ANIMAL WELFARE VERSUS ANIMAL RIGHTS. Animal Welfare Versus Animal Rights Megan McDermott Animal Welfare Spring 2017

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1 1 Animal Welfare Versus Animal Rights Megan McDermott Animal Welfare Spring 2017

2 2 There has been a long running debate over the ideas of animal welfare, animal rights, and whether the two are related. Animal welfare encompasses all animals; animals used for food, sport, and companionship. Animal rights advocates believe that there is no distinction between animals and humans. Proponents of animal welfare seek to improve the treatment and wellbeing of animals. Animal rights proponents believe that violence, misinformation, and publicity stunts are valid ways to get their points across to help animals. Animal welfare refers to the quality of an animal s life as it is experienced by that individual animal (Bracke et al., 1999). The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) defines an animal as having good welfare if it is: healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behavior, and is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress (OIE, 2010). This applies to farm animals, companion animals, and laboratory animals. While the scientific concept of animal welfare is still being developed, the term animal welfare is used widely and loosely. One reason this happens is because people put emphasis on different aspects of an animal s life. Farmers and Veterinarians focus on disease, injury, and poor growth rates. Researchers focus on hygienic conditions and freedom from disease. The public focuses on whether animals are suffering from pain, fear, or hunger. Because animal welfare is multifocal the best known definition is the Five Freedoms, which define good welfare as freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, or disease, fear and distress, and the ability to express normal behavior. Freedom from hunger and thirst refers to having access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health. Freedom from discomfort provides an environment with shelter and a comfortable resting area. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease provides rapid diagnosis and treatment. Freedom to express normal

3 3 behavior means to provide sufficient space and company of an animals own kind. Freedom from fear and distress ensures treatment and conditions that avoid mental suffering. Per the American Veterinary Medical Association Animal rights is a philosophical view and personal value characterized by statements by various animal rights groups. Animal welfare and animal rights are not synonymous terms. (AVMA 2007). Animal rights can be thought of in two views, legal and moral. Legal rights refer to the rights created by the legal system. The law does not create moral rights, but the people that believe in moral rights have many different perspectives. One perspective is that animals naturally have rights, just as humans do. Tom Regan argues that all experiencing subjects of a life should be thought of as possessing moral rights (Regan 2007, pg 209). He suggests that all mentally normal adult mammals have a basic right to life and liberty. That all animals are born with it and it can t be traded, calculated, or replaced. Another perspective is the utilitarian view. Utilitarians believe that harming some beings to bring about good consequences for others is morally acceptable. They think that we should consider the interests of all affected beings as well as all affected sentient beings. Per the AVMA more than one third of US households have at least 1 dog, and almost one third have a cat (AVMA, 2007). Keeping animals as pets brings up a various number of topics. Animals that are kept as pets are confined against their will. Breeding infringes on animal liberty. The creation of new breeds prevents animals from living healthy lives. Spaying and neutering infringes on human rights, but we are unsure what that means for animals. Pets are fed carnivorous diets which are made from other animals whose rights have been infringed on.

4 4 In conclusion, although animal welfare and animal rights are not synonymous terms, the different aspects of their key issues are interconnected. Different groups of people put emphasis on different aspects of an animal s welfare. In the end these groups just want, what they feel is, the best environment for animals to thrive in.

5 5 References Animal Welfare: Advocacy &Policy. (2007) Retrieved April 27, 2017 from Bracke, M.B.M., Spruijt, B.M. and Metz, J.H.M. (1999) Overall animal welfare assessment reviewed. Part 1: Is it Possible? Neverlands Journal of Agricultural Science. 47, OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) (2010) Chapter 7. 1: Introduction to the recommendations for animal welfare. Article In: Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Volume 1. Available at (accessed 14 December 2010) Regan, T. (1985) The Case for Animal Rights. Routledge, London