Introduction to Cause
Description of cause
In a contemporary society, the issues of animal protection and welfare require immense attention from the social, scientific, political, economic, and ethical perspectives. Animal welfare and protection are considered to be a new progressing genre of science.
Animal welfare got its recognition as an official discipline after the publication of the Brambell report. This report was given by the British government in 1965 for the welfare and protection of farm animals. The discipline of animal welfare and protection has gained immense attention from the community and legislative government to address animal abuse and violence inflicted by the human beings.
According to recent surveys and reports, animals are subjected to many types of abuse inflicted by the human beings. Therefore, legislative governments and welfare organizations from all around the World are discussing this pertinent cause and have started devising new policies and directives to protect wildlife animals, farm animals, and laboratory purpose animals. Animal welfare and protection are immensely affected by the relationship between animals and human beings. It is working for the animals in wildlife and farming. It is the utmost duty of human beings to safeguard the welfare and protection of animals. The discipline of animal welfare and protection is working for quality veterinary treatment, prosperous shelter against animal abuse, and animal slaughtering/killing. To ensure the welfare and protection of animals, governments from all around the world are working on implementing animal welfare policies to reduce animal killing, animal abuse happening in farms and industries.
1. What it is
The animal protection and welfare policies encapsulate animal husbandry, environmental enhancement, hygienic breeding, and protection of freedom. Animal welfare can be defined as the quality of life experienced by animals. Animal welfare also includes the survival of animals within their current circumstances and surrounding environment. Animal welfare and protection safeguard the wellbeing, rights, and responsibilities of animals. The protection and welfare of animals encapsulate five main fields. These five areas of concern of animal welfare and protection are nutrition, health, behavior, environment, and psychological state. These five fields are explicated below.
Environment: The environmental factors of animal welfare and protection include the assurance of comfort through balanced temperature, space, clean air, and noise according to the adaptability of the animals.
Nutrition: The nutritious factors of animal welfare involve the implication of an adequate, balanced, and mixed nutritious diet along with clean food and water for the animals.
Behavior: The socialization and positive behavior towards animal’s wellbeing and progressive grooming is also a significant paradigm for animal welfare and protection. This can be done by sensory inputs and bonding with animals.
Health: The factor of health is one of the prominent concerns for animal welfare. This factor ensures quality health by providing quality medical health care treatment for diseases, injuries, and impairments in animals.
Psychological State: The psychological state of animals is dependent on the fulfillment of environment, nutrition, behavior, and health. If all these components are positively fulfilled, animals can have a positive and progressing psychological state.
These five paradigms are interlinked with the concept of five freedoms of animal welfare. Therefore, these paradigms play an important role in the discipline of animal welfare and protection. Human beings should examine all these five concerning areas for animal welfare and protection.
2. Whom it affects
Animal protection and welfare provide safety/protection policies for all types of animals (pet animals, farm animals, etc.). The discipline of animal welfare and protection is a multipurpose approach that affects the standard of living of animals and the behavior of human beings towards the wellbeing of animals. Furthermore, it also influences the legislation of the governments by providing evidence-based guidelines to improvise or devise new animal welfare and protection policies. Government policies and laws are devised to protect the welfare and freedom of the animals which are held caged/ captivated and the animals which are in wildlife.
Animal welfare and protection work to protect the welfare of all types of animals. These animals are pet, farm, wildlife, captive, and the animals used for industrial purposes. The captive animals are those animals which are used for entertainment purposes such as in zoo, circuses, and movies. The animals used for industrial purposes face immense abuse and cruelty inflicted by the humans. These industrial businesses include animal skin, fur and hair business used to make animal skin bags, fur clothes, makeup brushes, hair extension, and many other products. The medicine industry and laboratories are using animals to test their medicines. The animal welfare and protection programs work to influence these laboratories and the medical industry to stop animal abuse.
3. Define key terms
In the discipline of animal welfare and protection, the basic concept upon which the whole foundation relies is the concept of five freedom and positive conditioning. These concepts encapsulate all scenarios and ensure the quality of living of animals.
