Hi everyone!

I help teach an Animal Science course. A few weeks ago, one of the topics of discussion was Animal Welfare. As you can imagine, it can be a very explosive topic, but when it comes to people who handle or work with animals on a daily basis, it can be extremely important to talk about. This got me curious as to how most of us fall in the scheme above. Here are the descriptions - please read them carefully before you respond to the poll!

Animal Rights - Animal Rightists believe that animals have the same right to exist on the planet as humans do. They believe that animals should not be used for any human purpose, no exceptions - this includes keeping animals as pets, using them for research, substinence, etc. Extreme Animal Rightists will sometimes break the law in order to get their point across.

Animal Welfare - Animal Welfarists believe that animals may be used for human purposes, with minimal harm done to the animal. Animals may be kept as pets, so long as they are kept in the best comfort possible. Animals may be used for substinence, but they must be kept and killed humanely. Research using animals is permitted, so long as there is no alternative.

Animal Use - Those who fall into this category believe that animals may be used for human benefit. These people still believe that animals should be kept and cared for humanely, however, they are much less discerning about their use. For example, most research is O.K., even if there are other options available that do not require the use of animals.

Animal Exploitation - This is the opposite extreme of Animal Rights. People who fall into this category believe that animals can be used for any purpose whatsoever, with little to no regard for their comfort. These people may sometimes break the law to achieve their goals.


The reason this came up is because I was doing a little background research on how the general public's views of animals has changed throughout history. During World War I, the military did experiments on burns by taking a blow torch and scalding live pigs...and this was considered OK. Nowadays, obviously, this wouldn't fly. In general, the public is much more discerning and concerned about what happens to animals and how they should be treated.

Additionally - what do you think about organizations that are somewhat on the extreme, such as PETA?

I'm between Aniamls Rights and Animal Welfare -- more towards Animal Welfare but I do not agree with animal testing.

I don't know many animal groups but PETA is definitely on the extreme side.

PETA... :heave:

I chose animal use.

"Animal use is not Animal abuse!"

Animal welfare leaning towards rights :D

i picked wealfair.. because i do agree on some of the testings they do on animals.. like finding a cure for dieases like Cancer.. finding one would mean so much to me! they'd be able to save human AND animals... so i agree with testings on those otherwise.. im just not an Animal Rights person.. i believe everything on it but for the testing.. i want testing done like i said its for the main Dieases that could kill! but otherwise, i am an Animal Rights person

Animal Welfare here...

Animal Welfare :)

Leaning towards rights, but I think a lot of animals like being pets, as long as they're provided for and kept entertained. Just like some people like staying in a luxury hotel, some feel cooped up.

Don't agree with breaking the law, and while I'm not adverse to throwing some dye on some mink if it meant saving their lives (although that's an unlikely result), PETA goes too far for my tastes.

SAS

I am ANimal Welfare but I don't think casual testing should be done on them. I think even with medicine they need to really find a humane way. There are studies that really get to me in the medical world..... I can't even think of the tests.... :(

Somewhere above animal welfare but not quite animal rights... although I do believe animals have very definately got rights.....
The animal rights section is abit extreme on the 'keeping pets' bit.
However, I strongly disagree with tests on animals. This is unnessecary. Tests to improve human health should be tested on humans, why do we humans think we have the right to cut, burn, dissect and rip bits out of animals for our own benefit?
Why test a mouse when the real aim is to see how it will work on humans? I know cells can have similarities from one species to the next but how many tests need to be done. Some of the experiments that animals get put though is just barbaric. TOTALLY INHUMANE and too many people just blanket it as 'it's ok coz it's needed for medical reasearch'. Well I personally think enough tests have bee carried out now and the technology is available to test drugs etc at a scientific level without involving animals.
AND .....as far as make up.... well the things animals get put through for the sake of eye shadow, lipstick, hair dye, shampoo......washing powder and ALL the other stuff we use with ease. I strongly urge people to buy non-tested on animal products eg from the body shop. Ecover washing powder etc. all non animal tested and works as good as any other product.
Have you ever got shampoo in your eyes? well that is nothing compared to the things poor animals get put through for the testing. Sadly many of these types of tests are on bunnies. It fills me with sadness and dispair that we humans think we can do what we like to anything on this planet. Sadly and sorry to be so gloomy we are on a road to ruin by our own stupidity.

I'm in between animal rights and welfare... If it wasn't for medical research, I'd be dead, so it'd be hypocritical for me to inject my recombinant dna made insulin and say "oh yes, the poor animals that died for me".
I do believe they have rights, minds, feelings and thoughts too... so I try to treat them the same as I would a human being... talking to them, playing with them, etc.
I have a bee in my bonnet about some 'animal rights' people after hearing many stories, but I'll not go into that. And I don't agree with PETA's "everyone must be vegan" thing that they have... we are omnivores, what people eat is their choice, not for someone else to dictate.

Animal Welfare

I tend to fall into the "Animal Welfare" category. I think that in some cases, animal testing is the best option. Of course it's always best to do research on humans if scientists want the data to be applicable to humans specifically, but in a lot of cases, testing on humans would lead to much more of an uproar than testing on animals.

Nowadays, there are stringent rules and regulations regarding animal testing. There has to be a very good reason why you're using animals, and committees require you to detail what procedures you propose to perform. Personally, there are still some experiments that I'm personally uncomfortable with...particularly research trials which require the euthanization of animals. That's a big reason why I decided to go into nutrition -- most of the research trials I'm involved with just entail feeding animals (they really love me for it, lol), and collecting what comes out. :unsure:

There are some cases though where I believe that the potential benefits of trials which require euthanization of animals are extremely beneficial. For example, I've been looking into Alzheimer's research lately. A lot of knowledge about the pathology of the disease comes from euthanizing mice and looking at the brain and nervous tissue. While I would personally prefer that animals didn't have to die for that knowledge, I don't really see that type of research being done to humans.

But, I also believe that if there are options where animals don't have to be used for research (while not significantly sacrificing the quality of data), animal research should be avoided. In some cases nowadays, there is enough research that computer models can be developed and utilized.

I personally have no respect for how PETA presents itself and goes about its business. I can respect someone's opinion, but quite a bit of their propaganda is greatly exagerrated or outright wrong (in my opinion).

yeah but then also, if you get the wrong doeses in the person, or soemthign goes wrong, or its something that doesnt cure anything.. the person could get seriously injured, or die..

i cant choose either, i love animals and like pets, but i do not accept testing at all.