Human/Non-Human Animals

In my opinion the line between what distinguishes humans and non-humans is a fine one. It is hard to say what people have accepted as the difference between humans and non-humans or why we have rights as humans, and yet other animals do not have those same rights. What entitles us to this superiority over other non-humans? I believe that animals are entitled to rights and be protected from abuse, however, I do believe that animals are useful and productive to our society and their domestication, as well as their potential death is beneficial to humans. I feel as though the reason for this distinction is due to a lot of different factors. Non-humans are not nearly as mentally equipped. They do not have the same emotionally, biological, or instincts as we do, and this has led us to be superior to other animals. I do not think anything but our brain really separates us from other animals and this has led us to have a universal rule of the world that other animals inhabit. It is a very odd system that has occurred in our earths history, but it does not seem to show any signs of changing or stopping.