"Years later, laws were changed protecting minks from anal electrocution by mink farmers. Now thousands of lives are saved each year."

Wait a minute here. If they mink farmers couldnt kill their minks anymore, then they cant skin the animals for their fur. Which makes mink farming pointless. Which means mink farming, including mink breeding, stops. Which means the lives "saved" aren't even being born.

Suppose you're murdered tomorrow. Would you still be grateful for having been born and allowed to live until tomorrow?

Granted you weren't raised on a slaughterhouse farm, but then a mink does not have nearly the same need and desire for freedom as a human. They have very simple minds and drastically limited awareness of their surroundings.