An Animal Welfare Primer

Advocates for animals divide themselves into two camps: animal rights and animal welfare. Wikipedia defines animal welfare as “the belief that non-human animals are sentient and that consideration should be given to their well-being, especially when they are used for food, in animal testing, as pets, or in other ways.” The first part we can all agree on. Animals are capable of feeling –- both physically and emotionally -- and should be treated with compassion and respect. But after that is where the viewpoints diverge. Animal rights advocates believe that animals should not be used by humans in any way.

Humans are Animals

In the natural world, animals often form relationships with other species, as we do. A number of species have a tendency to eat other animals, too. However, you won’t find factory farms occurring in nature. The animal welfare movement includes vegans and meat-eaters (and everything in between) who understand that animals are not just food that walks around. Animals are independent creatures that deserve the highest quality of life while they're alive and, at the end, to be slaughtered in the most humane way possible. If our food systems met those standards, humans would be no better and no worse than other species. As a society, we're not even close.

Compassionate Conflicts

The food question isn’t the only one where animal advocates haven’t reached a consensus. From Adoption to Zoos, issues around animals are complex and emotionally charged. Different animals have different needs. Beyond the common goal of ending suffering, we don't always agree on where the line is drawn between acceptable use and exploitation, or what defines "quality of life" for one species versus another. Yet across the spectrum of beliefs, animal welfare advocates are passionate about how non-human animals are treated. That passion has saved many lives, and caused many heated debates.

Humans are in a position to cause a lot of pain or do a lot of good in this world. As Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

(Change.org)