of their life, if they get to keep their offspring next to them, any and all aspects of their existence is in our hands.
We must not also forget here that a century ago there were a group of people just like you and me called "slaves" who also did not have RIGHTS. Looking back we can see the evolution of that scenario.
Sheep don't have anything like free will, because free will needs abstract thinking, thinking about the future, possibilities. Animal is always now and here, and reacts to the envirement according to instincts and previously learned reflexes. Animals in slaughterhouse can escape as well, we are just better predators then wolfs so it happens rarely. It's not a point anyway. And slaves were people and possessed reason, therefore slavery always was and will be violation of natural rights of the people. Nothing comparable to animal breeding.
Well we can go on and on about this can't we?
Anyway whatever you say will not alter my Respect for animals and my disgust for how they are treated.
My point about the slaves was that there were people who thought about slaves just like you are thinking about animals. But we all know that they were proven wrong.
Also simply without much elaboration on anything about animals having "rights" or not or if they are "conscious" or not or even if they have "free will" or not, how about if we all just start by SIMPLY RESPECTING ALL LIVING BEINGS. Adjusting our thoughts slightly towards respect will change a huge lot and go a long way.
I can respect my animals very much, but do not confuse it with animal having rights, because it's nonsense. I can respect my chickens, treat them well and then eat them, nothing wrong with that.
They aren't "rights" violations because it's part of nature for some animals to use other animals as food.