Animal Welfare And Relative Welfare

This Act has for the first time introduced legislation for pet owners meaning that the owners have a legal duty of care to meet the five welfare needs of their pets. The welfare needs are also known as the five freedoms and they are the basic needs of any animal. The law also applies to people who are responsible for animals, such as breeders and those who keep working animals. (APGAW. No Date)

Health, benefit, well-being, progress, care, profit, thriving, all words that are synonyms to welfare. Animal welfare has been an agricultural issue for several decades. Animal welfare refers to the physical, emotional, and mental state an animal is in. There are several organization in the United States along with other corporations around the world that have the same mission; to promote animal welfare. This issue has a deep-rooted history, various legislative acts being voted on and passed, as well as many effects from these organizations, and legislative bills.

I have always had a great admiration for animals. Being an animal owner of two dogs, I believe that they are a friend of the human and both benefit from each other in the sense of company and joy. They are also great contributors to the balance of the eco system. These are some of the various reasons why I chose this topic. In this research paper I will inform you, the reader of the horrible experiences that innocent animals have to endure due to the fact that supporters believe that animal experimenting is a humane method of bettering our lives.

Did you know that 56 billion animals are slaughtered each year? People believe that farmers are abusing and causing stress on the animals. Farmers use confined feeding operations to maximize the production. By having the confined feeding operations, it gives the animals no room to graze. When they can’t graze, it restricts the animal to move or to exercise (“On The Farm”). The animals are not given any pain relief during certain practices like castration or dehorning. Animal welfare is not needed in the farming aspect, because the animals are meant for food.

Introduction, animals that are being tested safety of their products that’s been a subject of an intense debate for over 10 years. While, a lot of people that alleged animals, the remained animals are being subjugated by the research cosmetics companies all over the country/all over the world. Even though, the scientists frequently profit from animal research, I don’t think all the suffering, the pain, and the animals dying are worth just trying find out the human benefits from the products.

The idea of animal rights has been around for centuries. Even decades ago, people were taking action for the welfare of animals. Marc Bekoff and Ned Hettinger share this idea all the way back in 1994 when they said that there is evidence that scientist are concerned with animal welfare by acknowledge that they use the guidelines in place to protect animals during research, in order to have their work published (Bekoff 219). Guidelines are the basis for the moral and ethical treatment of animals. Each person may have his or her own standard, but having a standard among the entire population ensures the welfare of the animals. Unfortunately, these standards are not at a level to where the animals are being protected. Many animals in captivity are treated in ways that would shock the average person. Orcas for example, are starved until they do the desired task (Cowperthwaite). This form of operant condition can lead to success, but often leads to resentment and hostility towards the trainers.

In “The Case for Animal Rights”, Regan explores different philosophical ideologies regarding the treatment of animals by humans. He finds flaws with each having done so he puts forth the idea of animal rights as the philosophy which solves the conundrum. The ideologies he discards are such:

There are arguments made that would support the eating or medical testing of animals, but there are also other arguments that do not support eating or medical testing of animals. When a person views these arguments using a virtue ethics position, the result would have to be in accordance with the view that the right actions are produced by the virtuous characteristic. The question asked is what would the moral status of animals be according to a virtue ethicist’s perspective; and if virtuous ethics is can be applied to the animal’s moral status? There are two types of moral statuses, a moral agent and moral patient: A moral agent is an individual whose actions can be established by moral reasons; a moral patient is an individual who needs

When discussing the issues faced from an ethical standpoint of animal rights it is important to consider the benefits animals bring to people and then question what rights animals are entitled to due to this (Fisher). Taking that into account, one must ask if giving them rights could possibly overstep on human rights and would animals even be able to enjoy rights (Fisher). It is often debated that the benefits and knowledge through experimentation of animals have led to life-saving advancements in the field of science and medicine (Fisher). The other side of the debate argues that even if these past benefits are justified, these type of experiments are no longer necessary and it is deemed unacceptable that wrongful treatment of animals is done for this purpose (Fisher). When it comes to the question of

“Hormone-free”, “organic”, “grass-fed”, and “natural” are labels that animal and plant producers use to inform consumers of what they are eating. These claims are misleading and usually increase the prices of those products. By increasing the price and sticking a label that reads “natural” makes consumers think that this product is better for them. Animal Welfare Approved gives an example of an egg carton boasting the statement that its eggs are “natural.” This statement can legally come from an industrial farm where the hens do not forage the way a chicken does “naturally.” According to the USDA, farms have to get organic certifications and accreditations in order to sell, label, and represent their products as organic. It is difficult to

The first Animal Welfare Act was signed on August 24, 1966 by Lyndon B. Johnson. This is the only law in the United States of America that oversees the treatment of animals in research. Although it is a passed law, it does not stop all cruel treatment of animals. People all around the United States are still disrespecting animals in ways they should not be. Recently, a video went viral of a man kicking a cat in public. The 22 year old man, Andre Robinson, went to trial and pleaded not guilty. People like this should be put in jail, not free to roam the streets, as for they might do it again. We should treat animals the way we want to be treated. Animals are like family, they deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation.

Scientists have a moral, and practical obligation to keep these animals in good health while they are under captive conditions (Gewin, 2008). Most animal conservation scientists are attentive to the growing concerns for animal well-being, and continue to learn that threats to species, populations, and ecosystems, impact animal welfare directly, or indirectly (Patton et al., 2000). Typically, however, they advocate focusing moral concern and societal action on such ends as the protection of endangered species and the preservation of wilderness, rather than reducing pain and suffering (or promoting the rights or dignity) of animals (Meffe, 2008). Research done by these scientists would seem to produce a positive value that deserves to be weighed against any disvalue produced by hurting or stressing an animal during the research process. All aspects considered, this research is still met with questions of moral credibility, even if the animals show signs of improved health, because it eliminates the animal’s freedom or treats them as a “mere means” to some anthropocentric end (Jones and McGreevy,

Animal advocates should receive the grant because the organization rescues animals in need and turns in animal abusers to the police. Animal abusing is a widespread issue around the globe. We may not be able to save every animal in the world , but we will save the animals we can. Animal advocates need money to vaccinate, feed, and house our animals. The Animal Advocates are passionate about the well-being of these animals. It has been estimated that there are 900-2000 new cases of animal abuse each year.

This is tied to animal advocacy in a way and yet there is a difference at the same time. We can advocate for our animals to our clients about what they can and cannot do, and yet, there can be unavoidable things that happen or something we could never anticipate that happens. We can push our animals to their breaking point without meaning too and that is doing harm.

It is suggested that pitbull owners feed their pets the foods that have what the breed requires in nutritional value. The dog food should contain nutrient sources that are similar to that found in their native lands that their ancestors ate. The requirements for a pitbull are a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Many dogs are taken to the vet because of nutritional related problems. If the dog is not getting the proper nutrients that their diet requires they can suffer from dry/itchy/flaky skin, hot spots, yeast infections in the ears, or thyroid-liver-kidney problems. The best diet for the pitbull is one that the owner makes fresh, using quality ingredients, without preservatives.