Positive conditioning is also a major approach that provides a framework for animal welfare and protection. John Webster has explicated animal welfare in the light of three positive conditions which can be implemented for the benefits of animals. These three positive conditions are following:
- Living a natural life
- Being healthy and fit (psychologically and physically)
- Being contented and cheerful
The World organization for animal health has devised a health code for terrestrial animals. This code is known as the “Terrestrial Animal Health Code” which envisages the guarantee of progressive welfare of animals. This includes a healthy environment, hygienic food, nutrition, security, and safe breeding. In the current era, animal welfare and protection programs are working on the concept of “five freedoms of animal welfare”. These five freedoms include:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from any type of pain, injury, and disease
- Freedom to show normal behavior
- Freedom from fear and suffering
These five freedoms ensure the protection and welfare of animals in all case scenarios. The concept of freedom and hygienic breeding is also introduced in animal husbandry (also known as animal farming) to make effective progress for animal welfare and protection programs. In animal husbandry, hygienic breeding is the utmost priority for farm animals in the biological process of reproduction.
II. Why this cause is important
The discipline of animal welfare and protection has immense significance in modern society. The animals living in the wildlife and caged life require the attention of animal welfare and protection. Animals from all around the World are suffering from physical and psychological abuse. The animals are suffering at the hands of laboratories, entertainment, poultry business, meat production, and fashion. The animal skin and fur are used in making handbags and fur coats. The animal skin is used in making handbags. The makeup products are tested on animals. The abuse and violence inflicted upon animals are immensely linked with criminal violence. The people who inflict violence upon other people also inflict violence upon animals. Animal abuse and pointless cruelty have to stop. In slaughterhouses, animals are kept in the worst conditions which eventually affects the productivity, quality, and safety of meat. Therefore, the discipline of animal welfare and protection is significant to ensure the quality of life of animals from all around the World. The global community is taking notice of such animal cruelty. These are some of the prominent reasons which make this cause important.
A. How society is affected
The discipline of animal welfare and protection has a significant impact on the social system on a global level. The social system gets its influence from animal welfare in terms of positive human behavior towards animals and prosperous animal welfare conditions. The three most important aspects of animal welfare and protection are the production of food, meat, proper handling, and health care policies. Animal welfare policies have an immense impact on the food chain and livestock production in society. Animal welfare and protection policies are important to improve the production quality of meat and poultry products. The health status of the animal before slaughtering has an immense impact on the quality of poultry products taken from the animal. Animal welfare also affects the society by the animal-loving public which strives to devise animal welfare policies against animal slaughtering. The community supporting animal welfare and protection programs work through different welfare organizations and groups to decrease animal abuse and cruelty in the society. Furthermore, society requires animal welfare for the production of quality and safe food produced by animals.
B. How many/what kind of people are affected
The discipline of animal welfare and protection is significant for the economic stability of the society for the livestock supply chain. The meat industry is mostly affected by animal welfare and protection policies and programs. If animal welfare and protection programs do not work properly, people will not get healthy and hygienic meat. Additionally, this discipline provides effective guidelines for farmers, animal breeders, and veterinary doctors to provide effective care, a hygienic environment, and protection for the welfare of the animals. There are many professionals which are affected by the discipline of animal welfare and protection. The professionals like animal trainers, veterinary doctors, animal breeders, animal scientists, animal farmers, and zookeepers implement the welfare guidelines through this discipline.
1. Statistics/data
The statistical analysis of this report reflects upon the animal statistics used in animal research and livestock production. The statistical data of animal research include the types and percentage of animals used in animal research. Additionally, the statistical data of livestock production explicates the decreasing economy of livestock in the year 2020.
