Animal Rights & Welfare

Animal Rights & Welfare

ANIMAL RIGHTS • Animals should not be used by humans.

Animal Welfare • If we are to raise or uses animals, then they should be humanely treated. • Given food, water, shelter, health care

Rights is not the same as welfare! • Media often wrongly use the 2 terms interchangeably

ANIMAL RIGHTS Today • There are tens of thousands of animal rights activists and organizations around the world, though relatively few are major players • Came into existence in the 1960s and 1970s. • Initially mainly made up of urban people of whom, were vegetarians.

Beliefs of Most Animal Rights Movement Groups • Humanize animals to have same rights as humans (humans are also animals) • To use animals for human purposes is morally and ethically wrong, reflects a bias that humans are superior to animals • Animals should never be used for food, clothing, medical research, and/or product testing. • Animals should not be used for entertainment • Believe in ecoterrorism to prevent people from using animals if necessary

Animal Rights is: • To end all human "exploitation" of animals - this includes, but is not limited to: • raising and slaughtering of livestock for human or animal consumption • eating meat • Hunting • using animals for medical/veterinary research • Zoos, circuses, rodeos, horseshows, dogshows • animals performing in TV commercials, shows or movies • guide-dogs for the blind • police dogs • search & rescue dogs • and the practice of owning pets

PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals • Animal Rights Group • Largest group-- 800,000 members • Since 1980, it has been dedicated to establishing and protecting rights of animals. Against eating, wearing, experimenting and using animals for entertainment & kept as pets • RADICAL group • Acts of “terrorism” • Controversial campaigns

PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals • PETA rakes in nearly $30 million each year in income, much of it raised from pet owners who think their donations actually help animals • PETA is against the no kill movement and euthanizes the majority of animals that are given to them

PETA In one year, PETA accepted a total of 1877 animals. Then PETA killed 1675. That’s an 89 percent kill rate.

ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT (ALF) • The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) is a name used internationally by those who, through the means of direct action, oppose the use of animals as property or resources through capitalizing on the destruction and experimentation of animals • Includes: • stealing animals from laboratories or fur farms • destroying facilities involved in animal testing and other animal-based industries

ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT (ALF) • ALF is not a group with a membership, but an example of a leaderless resistance. • ALF has been described as a domestic terrorist threat in the UK, and in January 2005, it was named as a terrorist threat by the United States Department of Homeland Security. • Placing homemade bombs on doorsteps, raiding laboratories, destroying facitilies, setting farm animals “free” (to be run over or die without proper feed/care), etc…

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) The largest US animal rights group, with a budget of around $100 million per year. HSUS is often seen as an umbrella group for local humane societies, despite less than 10% of their budget going to local shelters. Most of their money is spent fighting their cause in the political arena. HSUS Donations Scandal

Other Animal Welfare groups • American Humane Association • Animal Legal Defense Fund • Best Friends Animal Society • Humane Research Council • Alliance for Animals • Friends of Animals

So the difference is…. • While Animals Rights Advocates and Groups talk about humane care, the bottom line is to work for humane care and legislation ONLYuntil all animals can be removed from human use. The reason for this is the Animal Rights belief that no species on this planet is better than another; therefore, humans have no right to dominate over, use, breed, or eat non-human species.

Important Dates and Acts of Legislation associated with animal welfare…. 1641The bodies of Liberty-- to protect farm animals from cruel treatment. the 1st laws on the books

1828 1st anticruelty act passed by the New York legislature. 1866ASPCA was formed. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

1906Animal Transportation Act —limits distance traveled without food & water 1958Humane Slaughter Act—all animals must be rendered unconscious before bleeding/sticking

1966- Public Law 89-544 Laboratory Animal Welfare Act (AWA) —insure the humane care and treatment of dogs, cats and certain other animals used for research, experimentation, exhibition and sale purposes • Exceptions – mice, rats, and birds used in research 1976Horse Protection Act - wild horses, mustangs can not be slaughtered

Animal Research • Animal testing or animal research refers to the use of animals in experiments. • 17-23 million animals are used in the United States for research every year. About 95% are rats and mice specifically bred for research • Over 10 times more animals are used by humans for other purposes (agriculture, food, hunting, pest control) than are used in animal testing • 1 million animals a day are hit by vehicles.

Animal Research • ~$45 billion is spent in the United States for biomedical research every year • By comparison, Americans spend ~ $1.5 billion on health care, • In other words, for every $ spent on health care, three and a half cents were spent on research. • Scientists are pleased that the small investment in animal research yields improved treatments and cures that save money. But far more rewarding is the knowledge that animal research saves lives. http://www.fbresearch.org/

Animal Research • The earliest references to animal testing are found in the writings of the Greeks in the second and fourth centuries BC. • Insulin was first isolated from dogs in 1922, and revolutionized the treatment of diabetes

Animal Research "Animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century." – Foundation for Biomedical Research

Animal Research • scientists and governments say that animal testing should cause as little suffering to animals as possible, and that animal tests should only be performed where necessary. • The “Three Rs" are guiding principles for the use of animals in research in many countries:

Animal Research • Reduction refers to methods that enable researchers to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals, or to obtain more information from the same number of animals. • Replacement refers to the preferred use of non-animal methods over animal methods whenever it is possible to achieve the same scientific aim. • Refinementrefers to methods that alleviate or minimize potential pain, suffering or distress, and enhance animal welfare for the animals still used.

