According to Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), animal Welfare is about how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. The term encompasses an animal’s physical state, its mental state and its ability to fulfill its natural needs and desires.
Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance Cap.169, an animal is defined as any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish or any other vertebrate or invertebrate whether wild or tame, and it is an offence under to treat animals cruelly and cause unnecessary pain or suffering to them.
Section 3(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169) prohibits and punishes cruelty to all animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish or any other vertebrate or invertebrate animals whether they are living in the wild or are tame.
Animal Welfare Definitions
There are many definitions of animal welfare, for examples:
(1) Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary Animal welfare means the avoidance of abuse and exploitation of animals by humans by maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, feeding and general care, the prevention and treatment of disease, and the assurance of freedom from harassment, and unnecessary discomfort and pain.
(2) OIE (The World Animal Health Organisation) Definition of Animal Welfare Animal welfare means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter/killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment.
The Five Freedoms
The UK Farm Animal Welfare Council recommended that animals require the freedoms to “stand up, lie down, turn around, groom themselves and stretch their limbs”. The 5 guidelines were elaborated as the Five Freedoms:
- Freedom from thirst and hunger – by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
- Freedom from discomfort – by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
- Freedom from pain, injury, and disease – by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express normal behavior – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
- Freedom from fear and distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) at the United Nations
The Declaration calls on the United Nations to recognise animals as sentient beings, capable of experiencing pain and suffering, and to recognise that animal welfare is an issue of importance as part of the social development of nations worldwide.
Animal Welfare & Ethics
Animals are sentient and that consideration should be given to their well-being, how they are kept as pets, and how human activities affect the survival of endangered species.
Provide attention to animal welfare and to the humane and ethical treatment of all animals.
Ensure that the physical, psychological, and social needs of individual animals and species are met within the parameters of modern zoological philosophy and practice.
Buying of an animal is only carried out after careful planning.
Provide a positive welfare state for aged animals.
by Conrad Lam, Health & Life Sciences (Pet Care) lecturer