Understanding animal welfare
AS Tamchuila *
Animal welfare means how an animal is coping with the condition in which it lives.
An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour and it is not suffering from any unpleasant states such as pain, fear and distress.
The Animal Welfare Act, 7 India originally called the laboratory Animal Welfare Act was established in 1996. The Animal Welfare Act was not intended to regulate how animals are used for research purposes but only to set standards for how they are obtained and maintained at a facility in order to deal with the stolen pets for research institutions.
Difference between animal welfare and animal right is that animal rights means that animal are not ours to use for food, clothing, entertainment or experiment whereas animal welfare allows these uses as long as "humane" guidelines are followed.
Five freedoms of animal welfare are:
o Freedom from hunger and thirst, by readily accessing to fresh water and diet, to maintain health
o Freedom from discomfort by providing appropriate environment including shelter and comfortable resting area.
o Freedom from pain,injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
o Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the Animal 's own kind.
o Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
Some animals covered under Animal Welfare Act dogs, cats, monkeys(non-human primates), Guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits.
And one advisory body is "ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD of INDIA " that amends and assure the Animal Welfare rules are abide in India.
It is mandatory for every community to understand the Animal Welfare despite of their cultural beliefs and ethics.
Animals may or may not respond to how we treat them, but for once we should put ourselves in their shoes and imagine the torture and unrighteousness acts we do against them.
"NOT RESPONDING IS A RESPONSE"
* AS Tamchuila wrote this article for The Sangai Express
The writer is a student of College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Selesih Aizawl, Mizoram
This article was webcasted on January 09, 2019.
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