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Can animals be slaves?
Killer whale 'Tilikum' appears during its performance in its show 'Believe' at SeaWorld on March 30, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. 'Tilikum' is back to public performance March 30, the first time the six-ton whale has performed since killing 40-year-old trainer Dawn Brancheau at the marine park on February 24 2010. (Getty Images)
January 26th, 2012
05:00 PM ET
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Can animals be slaves?

Editor's Note: Jennifer O’Connor is a staff writer for the PETA Foundation. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) works to promote animal rights and mitigate cruelty toward animals.

By Jennifer O'Connor – Special to CNN

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the condition of slavery. But it does not refer to a "person" or any particular class of victims.

So, can animals be slaves?

In a precedent-setting case, PETA, three marine-mammal experts and two former orca (killer whale) trainers are suing SeaWorld on behalf of five orcas who were taken from their home by force, locked up, put to work and never allowed to leave - the very definition of slavery.

Corky, Kasatka and Ulises went from exploring the vast seas with their families to a sterile tank barely larger than their own bodies at SeaWorld San Diego. Tilikum and Katina float listlessly between performances at SeaWorld Orlando. Now all five orcas will get their day in court.  FULL POST

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Topics: Animals • Human Rights • Law