ANIMAL WELFARE AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

Presenter: Mr. TaylorReading Assignment from:

Modern Livestock and Poultry Production, 8th Edition, pg 23-25.

History: Animal Rights and Animal Welfare

• Dates back to the ancient Greeks– Animists: believed that humans and animals

shared and exchanged souls– Mechanists: believed that neither humans nor

animals had souls– Vitalists: believed that animals had souls be were

not as advanced as humans– Largest group: believed that animals existed on

earth for the benefit and use of humans

Evolving History

• As less humans were engaged in farming and directly caring for production animals, room for various groups of animal rights ideology formed.

Animal Welfare

• Definition:– Supporters emphasize the humane treatment of

animals, both in research and production agriculture

– believe that animals can benefit humans– Some support and believe that animals are

essential for food and medical research while some do not support animals for entertainment purposes.

Animal Rights

• Views vary amongst these supporters– Some advocate for never using animals for use by

humans– Some note that using animals for human

purposes will not go away but advocate for stopping animal suffering

– Moderate animal rights activists choose to influence legislation

Which practices are under attack by animal rights activists?

• Using hormones, antibiotics, and additives in animal feeding

• Caged laying hens• Producing calves in crates for veal• Raising swine in confinement and the use of

farrowing creates for sows• Management practices such as castration,

docking, debeaking, and dehorning

Other Activist Objections

• Having pets in the home• Medical and scientific research (biotechnology)• Consuming animals’ flesh• Using animals skins• Using animal products for food• Hunting and trapping• Animal entertainment: zoos, carnivals, horse

and dog racing, animal shows

Legislation Protecting Animals• Federal Humane Slaughter Act of 1958

– Requires federally inspected slaughter plants to comply with humane methods of slaughter

• Animal Welfare Act (AWA) of 1966– Addresses the sale, transportation, and handling of dogs and cats used

in research institution• AWA 1970 amendments

– Discusses circuses, zoos, sea life shows and exhibits, (Not included: wholesale pet trade, retail pet shops, game ranches, livestock shows, rodeos, state and county fairs, dog and cat shows)

• AWA 1976 amendments– Discusses animal transportation in carriers, outlaws animal fighting

exhibits (dogs and cock fights)

Legislation Protecting Animals

• Horse Protection Act of 1970 (amended in 1976)– prohibits the soring of horses (chemical and mechanical irritants)

• AWA 1985 amendments– Committees to oversee research facilities, states that dogs need

to be walked and psychological well-being of nonhuman primates• Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992

– adds a sections to the federal criminal code to deal with vandalism and theft at animal research facilities and threats to research workers.

• AWA amendment of 1993– Prevents lost or stolen pets to be used in research, documents

from dealers selling animals to research facilities and use of pound animals for research

Task at hand:

• Where do you believe you stand on this issue?– Go to: http://padlet.com/wall/br6vngqimj– This link is also located in the lesson area of Unit 1

of our class web page.

What organizations exist?