Animal Research • According to the 2000 USDA Annual Report: • 63% of animals experienced slight or momentary pain, such as an injection. • 29% of the research procedures employed anesthesia and postoperative painkillers. • 7% of the procedures, neither anesthesia nor pain medication could be used, as they would have interfered with research results. However, when this is the case, pain is minimized as much as possible.

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals • Provides guidelines and references for establishment and maintenance of effective programs and facilities for animal research • Widely accepted as the primary reference for animal care and use

Responsible Pet Ownership What does it take

Being a responsible pet owner is much more than just providing adequate water, food and shelter for your pet. Domestic pets are completely dependent on their owners for their welfare. • Owning a pet is a lifetime commitment.

before getting a pet consider: • Getting a pet should never be an impulse decision. Careful research and planning are essential. • ANIMALS ARE NOT DISPOSABLE! • Animals are thinking, feeling creatures. They bond deeply with their families, and they deserve the same devotion from you. • Bringing a pet into your home should be a life-long commitment, which can easily be 10-15 years.

before getting a pet consider: • Prepare for costs associated with basic and emergency veterinary care, quality food, and supplies.

before getting a pet consider: • Where you get the animal from? Shelter? Breeder? Rescue? Pet store? Puppy Mill?

Before getting a pet consider: • Educate yourself about pet care before you adopt. Responsibilities such as feeding and bathing, cleaning up feces, and walking/exercise are all part of caring for your pet.

Take some time to understand dog behavior and develop realistic expectations. Many books and videos are available on the subject.

Train your pet • Dog obedience classes • Puppy classes • Offered at local pet stores and training centers

Grooming is essential neglect..

Teamworks Dog Training Mission statement "Train with your mind, not your might, with understanding, not anger" Teamworks Dog Training • At Teamworks, we feel very strongly that a successful relationship is created between dog and human by building trust and mutual understanding. We believe in and use humane training methods that enhance the communication between handler and dog. • We teach our classes using positive-reinforcement based training and encourage the use of humane "people empowering" techniques in our classes. We do not use or tolerate harsh and inhumane punishment-based methods, as we feel that this type of punishment breaks down the relationship between dog and handler and in itself, escalates aggression.

before adopting consider: • Don't be guilty of "dog storage" by leaving your dog in the back yard 24 hours/day. Exercise your dog daily and make him/her your companion.

Why? • Tethering is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined dog, other animals and humans. • In many cases, the necks of chained dogs become raw and covered with sores, the result of improperly fitted collars and dogs straining to escape. Some collars become embedded

Why? • Dogs are naturally social creatures who thrive on interaction with humans and other animals. • A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers from psychological damage. • An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept chained becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive

before adopting consider: • Choose a pet that fits your lifestyle! • All dogs require daily exercise; however, active dogs require daily rigorous exercise, such as running, or interaction with other dogs. If you are not up to the task, choose a dog with a calmer, less active temperament.

before adopting consider: • Consider apartment pet restrictions, space, and outside access if you are gone all day. • Pay attention to allergies.

before adopting consider: • Spay or neuter your pets. There are too many homeless animals without adding to the problem.

before adopting consider: • Be aware of weather conditions. Leaving your dog in the car on a hot day or in the yard without shade or water is risking your dog's life.

before adopting consider: • Pet Proof - Make sure your home is "pet" safe. Pesticides, medications, household cleaners and some houseplants can be deadly to your pet. Keep them out of reach.

before adopting consider: • Keep identification tag on your pet... it is your pets ticket back home. • Both dogs and cats need ID!! Microchipping is good too, but an external tag is essential, it could mean the difference of your neighbor returning your pet to you or turning him into the pound!

before adopting consider: • Veterinary Costs • Puppies & Kittens will need to go to the vet 3-4 times to get all vaccinations, fecal sample, blood draw, and spay/neuter. • This can add up to $1000 depending on animal and veterinary hospital. • If your animal has medical issues, genetic disorder, or gets sick that is more $$

before adopting consider: • Vaccines are necessary • Prevents your animal from getting sick, spreading disease/parasites to other animals & humans • Rabies is required, other vaccines are required depending on county. • Many towns/county require your dog to be registered with evidence of Rabies vaccine.

Clinics Petco, Petsmart, and Tractor Supply Company offer clinics for vaccines and microchips

before getting a pet consider: • Pet Insurance • Variety of plans • Cover vaccines, spay/neuter, illness • Hereditary conditions • Chronic illness • Accidents & injury • Etc…

Animal Rights & Welfare