Understanding Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare

1. Understanding “Animal Rights” Vs. “Animal Welfare” Mr. Gust Zoology

2. MAIN IDEA: • What is the difference between • "animal rights" and • "animal welfare?"

3. Animal Rights vs. Animal Welfare • Animal Rights=animal liberation. • Animals should have same rights as humans. • Should be freed by humans. • Not to be used for meat, hair/fur, eggs, etc. • Not to be used at events like polo, rodeo, horse racing. • Animal Welfare=human responsibility to take proper care of animals. • Housing, management, disease, treatment. • Seek to improve treatment of animals. • Self regulation at events like rodeo, polo, horse racing.

4. Farm animal treatment is a public concern, but... • Fewer Americans than ever live on a farm. • Most people don'tknow what farmanimals are like. • Farm animals arenot pets.

5. Agriculture is changing too... • Confining animals tocrates or pens ismore common. • More efficient. • Genetic engineeringis on the rise. NRCS photo by Jeff Vanuga.

6. That raises the questions... • Is confinement more efficient use of resources or is it cruel and stressful? • Should scientists be "tinkering" with animals or are they simply improving them? • Should these and other practices be regulated by law?

7. What about animal welfare vs. animal rights? Animal Welfare • Proper care • Humane treatment • Reduce stress to maintain profits • Humans have more rights than humans Animal Rights • Goes beyond welfare • Animals have rights equal to humans • Some say animals should not be used for food, clothing, research, etc.

8. So, what do you think? • Most Americans do not think animals have the same rights as humans. • Most of us eat meat, drink milk and wearleather shoes. • But most people alsooppose unnecessarypain and stress foranimals. Staff photo/Nancy Crombie.

9. The battle heats up! • Some people protest for media attention. • Livestock shows • Annual producer meetings • They want to generate doubts about how animals are being treated. • They want to raise fears aboutsafety of animal products.

10. Some accusations: • Confinement is cruel and stressful. • Growth hormones are cruel, harmful, unsafe for us to eat. • Eating meat and eggs and drinking milk is unhealthy. • Grain should be used to feed starving people, not fed to animals.

11. So how can producers respond? • Informational programs through farm organizations • Media kits to educate reporters • Events where the public can visit the farm • Support and promote humane treatment of animals