Re: Todd's Epstein Goes to Extremes

In Todd's latest post in response to Richard Epstein's article, he asked "Do you believe that animals can have freedom and liberty, even if we still utilize their resources and their labor?"
First I want to point out that I found this a very intriguing question. Yet, in order to answer it I want to first, list all human utilization of animals. Secondly, define freedom and liberty. And finally, determine if each utilization allows animals to be free and obtain liberty.
We use animals for many things, some more necessary than others. We use them for medical resources, as pets, modes of transportation, clothing/upholstery, zoo/aquarium attractions, farm hands, and food.
Freedom is, "The absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice of action." And liberty is, " The power to do as one pleases." (Both as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Essentially, they mean the same thing.
For clothing/upholstery and food, the animal of course has no freedom or liberty because it's dead. (I apologize for my bluntness.) Yet, for the other conditions freedom and liberty is questionable. In a medical testing facility, the animals are free to do what they please when they are in their cage... as long as they are in their cage. Oh the abundance of choices. They are not free or at liberty to say if they do or do not want to be a part of an experiment. At times, I'm sure, They have to be held down or forced to participate.
For pets, their actions are limited to the dos and don't of their owners, they technically have less freedom than cows or any other farm animal in my opinion.
As for animals that are on the farm, (that serve as Farm hands, potential food, or transpiration) and animals that are in the aquarium or zoo their freedom and liberty is a bit more complex. They are free to roam and do as they please without constraint as long as they are inside the gates and walls that bind them. Their choices of actions are limited to this space and if they were to try to escape, they would be restrained from that decision. Yet, as long as they do not try to do that it appears as though they have liberty and freedom, at least to them.

Question: Are humans even free? Who has more freedom wild animals or humans?