Animal welfare refers to concern about the well-being of animals, whether farms animals or domestic pets. It embraces both the concept of actual cruelty and as well as conditions of neglect that result in animals suffering unnecessarily.
Five Freedoms
Five basic freedoms underpin animal welfare:
- Freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition.
- Freedom from discomfort.
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease.
- Freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour.
- Freedom from fear and distress.
