Animal Rights and Welfare: They're Not the Same

Second In a Series

Animal welfare is a human responsibility that encompasses all aspects of animal well-being, including proper housing, management, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling and, when necessary, humane euthanasia. Animal rights is a philosophical view that animals have rights (equity,independence and advantage) similar to or the same as those humans enjoy. Dogmatic animal rightists believe  humans do not have the right to use animals at all. For these purists the bottom line is a general ban on all use of animals by humans whether they are used for food, clothing, sport, labor or companionship.


Animal welfare groups stand for several traditional ideals that historically have defined the relationship between animals and humans. First and foremost, they seek to improve the treatment and well-being of animals, but they believe humans can interact with animals in entertainment, industry, sport, recreation and industry as long as the interaction includes provisions for the proper care and management for all the animals involved. At the same time animal welfare advocates support self-regulation of animal sports such as polo, rodeo, three-day eventing, FFA competions, horse racing, field trials and endurance riding. They also utilize scientific research and medical evidence to develop animal care and handling guidelines.

Animal rights proponents, on the other hand, have a harshly different picture of the 'animal kingdom' and occasionally countenance radical means to bring their view into focus. They initiate, draft and support laws and regulations that would prohibit rodeos, horse racing, circuses, hunting, life-saving medical research using animals, raising livestock for food, petting zoos, marine parks, breeding purebred pets and any use of animals for industry and entertainment. Violence, misinformation and publicity stunts have been justified in achieving their ends, and they consider such activities as valid use of funds donated to their tax-exempt organizations. Some members of these groups have indicated they are comfortable with arson, vandalism and assualt to further the cause of animal rights. Groups such as the Animal Liberation Front have been classified as terrorists by the FBI.

Next up in this series: Animal law is one of the fastest growing areas in the legal profession.