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Animal Welfare

Animal rights and animal welfare cover a huge spectrum of ideas and beliefs.

The animal rights viewpoint is basically that humans do not have the right to use animals for their own gain at all—in the laboratory, on the farm, in entertainment or in the wild. The animal welfare viewpoint advocates for limiting or preventing cruel treatment of animals. According to the animal welfare perspective, human use of animals is acceptable if animal suffering is preventable. In practice however it is not always that simple to make this distinction between animal rights and animal welfare positions. In many cases, organizations or individuals who describe themselves as animal rights advocates may support animal welfare efforts as an intermediate step on the path to a true animal rights solution. While the perspectives differ, both involve a concern for the suffering of others.

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Some of the information and action ideas on our site are from the animal welfare perspective and others are closer to animal rights. Read about the issues and figure out how you personally feel on this topic.

Animal Cruelty

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Cruel treatment comes in many forms - learn about them and see what you can do.

Animal Homelessness

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There are 4-6 million homeless pets in the U.S. in need of a good home. Learn more about the cause…

Animal Testing

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An estimated 2,000,000 animals are used in research in the U.S. each year.

Endangered Species

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Since 1600, more than 700 species of plants and animals have gone extinct.

Factory Farms

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These operations treat animals with hormones and antibiotics to prevent disease.

Puppy Mills

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Behind the cute pet store showroom is an entire industry of inhumane animal breeding.



Related Animal Welfare news

Faux Fur? Um, maybe not

Think that trim around your hood is fake fur? It may actually contain dog hair!

Inspectors for the Humane Society say fur from a canine species known as the raccoon dog was found on garments labeled as being "faux-fur."

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Cringe-worthy animal cruelty video making rounds on the net

A disturbing surveillance video of animal abuse of the worst kind is making news.

Authorities say NYPD Housing Bureau officers were recently monitoring cameras at the Grant Houses in Morningside Heights when they saw a man kicking a dog in the elevator. The assailant, identified as Charles Grant, was charged on Wednesday with abusing a small, helpless dog.

The 12-pound Pomeranian-Chihauhua mix, which belongs to Grant’s girlfriend, is being treated at an animal hospital and is expected to be fine.

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