Another important term related to the animal rights debate: Speciesism. Speiciesism involves the idea of discrimination based on the prejudicial views of one species being somehow "superior" to another species based simply on the fact that the questioning party belongs to the "better" species. This action usually takes the form of denial of the basic, inalienable rights. These ideals and prejudices can be based on religion, different physiology, or "common sense." They are rarely based in fact. Speciesism is another form of cultural relativism, except in this case the relitivism is on a more general plane.
Animal Welfare is a philosophy often confused with Animal Rights because the two ideas agree on several terms. However, animal welfare activists differ in some very important ways. These individuals believe that animals can be used for human benefit as long as the animal is well taken care of. They do not agree with animal testing which hurts the animal, unless it is important medical testing. Basically these people do not want to hurt animals, but they do not believe that other animals are as important or have the same enalienable rights as humans. Humans come first, but the other animals should be respected (to some degree).
Animal Testing is a term which describes the use of animals in various forms of research. This can include cosmetic testing (beauty supplies like makeup, perfumes, soaps...), chemical testing (like household cleaners and disinfectants), and the most respected form, medical research (including organ transplatation, medication, and psychological studies). Animal testing is often painful and the results are not necessarily applicable to the human animal because of the differences in species. (An example: Asprin is deadly to some pets, but quite beneficial to humans.)
--Alexis de Tocqueville