Animal welfare is the viewpoint that animals, especially those under human care, should not suffer unnecessarily, including where the animals are used for food, work, companionship, or research. This position usually focuses on the morality of human action (or inaction), as opposed to making deeper political or philosophical claims about the status of animals, as is the case for an animal rights viewpoint. For this reason animal welfare organizations may use the word humane in their title or position statements.

History of animal welfare

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Systematic concern for the well-being of other animals probably first arose as a system of thought in the Indus Valley Civilization as the religious belief that ancestors return in animal form, and that animals must therefore be treated with the respect due to a human. This belief is exemplified in the existing religion, Jainism, and in varieties of other Dharmic religions. Other religions, especially those with roots in the Abrahamic religion, treat animals as the property of their owners, codifying rules for their care and slaughter premised mainly on hygiene concerns for humans.

Welfare in practice

As in the case of animal rights, the secular forms taken by animal welfare concerns, policies and action have each been pioneered in the UK, where an early industrial revolution first created the modern separation between popular experience and animal husbandry, opening a space for popular sentimentality towards animals.

More on [ Animal welfare ]

Animal Welfare - Twitter Search

Take Action: STOP SMUGGLING MONEY GIVEN TO PAWS ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY http://bit.ly/6ZGndf
animalactions (animalactions) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:22:23 -0000
Take Action: STOP SMUGGLING MONEY GIVEN TO PAWS ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY http://bit.ly/6ZGndf
Cockfighting Raid is a Disappointment: http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/major-cockfighting-raid-is-a-major-disappointment/
Grizzlythepup (Grizzly: HCWS mascot) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:49:13 -0000
Cockfighting Raid is a Disappointment: http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/major-cockfighting-raid-is-a-major-disappointment/
Food Labels: Don't take your eye off the ball | Animal Welfare ...: Consumer engagement vital in food labeling, as... http://bit.ly/6iibOV
addison68 (addison.68) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:12:31 -0000
Food Labels: Don't take your eye off the ball | Animal Welfare ...: Consumer engagement vital in food labeling, as... http://bit.ly/6iibOV
Food Labels: Don't take your eye off the ball | Animal Welfare ...: Consumer engagement vital in food labeling, as... http://bit.ly/6iibOV
fareeda49 (fareeda.fareeda) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:12:30 -0000
Food Labels: Don't take your eye off the ball | Animal Welfare ...: Consumer engagement vital in food labeling, as... http://bit.ly/6iibOV
Grand theft charges against Boise animal welfare advocate dropped - IdahoStatesman.com http://ow.ly/16hCKE
BoiseLowDown (BoiseLowdown) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:05:01 -0000
Grand theft charges against Boise animal welfare advocate dropped - IdahoStatesman.com http://ow.ly/16hCKE
If not hung up on animal welfare, is real fur greener? http://j.mp/6c4Cjs Watch vid here if you're not hung up: http://j.mp/furfarm #eco
revkin (Andy Revkin) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:46:26 -0000
If not hung up on animal welfare, is real fur greener? http://j.mp/6c4Cjs Watch vid here if you're not hung up: http://j.mp/furfarm #eco

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