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Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights

Jill Keierleber
Rhonda LaBelle
Jelani Thornton
Ashley Wheelock
Tarleton State University

December 7, 2014

Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights

Introduction
Animals have been an integral part of human existence since the beginning of time.
Ancient stone art depicts early man hunting big game with early dogs by his side. The Egyptians
worshipped many gods that were depicted with the head of an animal. For millennia animals
have served as mans beast of burden; as his protector; as his companion; and as his food source.
Records from the first century A.D. reveal Galen the Physician (126 ca. 216) dissected many
animals, including pigs and Barbary apes, to learn how mammalian organs functioned differently
from each other, and from humans. In fact, the term vivisection comes from Galens use of live
animals in surgeries. Early Roman law, however, prohibited Galen from dissecting human
cadavers (Adams & Larsen, 2007).
Animal research and experimentation expanded in Europe in the 1600s, as mans desire
to understand animal physiology grew. The evolution of medical knowledge in the 1800s led to
using animals as test subjects for medications and vaccines. In 1876, Great Britain passed the
first law regulating animal experimentation the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876 (Adams &
Larsen, 2007). Unfortunately, it would be ninety years before similar legislation would be passed
at the federal level in the United States the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
To the uninformed, Animal Welfare and Animal Rights is perceived as two sides of
the same coin. This perception, however, is completely misguided. Advocates of animal rights
pursue completely different objectives from those seeking to improve animal welfare. This
paper seeks to explain the difference between welfare and rights, and to clarify the
objectives of each.
Animal Welfare
Animal welfare is the well-being of animals. Loosely defined, it is about what is good
and bad for animals (Yeates, 2013). The Animal Welfare Act of 2006 lists five welfare needs: the

Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights

need for a suitable environment; the need for a suitable diet; the need to be able to exhibit normal
behavior patterns; the need for the company of, or to be apart from, other animals; and the need
to be protected against pain, suffering, injury, and disease. We achieve positive effects on animal
welfare when we meet these needs. People who are trying to improve their animals feelings may
be unintentionally doing harm and negatively impacting welfare by anthropomorphizing. For
example, an owner may think they are hurting their pets feelings when they dont feed him table
scraps at dinner. While the owner considers this a negative effect, the pet could develop
gastrointestinal upset and possibly pancreatitis as a result. If the pet becomes sick due to the
table food, welfare has then been negatively affected.
While different from human feelings, animals are still able to experience a smaller
spectrum of emotion. If we train our pet and reward good behavior, we make our pets happy
and, therefore, improve their welfare. Animal welfare is a constantly developing idea. We have
welfare needs that have to be met for the welfare state of the animal to be considered adequate or
positive. Welfare has improved greatly as pets have migrated to be part of the family. We now
have veterinarians who are board certified in specialties that did not exist 50 years ago. The
increase in care given to pets, and treatment options available, is a direct result of the
populations desire to improve animal welfare.
Animal Rights
Animal rights has been around for centuries. It began in ancient times when animals were
first worshiped as gods. People today and in ancient times have contemplated the issue that we
are equal with the animals and thus we should not harm them; we should take care of them to the
same extent that we care for our families. Animal rights is a broad term for the belief that
animals should receive the same treatment as humans. Animal rights activists believe that

Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights

animals have the same innate desires that we have, wishing for freedom and happiness just like
we do.
The goal of animal rights activists is to end all human exploitation of animals (Using
Animals in Research and Education ppt., slide 31). They want all use of animals stopped,
including raising livestock for meat and even the use of service animals to help the disabled.
They also want all use of animals on television and in commercials to end, and even the
ownership of pets (Using Animals in Research and Education ppt., slide 31). Animal rights
activists believe that is wrong to force an animal to do a task that the animal might, or might not,
want to do, or live in an environment that we would not want to live in.
People who agree with this idea assert that we should not hunt or keep livestock for
monetary gain. These practices prevent the animal from living the life that they wish. By
hunting and trapping, we are denying animals the right to live. By using guns, we are taking
unfair advantage of the animals. A quote by Ellen Degeneres sums up the idea quite accurately:
I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls, they always say because its such a
beautiful animal. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her (Mendoza,
2013).
A Comparison of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare
Throughout history many people have dedicated their lives in the progression and
advancement for both Animal Rights and Animal Welfare, although the ideologies and focus
of these two topics are very different comparatively, yet there is some similarity of the two.
Animal Welfare is the belief that non-human animals have feelings and emotions, are
sensitive to stresses and pain, and that consideration should be given to their well-being or
suffering, especially when they are under the care of humans. (Animal Welfare Journal, n.d.)
Animal welfare focuses on how well an animal is being treated or cared for. Animal welfare

Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights

addresses the issues of what is best for the animal, and their basic quality of life needs being met,
such as: providing proper environment; diet; enrichment; husbandry; and healthcare are a few
examples. Welfare addresses concerns of animals in many different scenarios, from the
companion animal for example a pet cat whom needs daily attention, grooming, and litter pan
changes. Animal welfare encompasses the care and treatment of exotic pets which in some
species, positive animal welfare may mean limited to no handling or interaction with the pets,
only providing husbandry. Including welfare related regulations on the use, care and treatment of
working, laboratory, and food production animals.
Animal rights may be defined as the belief that animals have an intrinsic value separate
from any value they have to humans, and are worthy of moral consideration. They have a right to
be free of oppression, confinement, use and abuse by humans. (Animal Rights 101- The Basics,
2014). Animal rights is the focus on the equality and fair treatment of animals in regards to their
considerations for freedom of life and the environment as parallel with that of humans.
According to the organization PETA, animal rights means, like humans, have interests that
cannot be sacrificed or traded away just because it might benefit others. However, the rights
position does not hold that rights are absolute; an animals rights, just like those of humans, must
be limited, and rights can certainly conflict. Animal rights means that animals are not ours to use
for food, clothing, entertainment, or experimentation. (http://www.peta.org/, 2014)
In comparison of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare concerns may overlap. These may
be difficult to clear identify, but some examples common focus of both animal rights and
animals welfare is: the fair treatment of animals; to minimize stress; to have proper/adequate
food sources; the ability to exhibit naturalistic behaviors; and proper environment. Also, to be
considered as having the same basic needs as humans, and to be understood that animals have

Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights

emotions, feelings, can perceive pain, animals experience fear and joy, and are effected by their
environment, whether in the wild or domesticated.
Conclusion
Neither the animal rights activists, nor the oversight committees dedicated to good animal
welfare in research and education, nor the concerned pet owner will argue against providing for
the five basic needs of animals as outlined in the Animal Welfare Act. The debate over animal
rights versus welfare is grounded in the question of whether animals feel emotion on the
same level as man and, if they do, should they be afforded the same protection and privileges?
In his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, Charles Darwin
described how emotions such as joy and fear are commonly manifested in both animals and
humans (Berns, 2013). Through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),
advances in brain imaging is providing insight into the inner workings of what is considered the
emotional center of the mammalian brain the basal ganglia and the limbic system. Many
scientists, however, are reluctant to pursue studies in this area, as these answers may lead to a
difficult ethical question: If animals have emotions like humans, is it right to kill and eat them?
(Berns, 2013, p.111). Answers to these questions provoke the additional consideration of whether
animals are sentient beings and should be granted the same free-will as man. Arguments over
sentience and emotions, and rights versus welfare, will continue as knowledge and understanding
of the inner-workings of the animal brain continues to grow.

Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights

References
Adams, B., Larson, J. (2007). Legislative History of the Animal Welfare Act. Web. 7 May 2014.
Retrieved 11/13/2014 from http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/AWA2007/intro.shtml
Berns, G. (2013). How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the
Canine Brain. [Kindle DX version]. p. 109 111.
Mendoza, D. (2013, July 9). Famous Animal Rights Quotes. Retrieved from
http://www.peta2.com/blog/famous-animal-rights-quotes/
Using Animals in Research and Education (2014, November 16). Retrieved from
https://blackboardlearn.tarleton.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/
Yeates, J. (2013). Animal Welfare in Veterinary Practice. Wiley-Blackwell : West Sussex, UK