"According to the US constitution, Hens are not animals. Also, Rabbits are poultry (birds) and thus not animals too and exempt from any anti-cruelty law. This discrepancy is generally required, since it makes it easy to exploit the subject. For example, it will be difficult to eat meat if hens are not called chickens, cows are not called beef, dogs are not called fragrance and calf's are not called veal. It will be difficult to exploit blacks or women if they are considered humans. This is natural."