Animal welfare and protection have an immense impact on animal researchers. The animals are abused and physically exploited in the hands of public and animal researchers on daily basis. According to the statistical analysis of several animals used in research in the United States, striking factors came into the limelight regarding animal abuse. According to the statistics, 22% of animals used in research and laboratory testing are guinea pigs. Whereas 17% of animals used in this area are rabbits. Hamsters come in third place with 10 % involvement in research projects. The dogs used in researches are 8%. Furthermore, 7% of pigs are used in such animal researches. The cats and sheep are on 2%. Apart from these known species, 23% goes to other unknown species which are used in animal researches in the United States (“US Statistics”).The most significant factor of these animal researches is that 93% of these animal researches are not reckoned under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). These statistics project the importance and radical steps from the discipline of animal welfare and protection.
The food chain and livestock production are directly associated with animal welfare. According to the statistical analysis, the economy of the livestock sector has decreased by 2.4% in 2020 which has immensely impacted animal welfare and protection. The major reason for the decrease in the livestock is due to two emerging factors. These two factors are the uprising concern of animal welfare and the global pandemic of coronavirus. The public is affected by the animal welfare campaigns which is why they are protesting against animal slaughtering for meat production. Furthermore, the global pandemic of coronavirus has also impacted the livestock sector. The implication of lockdown has delayed transportation and shut down industries. Therefore, animal farms and meat factories were not able to work properly to fulfill their requirements. These are the reasons that livestock has decreased in the year 2020.
2. Examples
The global cause of animal welfare and protection has immensely affected the social system. According to the above statistical analysis, the decrease in livestock production and animal researches is due to the progressive attention towards animal welfare. Furthermore, the second factor for this decrease in livestock production and animal researches is the global pandemic of Covid-19. According to the legislative of the United States, Humane Slaughter Act was devised and implemented to minimize the animals suffering during the butchery. The implementation of the “Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)”, has been made mandatory for all federally sponsored laboratory researches. The national research council has also provided a guideline to provide welfare for the animals used in laboratory researches. The Animal Welfare Act encapsulates all the requirements of animal welfare. This act ensures that all animals get an appropriate environment, nutritious diet, positive socialization, and quality health care. If anyone violates this act will pay a substantial fine of up to $20,000 depending upon their violation. They may get permanently barred from owning an animal again. There are many other legislative policies and laws that are active for animal welfare and protection. All of these legislative policies validate the implementation of the global cause of animal welfare and protection.
D. How the Covid pandemic has affected this cause
The global pandemic of coronavirus has affected animal welfare and protection through many crucial circumstances. Animal welfare is affected by the coronavirus because of various circumstances. These circumstances include the implication of lockdown, transportation issues, decreased animal mobility, lack of animal medical care, and economic crisis. Firstly, the Covid-19 has immensely affected the global economy which is the reason that animal welfare organizations are not getting funds to function efficiently in the year 2020. Secondly, the implication of lockdown has created several limitations on the welfare of animals and the organizations working for it. The transportation issues have created many interferences in animal health care and medical services. The dairy and poultry sector is majorly influenced by a coronavirus. The major rising issue is the limitation of feed availability and medical care to animals in dairy farms, which has caused deterioration of animal welfare and the economy. The lack of feed and medical care has worsened the conditions of animals in farms, poultry, and slaughterhouses. This shortage significantly affected the quality and safety of meat produced from such animals. The poultry business also got affected by Covid-19 and suffered a shortage of feed and economic losses. The global pandemic played a major role in making damage to the global cause of animal welfare and protection
III. Charities/Organizations working on behalf of this cause
There are many charitable organizations and groups which are working for the welfare and protection of animals in the world. The animal welfare organizations included in this report are Animal Aid, The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT), and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The explication of these animal welfare organizations is given below which accentuates the agenda of animal welfare and protection.
