For lovers of animals, animal welfare is an important issue. Cruelty and negligence toward animals is the norm rather than the exception. Animals are mistreated on farms, in the wild, in laboratories and in industries which profit from animal abuse.
Most countries recognize that animals have the right to “Five Freedoms” which were first proposed in the United Kingdom in the 1960s:
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
- Freedom from Discomfort
- Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease
- Freedom to Express Normal Behavior
- Freedom from Fear and Distress
Promotion of animal welfare can be on many levels. First, there is the legislative level. Laws already exist which prevent certain types of animal cruelty but there is still much to be done. Public campaigns are also important, to convince the public to treat animals humanely and not support those who don’t. On the individual level, volunteering at an animal shelter or animal welfare organization can do a world of good. Getting involved in conservation is also a positive action.
Animal Welfare Articles
Contents |
Animal Welfare Organizations
- ASPCA
- About the No Kill Advocacy Center
- American Humane Association
- Angel’s Gate Hospice
- AnimalShelter.org
- Best Friends Animal Society
- Friends of Animals
- History of the HSUS
- History of the RSPCA
- Join RSPCA in 24hr Tweet-a-Thon
- Join the Paws
- Morris Animal Foundation
- PETA
- Pet Finders
Legislation
- "Bully" Breed Bans
- ALERT – Senate passes ban on crush videos
- ASPCA-Ban Racehorse Drugging
- ASPCA-Help Military Dogs
- ASPCA-Horse Slaughter Vote Alert
- ASPCA – Georgia’s Humane Lobby Day
- ASPCA – Stop Horse Slaughter
- ASPCA Urges Support of Humane Egg Bill
- A Victory – Delaware’s CAPA Act
- A Victory in Florida
- Alabama Bans Turtle Hunting
- Animal Welfare Act
- Animal Welfare Alert
- Another Companion Animal Act Hopeful
- Ban Wild Animals in Circuses
- Cruel Practice of Hounding
- FoA-Ban on NYC Horse-Drawn Carriages
- HSUS-Help Improve Lives of Hens
- HSUS-Protect Maryland’s Dogs
- HSUS-Spectators at Animal Fights
- HSUS Important News
- HSUS News – Extreme Confinement for Cows
- HSUS News on Horse Slaughter
- HSUS Ranks States on Animal Welfare
- How did Members of Congress Vote on Animal Issues in 2009?
- How the Judicial System Views Our Pets
- Latest Update on Missouri’s Prop B
- Legislative Year in Review for Animal Cruelty Issues
- N.Y. Legislators for Animal Welfare
- NY Bill to Prohibit of Devocalization of Cats and Dogs
- New in the News about Crush Videos
- News – California Bill
- News – Missouri’s Prop B
- News of Maryland Abuse Trial
- News of Nitro’s Law
- Nitro’s Law
- Ohio Prohibits Wild Animals as Pets
- Oppose Captive Hunting
- PUPS Act
- PUPS Act Reintroduced
- Pit Bull Prejudice
- Support the PUPS Act
- Support the Pet Safety and Protection Act
- Texas CAPA Legislation Introduced
- There Oughta Be a Law
- Urgent – ASPCA and Horses
- Victories for Animals in 2010
- Victory for Pit Bulls in Ohio
Animal Welfare Holidays
- Adopt a Black Pet Day
- April – Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
- Celebrate World Animal Day October 4th
- February’s Spay Day
- National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
- National Bird Day
- National Cat Day, October 29th
- National Feral Cat Day
- National Mutt Day
- National Pet Month
- Pet Holidays-March, April, May, June
Industries
- ASPCA-Ban Racehorse Drugging
- ASPCA Urges Support of Humane Egg Bill
- Animal Cruelty and Fur
- Animal Rights and Your Food
