David Cantor
Founder & Director
Responsible Policies for Animals

A full-time animal advocate with national organizations since 1989, David Cantor has moved to strict rights advocacy, distinguishing, crucially, between abolitionism and rights strategy. (See Animal Rights.)

Cantor’s and Responsible Policies for Animals’ (RPA’s) rights advocacy promotes unalienable equal basic autonomy, ecology, and dignity rights of all animals, including human beings; an end to rights of corporations and other nonliving entities; and human rights against harm from using, killing, subjugating, and enslaving nonhuman animals. “Better to work for the needed change, though it will take many, many years to see tangible progress, than to achieve short-term results that do little good and keep destructive systems in place.”

Cantor considers popular animal advocacy too much focused on cruelty to establish meaningful protection and empowerment of all animals – which requires basic rights. He and RPA promote strategies that established basic human rights in the past; provide guidance for people who want all animals and no corporation to have rights; and urge advocates and organizations to use “rights” and “animal rights” strictly as in the Bill of Rights, other rights Amendments, and other pioneering documents – not to mean caring, helping, and so forth.

“Protections and guarantees that frame human aspirations for the wellbeing of all and chart the Constitutional, legal, political, social, and economic means to pursue them – that is what rights are. That is what many advocates have lost track of by using the animal-rights movement’s key terms loosely.”

In addition to speaking to audiences in all walks of life, writing RPA’s literature and websites, appearing on many radio and television broadcasts and in a film opposing animal experimentation, being interviewed for numerous articles, and being profiled by Charles Patterson in Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust, Cantor has published many articles and letters and has contributed chapters to three books. A partial list of Cantor’s publications appears below.

With a generous foundation grant and donations by RPA members, he is currently at work on Elephant in the Newsroom: A Newsperson’s and Citizen’s Guide to Accurate and Truthful Reporting on Animals. He is drafting an as-yet-untitled book on fundamental change needed to enable all animals to lead fulfilling lives.

Cantor’s family has a history of involvement in the labor, civil-rights, anti-death-penalty, and gay-rights movements, as well as school-teaching, law, art, and business. Cantor and his spouse, Elizabeth Holt, a speech-language pathologist, professional musician, and practicing Buddhist have long supported feminist, human-rights, environmental, health, and animal causes.

Holding a graduate degree in literature, Cantor taught English in universities for many years before dedicating himself full-time to nonhuman animals in 1989. A lifelong musician, he chose mostly justice-themed songs for his CD Songs of Now and Then, including the animal-rights song he penned: “When I Was Young.” Cantor also photographs nonhuman animals in their habitats, selling his pictures on blank notecards and printed invitations.

In his youth, Cantor was an honor student, student-council member, high-school graduation class speaker, and little-league all-star. Living like his peers according to the agrarian and herding ethic that has subordinated, subjugated and enslaved nonhuman animals for 10,000 years and according to consumer capitalism of the past century-plus, he personally caused animals to suffer by fishing, which he ceased at age 14, seeing an animal he released sink into the lake gasping in pain. In 1989, he adopted a vegetarian (plants only) diet and a vegan lifestyle.

“Consumerist strategies and less-inhumane shopping choices cannot lead to establishment of the rights all animals need. But advocates can achieve three important purposes as vegans: practicing what they preach to demonstrate consistency and avoid hypocrisy, showing others how easy it is to abandon the most destructive choices, and enhancing their wellbeing so they may dedicate themselves vigorously to the needed change for as long as possible.”

“Without rights beyond humans, there can be no meaningful protection and empowerment of all animals to live fulfilling lives. Until all animals are protected and empowered, human wellbeing and the health of Earth will continue to suffer as they do on a massive scale today. All animals deserve to live, dream, and enjoy.”

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Partial List of Publications by David Cantor,
Founder & Director, Responsible Policies for Animals

Book Chapters

“Items of Property” in The Great Ape Project: Equality beyond Humanity, edited by Paola Cavalieri and Peter Singer (4th Estate and St. Martins, 1993).

“Silence” in Voices from the Garden: Stories of Becoming a Vegetarian, edited by Sharon and Daniel Towns (Lantern, 2001).

“Victims of Apathy” and in A Primer on Animal Rights, edited by Kim Stallwood (Lantern, 2002).

“White-Tailed Deer: The Phantom Menace” in A Primer on Animal Rights, edited by Kim Stallwood (Lantern, 2002).

Articles (apart from Thin Ice, the newsletter of Responsible Policies for Animals)

“Get Our Universities of Out of the Meat Industry,” The Compassionate Vegetarian, Compassion for Animals-Respect for the Environment,” West Chester, Pennsylvania, Fall 2008.