A. Animal Aid
Animal Aid provides animal welfare campaigns to promote cruelty-free living and operates against animal abuse. This organization was established in 1977 as an animal rights group against animal cruelty. It is a non-profit organization. Animal Aid is operational under the administration of the Voluntary Council of Management. The main agenda of their campaign is to eradicate all forms of animal abuse and provide a healthy environment for animals. They provide awareness campaigns and secret investigations on slaughterhouses to show animal cruelty happening in society. They record secret videos and upload them on social media to enlighten the mass audience about animal abuse. They have a significant internet presence by which they spread their message all around the world. Furthermore, they uncover animal abuse through publishing and distributing booklets and leaflets in public. Animal Aid offer campaigns against animal abuse by political lobbying also. These organizations offer volunteer training sessions for school speakers. These training sessions aim to educate the modern youth for promoting kindness towards animals. This organization has also devised a vegan pledge initiative (free vegan diet packs) to prevent animal slaughtering for poultry purposes. It has its ethical shop which sells animal cruelty-free products.
B. The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT)
The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) was established in early 1990 and started working in the United Kingdom. This was the time when fur trading and farming were at its peak. This organization is working on a partnership with Grass Roots organization. The CAFT is a complete welfare organization that is functioning totally by volunteer workers (unpaid). This organization entirely relies on public donations and funds to fulfill its agenda against the cruelty of the animal fur trade. Currently, there are many branches of CAFT working across the World. This organization is working to protect fur-bearing animals. The CAFT fights against the animal fur trade through educational campaigns, raids on fur farms, and secret investigations on the fur business. Many times, CAFT has carried out secret investigations by filming the fur farms. They conduct awareness campaigns for fur selling shops to discontinue trading in animal fur. This organization is also working in collaboration with various anti-fur groups to win the battle against the fur trading industry on a national and international level.
C. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) exposes animal abuse in the food industry, fur trade, entertainment industry, and animal testing in laboratories. PETA is known as the largest working animal organization in the World which is working for animal welfare and protection. This International Organization consists of more than 6.5 million supporters and members. The main agenda of this organization is working against animal cruelty in the paradigms of the food industry, clothing industry, entertainment industry, and laboratory testing. PETA works to fulfill its agenda in various ways. They deliver educational sessions for the public. Furthermore, the organization works on animal welfare research, cruelty case studies, and animal cruelty protest campaigns. They organize awareness events involving celebrities to spread their agenda. They also propose legislative guidelines to the government for animal welfare and protection.
IV. Your Perspective
A. Why you chose this cause
Animal welfare and protection bear intense significance according to my perspective. I choose this cause for research analysis because animal protection and welfare fields have gained massive attention in recent years by the scientific innovations and technology from all around the World. In the modern world, the concepts of welfare on animal husbandry are gaining significance due to its direct impact on the quality of livestock production. As a consumer of animal meat, it is my prerequisite to properly research animal welfare policies to ensure the welfare of animals and food quality. Furthermore, this global cause acts as a forceful and evolving tool for implicating the welfare and protection guidelines for all types of animals in all case scenarios. It addresses animal problems concerning the evolving trends of society.
B. Why it’s important to you
Animal welfare and protection are important to me because I want to offer my help to the animals all over the World. Animal welfare should be at the forefront of every human action involving animals. In the contemporary era, animals are unnecessarily suffering from abuse and lack of care at the hands of humans. As a human being, our morality and ethical consciousness do not allow us to overlook this global cause. Animals are living beings and they have the right to be treated properly.
My biggest concern is for the welfare of animals that are subjected to abuse in factory farming and laboratory research testing. The animals used for meat production and husbandry are nurtured in extremely vulnerable conditions without any welfare benefits. Large amounts of animals are kept in small places with extremely few opportunities for natural interactions. The animals kept for livestock purposes and farming should be given natural environment and welfare facilities. The quality welfare and protection for animals in wildlife and captivity requires immense attention towards analyzing the physical and psychological needs of animals. Therefore, the research and analysis on the global cause of animal welfare and protection act as a significant force to enhance knowledge regarding the psychological and physical needs of the animals. These are some of the reasons which make animal welfare and protection important to me. If we all work together to address this global cause, we can make effective progress in this discipline.
Works Cited
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