- Burger King Supports Animal Welfare
- Captive-bred vs.Wild Caught Pets
- Catalonia, Spain Bans Bullfighting
- Change in Animal Testing – Botox
- Classroom Dissection
- Cockfighting – A Blood Sport
- Dog Breeding
- Dumping Gestation Crates
- Entertainment
- Fish in Captivity: The Moral Issues
- FoA-Ban on NYC Horse-Drawn Carriages
- Greyhounds and Dog Racing
- HSUS-Force-feeding Ducks for Foie Gras
- HSUS-McDonald’s Statement
- HSUS Investigation of Horse Soring
- Horror of Dogfighting
- Horse-Drawn Carriages
- Horse Diving Shows
- Horse Meat Controversy in Canada
- Horse Racing
- Horse Racing Endings
- Hunting Dogs
- Illegal Animal Fighting
- L’Oreal Helps End Animal Testing
- Olympic Equestrian Sports
- Rodeos
- Second Careers for Racehorses
- Sled Dogs
- The Fishing Industry
- The Odd Couple – Pacelle and Vick
- The Truth Behind Australia’s Live Sheep Export
- The Wool Industry
- To Buy or Not – Free Range
- Treatment of Animals in Entertainment
- Truth in Fur Labeling Act
- Vegetarian Pets
- What is a Puppy Mill?
Activists
- Animal Welfare Organizations
- Anna Sewell
- C.S. Lewis
- Famous Animal Rights Activists
- Help Animals – Support These Sites
- Nathan J. Winograd
Wildlife Welfare
- Alabama Bans Turtle Hunting
- Animal Cruelty and Fur
- Animal Refuges
- Canadian Seal Slaughter 2012
- Endangered Species
- Feral Horse and Burro Roundups
- HSUS – Humane Management
- HSUS Important News
- HSUS Report on Orca Shows
- Ohio Prohibits Wild Animals as Pets
- Reprieve for Eastern Rattlers
- The Exotic Pet Industry and Animal Welfare
- When Animal Welfare and Conservation Are in Conflict
- Why Do People Keep Wild Animals as Pets?
- Why Not to Feed Wild Ducks
General Animal Welfare Articles
- ALERTS
- ALERT – BAN HEARTSTICKING!
- ASPCA – Animals and Antibiotics
- About Spaying or Neutering
- Animal Hoarding
- Animal Legislation
- Animal Welfare Activists
- Black Pet Syndrome
- Can I keep a bear?
- Chaining and Tethering Dogs
- Cloud Nine Rescue Flights
- Easter Pets: Are They A Good Idea?
- FoA Run for NYC Dogs and Cats
- Foster a Pet
- HSUS News on Pets and Invasive Experiments
- Hero Dogs Come Home
- Holidays
- Horse Breeding
- Humane Society Honors Florida Kid for Opening Pet Food Bank
- Industries
- LA Pro Animals
- Maddie’s Fund 10 Reasons to consider No-Kill
- Military Dog Adoptions
- Pet Arthritis Prevention And The No-Kill Movement
- Pets For Patriots
- Pets for Patriots PCS News
- Pets in Religion
- Purse Pets
- Recognizing Animal Cruelty
- Rescuing Animals in Japan
- Starting a No-Kill Program
- Students Help Pets Overcome Degenerative Joint Issues
- Tail docking
- Teaching Respect for Animals
- The Importance of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet
- The Queensland Flood
- Trap, Neuter, Release
- Ugly Pet Contests
- United Airlines Lifts Ban on "Dangerous" Dog Breeds
- Vaccine May Reduce Feral Cat Population
- Volunteering with Pets
- War Horse (Movie)
Animal Welfare around the World
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Canary Islands
- China
- Egypt
- England
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Great Barrier Reef
- Hungary
- Indian Ocean
- Iran
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Middle East
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Red Sea
- Russia
- Scotland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tibet
- United States of America
- Wales
External links:
- Animal Welfare Institute
- APHIS
- Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
- PETA
- Captive Wild Animal Protection Campaign