Animal welfare is the viewpoint that animals, especially those under human care, should not suffer unnecessarily, including where the animals are used for food, work, companionship, or research. This position usually focuses on the morality of human action (or inaction), as opposed to making deeper political or philosophical claims about the status of animals, as is the case for an animal rights viewpoint. For this reason animal welfare organizations may use the word humane in their title or position statements.
History of animal welfare
Systematic concern for the well-being of other animals probably first arose as a system of thought in the
Indus Valley Civilization as the religious belief that ancestors return in animal form, and that animals must therefore be treated with the respect due to a human. This belief is exemplified in the existing religion,
Jainism, and in varieties of other
Dharmic religions. Other religions, especially those with roots in the
Abrahamic religion, treat animals as the property of their owners, codifying rules for their care and
slaughter premised mainly on
hygiene concerns for humans.
Welfare in practice
As in the case of
animal rights, the
secular forms taken by animal welfare concerns, policies and action have each been pioneered in the
UK, where an early
industrial revolution first created the modern separation between popular experience and animal
husbandry, opening a space for popular sentimentality towards animals.
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Issues :: Pets
Animal Welfare :: Issues
NPR Topics: Politics & SocietyState Welfare Rolls Feel Impact Of Recession Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:21:00 -0400
Welfare caseloads have been going up in most states over the past year, but not in all of them. In fact, cases are going down in some of the hardest-hit areas. That's raised questions about whether the program is an adequate safety net for families in need.
In Defense Of The Flag (Created For History Class) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:53:00 -0400
Bob Heft, who sewed the 50-state flag as a high schooler, received a B- for his project. Heft's history teacher accused him of not knowing how many states were in the union at the time. The teacher changed the grade when the design was accepted by Congress.
Hundreds Of Calif. Homeless March For Land Rights Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:47:00 -0400
In Sacramento, hundreds of homeless demonstrate in hopes of securing land to sleep on. In recent months a tent city and a city shelter have closed. With laws that prohibit sleeping in public places, these individuals say it is now illegal for them to exist.
The Talk of the TownLauren Collins: Track SchoolLauren Collins Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0000
June marks the onset of what one Village resident refers to as “devil-baby season”--the time of the year when the temperature climbs and New Yorkers start doing crazy stuff. This year, the weather stayed cold, and damp. Things still got weird. On Long Island, a newborn was found . . .
James Surowiecki: Caveat MortgagorJames Surowiecki Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0000
In 1937, the Massengill Company began selling a health product called Elixir Sulfanilamide, which contained one of the antibiotic sulfa drugs. Unfortunately, it also contained diethylene glycol, a solvent that happens to be deadly to humans. In a matter of months, the elixir killed more than a hundred consumers. The . . .
Hendrik Hertzberg: Stonewall Plus FortyHendrik Hertzberg Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0000
The most improbable of America’s mass movements for civil rights--improbable at the time, inevitable in retrospect--got its start at a most improbable hour in a most improbable place. The hour: two in the morning, forty years ago. The place: the sidewalk in front of the Stonewall Inn, a . . .
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Animal Welfare Institute - Non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Site includes information about programs, publications, and news.
Animals Without Frontiers - International animal and nature organization. News, petitions, campaigns, and an Internet based animal identification system.
Born Free - International wildlife charity working to prevent cruelty and alleviate suffering. News, educational materials, photos, FAQ, and information about ways for individuals to become involved.
Meta Description: [ Born Free Foundation - animal welfare and conservation charity internationally conserving endangered species and protecting wildlife habitat. ]
Care For The Wild - International wildlife charity dedicated to protecting animals from cruelty and exploitation. Includes fact sheets, news, information about current projects, and an online shop.
Companion Animal Welfare Council - Conducts and publishes independent research and studies studies into the welfare, care, and treatment of companion animals and their role within society.
Humane Society and Animal Welfare Ring - Links to animal shelters, humane societies, rescue and animal welfare organizations.
Meta Description: [ The Humane Society and Animal Welfare Ring links the
homepages of animal shelters, humane societies, rescue
organizations and animal welfare organizations from
around the U.S. and the world.
]
United Animal Nations - A national non-profit animal advocacy organization whose mission is to protect animals in danger or need and to focus global attention on their plight to create a more humane world.