“10,000 Years Is Enough: Time To Shut Down Campus Slaughterhouses,” The Island Vegetarian (Vegetarian Society of Hawaii), January-March 2007.

“No More Animal Science,” Kaleo (University of Hawai’i), July 20, 2006. (With Cathy Goeggel.)

“Deer Kills: A Bad Idea – for Animals, Ecosystems, and People,” The C.A.S.H. Courier (Committee To Abolish Sport Hunting, New Paltz, New York), Fall 2006.

“Tell Rutgers: 10,000 Years Is Enough,” NJARA Activator (New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance), October 2006.

“Time To Put ‘Animal Science’ Out to Pasture,” University of Minnesota Daily, June 28, 2006.

“10,000 Years Is Enough,” Satya magazine, April 2006.

“’Get Political for Animals’: What Does That Mean?,” Animal Writes, March 27, 2005.

“Students & Environmentalists Urged To Support Anti-Factory Farming Campaign,” Threshold, the Movement Magazine of the Student Environmental Action Coalition, Spring 2004.

“Animal Activists Finally Get a Say,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 8, 2004.

“First Campaign To End University Teaching of Animal Agriculture,” The Sylvanian (Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter), Fall 2003.

“What About Eggs and Dairy?,” Compassionate News, Compassion for Animals-Respect for the Environment,” West Chester, Pennsylvania, Summer 2002.

“Complaints about Geese in Parks Don’t Justify and Unsporting ‘Hunt,’” The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania), August 9, 2000.

“More Deer Hunting No Way To Solve ‘Problem,’” Asbury Park Press, June 6, 2000.

“White-Tailed Deer: The Phantom Menace,” The Animals’ Agenda, September/October 1999.

“Killing Deer No Solution to, and Deer Not the Cause of, Pennsylvania ‘Deer Problem,’” Proceedings of the Conference on The Impact of Deer on the Biodiversity and Economy of the State of Pennsylvania (co-sponsored by the PA Audubon Society, PA Chapter – Sierra Club, others), September 24-26, 1999.

“Fairmount Park Commission Did Not Use Scientific Methods for Studying Deer Population,” Mt. Airy Times Express (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), April 14, 1999.

“Charity Intended To Help Can Hurt,” Delaware State News (Dover), December 13, 1998 (with Neal D. Barnard).

“Charities and Animal Research,” News-Topic (Lenoir, North Carolina), December 13, 1998 (with Neal D. Barnard).

“Organization Not Worthy of Holiday Charity,” Times (Salisbury, Maryland), December 13, 1998 (with Neal D. Barnard).

“Charity Using Animals in Med Research,” Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa), December 12, 1998 (with Neal D. Barnard).

“A Charity To Avoid During Giving of Holiday Season,” News (West Bend, Wisconsin), December 12, 1998.

“AAVS Challenges Antibody Procedures,” The Animals’ Agenda, May/June 1997.

“There’s Nothing Delicate about This Holiday Delicacy,” Los Angeles Times Washington Edition, January 3, 1996.

“Mobil Goes To Bat for Birds and Bats: Inexpensive Exhaust Stacks Help Save Lives,” Business and Society Review, Winter 1995.

“Flora vs. Fauna,” Vegetarian Times, July 1994.

“Animal Suffering in Military and Veterans Experiments,” Veterans Edition, June 1994.

“Should the Co-op Sell Meat?,” The Uncommon News, The Uncommon Market, Arlington, Virginia, March/April 1994.

“Mixed-Up Messages,” The Animals’ Agenda, January/February 1994.

“Thanksgiving: Why I Don’t Eat Turkey,” The Uncommon Market newsletter, Arlington, Virginia, November 1993.

“Victims of Apathy,” The Animals’ Agenda, September/October 1993.

“PETA’s Effort To End Campus Animal Abuse,” AFA (American Fraternity Association) Perspectives, October/November 1992.

“Animals Don’t Belong in School,” The American School Board Journal, October 1992.

“Respect for All Creatures: A Miquon Alumnus Shares His Views,” The Miquon School Newsletter (Miquon, Pennsylvania), Fall 1990.

“Notes on the Care of Chickens, Sheep, Rabbits and Turkeys at Aspin Hill,” Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation (Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Volume Four, 1990.

Letters

Untitled, Utne Reader, September-October 2009.

“Reject the Meat, Dairy Industries,” Whitehorse Star (Yukon, Canada), May 29, 2009.

“It’s More Than an Apple a Day,” Time magazine, July 6, 2009.

“Status and Greed,” The New York Times Book Review, May 24, 2009.

“The Barnyard Strategist,” The New York Times Magazine, November 9, 2008.

“Article on Animal Rights ‘Thoughtful,’” Chestnut Hill Local (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), November 6, 2008.

