WELFARE OF ANIMALS, POLITICAL AND MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Since World War II, a major revolution in social concern with the welfare and moral status of agricultural animals has emerged. The animal rights movement has arisen from old ideas but with new philosophies, emphasizing moral and ethical standards for how human beings should treat animals. Public policy establishing the animal welfare movement began in the United Kingdom with the passage of an act in 1835 to “consolidate and amend the several laws relating to the cruelty and improper treatment of animals”. In 1911, the UK Parliament passed the Protection of Animals Act, which is still in force. It was established on the principle that, although human beings are free to subjugate animals, it is wrong for people to cause animals to suffer unnecessarily. The cultural and social evolution of animal protection in Europe has led to changes in the United States. These issues and their ramifications are discussed.