|
|
Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights
Speaking Out Against Animal
Rights | Leaders Speak Out
The issues surrounding the philosophies of animal rights and animal
welfare are very familiar to those who utilize animals in industry, entertainment,
sport or recreation. As society has migrated from our agricultural roots
to a more urban existence, the importance of distinguishing between animal
rights and animal welfare becomes paramount.
 ANIMAL
WELFARE
Animal Welfare, as defined by the American Veterinary Medical
Association, is a human responsibility that encompasses all aspects of
animal well-being, including proper housing, management, disease prevention
and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and, when necessary,
humane euthansia.
-
Animal welfare proponents seek to improve the treatment
and well-being of animals.
-
Animal welfare proponents believe that humans can
interact with animals in entertainment, industry, sport and recreation,
and industry, but that the interaction should include provisions for
the proper care and management for all animals involved.
-
Animal welfare proponents support self-regulation
of animal sports, including rodeo, polo, three-day eventing, FFA competitions,
horse racing, field trials and endurance riding.
-
Animal welfare groups utilize scientific evidence
to base animal care and handling guidelines.
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Animal Rights is a philosophical view that animals have
rights similar or the same as humans. True animal rights proponents believe
that humans do not have the right to use animals at all. Animal rights
proponents wish to ban all use of animals by humans.
-
Animal rights proponents support laws and regulations
that would prohibit rodeos, horse racing, circuses, hunting, life-saving
medical research using animals, raising of livestock for food, petting
zoos, marine parks , breeding of purebred pets and any use of animals
for industry, entertainment, sport or recreation.
-
Animal rights proponents believe that violence, misinformation
and publicity stunts are valid uses of funding donated to their tax-exempt
organizations for the purpose of helping animals.
-
Arson, vandalism and assault are common tactics used
by underground animal rights groups to further the animal rights cause.
Groups such as the Animal Liberation Front, which have been classified
as terrorist by the FBI, routinely use criminal activities to further
their cause.
More information on the subject:
|