“Proposes New Category: Political Vegetarian,” Vegetarian Voice (North American Vegetarian Society), Vol. 29, No. 2, 2007.

“End Reign of Terror against Lorimer Deer,” Times Chronicle—Glenside News (Jenkintown & Glenside, Pennsylvania), November 14-20, 2007.

“Include, Don’t Exclude Differing Ideas,” Times Chronicle—Glenside News (Jenkintown & Glenside, Pennsylvania), October 17-23, 2007.

“Not Kid’s Fault,” Hunterdon County (New Jersey) Democrat, December 21, 2006.

“Animals’ Rights,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 15, 2005.

“Meat and Sustainability,” World-Watch magazine, March/April 2005

“It’s Not Animal Welfare,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 7, 2005.

“Responding to PETA Article,” The Waukun (Iowa) Standard, January 11, 2005.

“Responding to PETA Article,” Postville (Iowa) Herald Leader, January 11, 2005.

“Stop the Killing,” Chestnut Hill Local (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), March 18, 2004.

“H.A.V.A. Lacks Logic,” Willapa Harbor Herald (Raymond, Washington), December 24, 2003.

“Degree Should Only Reflect Knowledge,” Iowa State Daily, September 11, 2003.

“Who Was Speaking for the Animals?,” Times Chronicle—Glenside News (Jenkintown & Glenside, Pennsylvania), September 3, 2003.

“Killing Cows Was Inhumane,” Press of Atlantic City, July 29, 2003.

“Shredding of Chickens Is Hardly Humane,” San Diego Tribune, May 17, 2003.

“Pig Industry Based on Habit, Not Science,” The Gazette (Montreal, Canada), May 1, 2003.

“Cease the Suffering,” The Times (Trenton, New Jersey), December 18, 2002.

“On Dealing With Canada Geese,” The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), July 16, 2002.

“No Need To Destroy Defenseless Beings,” Princeton Packet, June 7, 2002.

“Killing Wildlife Is Wrong – Geese Included,” Burlington County (New Jersey) Times, May 24, 2002.

“Land Use for Animals,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2002.

“Cruelty Is Not Acceptable,” Castine (Maine) Patriot, May 23, 2002.

“Circus’ Use of Animals Is Wrong,” Public Spirit – Willow Grove Guide (Hatboro and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania), May 23-30, 2002.

“Mankind Is To Blame, Not Wildlife,” Bucks County (Pennsylvania) Courier Times, May 18, 2002.

“War on Nature,” Chestnut Hill Local (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), February 21, 2002.

“Deer Plan Conforms to False Wisdom,” Princeton Packet, December 7, 2001.

“The Vegan Way,” Philadelphia Daily News, November 21, 2001.

“Don’t Scapegoat Deer,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 19, 2001.

“The Benefits of Milk: An Outpouring of Only Half the Evidence?,” Los Angeles Times, November 12, 2001.

“Animals Suffer from Sprawl, Too,” The Intelligencer – The Record (Doylestown, Pennsylvania), October 14, 2001.

“Let’s All Give the Woodchucks a Break,” Times Chronicle—Glenside News (Jenkintown & Glenside, Pennsylvania), August 15, 2001.

Untitled, Philadelphia Daily News, July 3, 2001.

“10-Year-Old Hunters Bad Child-Rearing, Bad Wildlife Management,” Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), June 24, 2001.

“Column Does Not Address Facts,” Public Spirit – Willow Grove Guide (Hatboro and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania), June 21, 2001.

“Community Could Do Better,” Public Spirit – Willow Grove Guide (Hatboro and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania), June 7, 2001.

“What About Chickens?,” San Antonio Express-News, May 7, 2001.

“The Zoo Lies,” Dallas Observer, February 22, 2001.

“Cull Has No Place in Deer Management,” The Northeast Breeze (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), February 15, 2001.

“Animal Case Isn’t Unique,” Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, New York), February 4, 2001.

“Dangerous Animals,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 3, 2001.

“Land Use, Not Deer, Is Villain,” USA Today, January 2, 2001.

“Deer Prudence,” Philadelphia magazine, December 2000.

“Go Vegetarian,” Kansas City Star, December 11, 2000.

“Humor and Diets,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 18, 2000.

“Elephants, Abuse and Rights,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 9, 2000.

“A Worthy Bill,” The Ithaca (New York) Journal, June 30, 2000.

“Better Protection for Suffering Animals,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 4, 2000.

“Stop the Slaughter,” The Deming (New Mexico) Headlight, May 11, 2000.

“Not Tonight, Deer,” Chestnut Hill Local (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), May 4, 2000.

“Deer Kill,” Chestnut Hill Local (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), January 20, 2000.

“Pennsylvania Lacks a Plan To Save Biodiversity,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 20, 1999.

