Animal Welfare Explained PDF

WHAT IS ANIMAL WELFARE? 1. Read the following essay about animal welfare, and answer the questions below: What is animal welfare and why is it important? The term “animal welfare” can evoke a sense of calm or well- being for the conscious consumer, especially when it appears on a...

WHAT IS ANIMAL WELFARE? 1. Read the following essay about animal welfare, and answer the questions below: What is animal welfare and why is it important? The term “animal welfare” can evoke a sense of calm or well- being for the conscious consumer, especially when it appears on a carton of eggs or a jug of milk proclaiming that animals were treated humanely during the creation of these products. But these claims often obscure the dark realities of where and how these products were made—on factory farms that systematically condemn animals to lives of extreme confinement, stress, pain, and even torture. What is animal welfare? Animal welfare pertains to the living conditions of animals who are kept in captivity or are otherwise under human control. In this way, animal welfare is synonymous with human control of animals. As a guiding philosophy for legislation and regulations, animal welfare attempts to mitigate the suffering of human-controlled animals and to ensure a minimum standard of living conditions and treatment. Welfare standards can be applied to farms, laboratories, pet stores, horse ranches, and entertainment facilities, although standards differ widely based on the species and how animals are used. What's the difference between animal rights and animal welfare? While both animal rights and animal welfare are oriented towards the well-being of individual animals, they differ significantly. Animal rights advocates believe that every animal deserves the right to live a life free from human control. Veganism— refraining from using or consuming animal products—is a lifestyle commonly adopted by proponents of this philosophy. Conversely, animal welfare implicitly reinforces human use of animals, because welfare is applied to situations where animals are under the control of humans. These include facilities such as farms, where animals are being used (and/or killed) to create products or food for humans. Notably, some argue that a person can be both an animal rights advocate and an animal welfare advocate. For example, if one's ultimate goal is to achieve animal rights, they may work in the meantime to advance animal welfare. The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, which were written by Irish medical scientist Francis Brambell in 1965 and codified by the UK's Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1979, represent the bare minimum of living standards that animals in captivity should have:  1. Freedom from thirst and hunger 2. Freedom from discomfort by providing adequate shelter 3. Freedom from disease, pain, or injury 4. Freedom from distress and fear 5. Freedom to engage in natural behaviors Unfortunately, there is room for interpretation in these guidelines that often disadvantages animals. For example, if animals are allowed to engage in some natural behaviors—such as chickens being allowed to perch and spread their wings, as opposed to being locked in battery cages where they can do neither of these things—this is seen as sufficiently maintaining their welfare. However, perching in a factory farm still means birds are confined to one indoor room for the duration of their drastically shortened lives. On factory farms, animals are denied most if not all of the natural behaviours they would otherwise engage in. This has serious consequences for their physical and psychological health. Why is animal welfare important? Though some critics argue that animal welfare only cements animals’ exploitation on farms, in laboratories, and in other industrial situations, welfare standards are effective in making the lives of animals more bearable. The Humane League and our supporters have succeeded in convincing some slaughterhouses to stop using killing methods that cause prolonged pain for chickens, and in persuading some factory farms to end extreme confinement of chickens. These are major milestones in the movement to end the abuse of animals raised for food. While these changes may seem incremental in the face of a powerful industry that largely regards animals as inanimate objects rather than intelligent and sensitive beings, without welfare advocates, these animals' lives would be even more tortured and painful. A chicken who is allowed to grow at a less rapid rate, who is able to stand up without breaking any bones, who has room to spread their wings and move around, and who will be spared the horrors of live-shackle slaughter represents a very real, tangible improvement over the alternative. Conclusion It's a tragic reality that the intersection of human and animal lives so often results in pain and suffering for animals. Strengthening welfare standards not only improves the lives of animals; it can also educate the public about the harsh conditions animals face in places like factory farms and laboratories. The conversation around animal welfare is constantly evolving, and it features many different viewpoints even from advocates with the same ultimate goals. Still, this ongoing dialogue and the actions it inspires continue to pull our society toward better conditions for animals. One day, progress in our movement ideally will result in all animals' liberation from the worst of human treatment.  1. Once you’ve read the essay carefully, which of these statements are true? The author totally opposes the concept of animal welfare. The author opposes the concept of animal welfare, but acknowledges some of its practical advantages. The practical example given on the third part of the text proves the effectiveness of animal welfare policies. The author totally supports the concept of animal rights. The author totally supports the concept of animal welfare. The author of the essay thinks that the relation between humans and animals should be revised and redefined. The practical example given on the fourth part of the text proves the effectiveness of animal welfare policies. 2. Write a brief summary of the thesis statement of the essay (the main idea defended by the author), and then analyse the main idea defended on each part of the essay, under each subheading. Thesis statement: What is animal welfare? What is the difference between animal welfare and animal rights? The five freedoms of animal welfare: Why is animal welfare important? Conclusion: 3. Now, reread the essay and highlight all the connectors you may find. Where does the author offer examples? Where does the author contrast opposing ideas?  4. Now, choose one of these statements and write an essay contrasting different arguments for and against it. Remember that you can support or oppose any of them, and this doesn’t prevent you from assessing your opponents’ ideas. Puppy mills should be banned. We should all go vegan. Blood sports such as bullfighting or dogfighting should be banned. Zoos are outdated and a waste of time. The information given in food labels and packages is unreliable. You can use this chart to outline you essay. Remember that you might need to gather some information about the topic you chose. Introduction (definitions, general information, relate to the present and the readers’ daily lives, etc.) Thesis statement: Arguments to support your thesis: Arguments opposing your thesis and how to counteract them: Rephrase your thesis statement: Closing remarks: The text of the essay, in shortened form, was taken from: https://thehumaneleague.org/article/animal-welfare and it belongs to The Humane League. ANSWER KEY: False The author totally opposes the concept of animal welfare. True The author opposes the concept of animal welfare, but acknowledges some of its practical advantages. False The practical example given on the third part of the text proves the effectiveness of animal welfare policies. True The author totally supports the concept of animal rights. False The author totally supports the concept of animal welfare. True The author of the essay thinks that the relation between humans and animals should be revised and redefined. True The practical example given on the fourth part of the text proves the effectiveness of animal welfare policies. Thesis statement: Animal welfare claims may be used by farms and companies as a pretext to hide the harsh realities of animals’ conditions in farms; however, animal welfare principles can be a good tool for animalists to make advances in their defence of animal rights. What is animal welfare? It is a set of measures to ensure good living conditions for animals which are kept in captivity. It presupposes that humans are in control of their lives. What is the difference between animal welfare and animal rights? Animal rights advocate freedom for animals from human control, whereas animal welfare presupposes animals’ captivity and human control. The five freedoms of animal welfare: they are the minimum life standards animals should be granted in captivity. However, even when keeping this minimum, the result may be disadvantageous to animals. Why is animal welfare important? In spite of the criticism, it has provided some advances in how companies and farms treat animals. Conclusion: animal welfare policies have improved animals’ living conditions, and they are also helpful to make the public aware of this problem. What is animal welfare? In this way, What is the difference between animal welfare and animal rights? While …. , Conversely, Notably, For example, The five freedoms of animal welfare: Unfortunately, For example, However, Why is animal welfare important? Though …, While …. , Conclusion: not only … also, Still, - Examples are given in part 1, part 2 (second paragraph), part 3 (third paragraph), and part 4 (first paragraph). - Contrast is provided in the introduction (before the first subheading), in part 2 between the two concepts, and in part 4 (once in each paragraph).