“Animal Welfare,” The Ecologist, Vol. 26, No. 6, October 1999.

“Save the Deer,” Chestnut Hill Local (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), September 16, 1999.

“Sad Day for the Animals,” Times Chronicle—Glenside News (Jenkintown & Glenside, Pennsylvania), August 4, 1999.

“Animals Pay Price of Circus,” Public Spirit – Willow Grove Guide (Hatboro & Willow Grove, Pennsylvania), August 4, 1999.

“Bad Medicine,” E: The Environmental Magazine, July-August 1999.

“Vote on Circus Marks Sad Day,” The Record (Doylestown, Pennsylvania), July30-31, 1999.

“Help Protect Cows,” Watertown (New York) Daily News, March 29, 1999.

“Violence and Animals,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 30, 1999.

“Public Is Deceived on Animal Testing,” The Wall Street Journal, December 11, 1998.

“Animals Suffering for No Good Reason,” The Wall Street Journal, November 10, 1998.

“Find Ways To Control Deer – Besides Killing,” Philadelphia Daily News, July 20, 1998.

“Take Aim at Species-ism,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 14, 1998.

“Story on Deer Overpopulation ‘Prejudiced,’ ‘Speciesist,’” Mt. Airy Times Express (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), February 18, 1998.

“One-Sided,” Chestnut Hill Local (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), February 12, 1998.
“Empathy toward Humans Benefits Animals,” The Animals’ Agenda,November/December 1997.

“A Fowl Sport,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 14, 1997.

“Pa. Too Eager To Back Goose-Shoot,” The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania), September 4, 1997.

Untitled, Time magazine, September 1, 1997.

“Shooting Geese Is No Solution,” The Record (Doylestown, Pennsylvania), August 17, 1997.

“Killing Geese is ‘Repugnant,’” Times Chronicle – Glenside News (Jenkintown & Glenside, Pennsylvania), July 30, 1997.

“Alternatives to Animal Research,” PT (Physical Therapy) Bulletin, March 7, 1997.

“Primate Update,” Satya magazine (New York, New York), January 1997

“Monkeys Don’t Choose Risks,” New York Post, January 27, 1997.

“Animal Rights,” New York Daily News, January 11, 1997.

“Plight of Primates,” Philadelphia Daily News, December 28, 1996.

“Exotic Animals Don’t Belong in Sideshows,” The Record (Doylestown, Pennsylvania), December 13, 1996.

“Shearing a Terrifying Experience,” Jenkintown (Pennsylvania) Times-Chronicle / Glenside News, August 14, 1996.

“Deceptive,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 3, 1996.

“Removing Deer Isn’t Rational,” Aberdeen (South Dakota) American News, January 12, 1996.

“… No to Deer Trapping,” Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), January 2, 1996.

“Nature Conservancy Supports Animal Torture,” The Honolulu Advertiser, December 20, 1995.

“Intolerable Treatment,” Orlando Sentinel, December 15, 1995.

“Fishing Is Just Another Form of Killing,” The Northern Virginia Sun Weekly, April 20, 1995.

“Snaring Spotlight on Animal Cruelty,” Journal (Arlington, Virginia), December 19, 1994.

“It’s Not the Only Alien Invader,” The New York Times Magazine, December 4, 1994.

“Opportunity To Protect Animals in Wyoming,” The Wyoming Eagle, March 1, 1994.

“Trading in Foie Gras Lambasted as Cruel,” Delmarva Farmer (Easton, Maryland), August 24, 1993.

“Ban Force-Feeding,” Rochester Times Union, June 23, 1993.

“Romanticizing Foie Gras,” The New York Times Book Review, January 3, 1993.

“Ruffled Feathers and Spotted Owls,” Washington Post, 1992. (Date unknown.)

“Letter in Gazette from Lab Employees Is No Surprise …,” The Xenia (Ohio) Daily Gazette, December 23, 1992.

“Senseless Suffering Goes into Foie Gras,” Journal (Montgomery County, Maryland), December 10, 1992.

“Force Feeding Ducks Is a ‘Fowl’ Thing To Do,” Journal (Montgomery County, Maryland), November 20, 1992.

“Animals Not Learning Tools,” San Antonio Express-News, September 29, 1992.

“Students, Observer Were Wrong about the Chickens,” The Observer (Herndon, Virginia), June 26, 1992.

Untitled, The Christian Science Monitor, April 27, 1992.

“Animal Abuse Glorified,” Maneater (University of Missouri), February 14, 1992.

“Animal Abuse Occurs,” Penn (Indiana University), January 31, 1992.

“The Common People Know that Capitalism Hurts Them,” Washington Times, January 16, 1992.

“All Animals Thank You,” Chicago Defender, December 19, 1991.

Untitled, The Anchorage Times, December 26, 1990.