There Is More To Animal Welfare Than Rescue

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There Is More To Animal Welfare Than Rescue
Kerenza Vlastou 24/02/07
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What is Animal Welfare?

• A person saving a box of puppies
• A person signing a petition
• Teaching humane slaughter methods

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Definitions

• Animal Welfare denotes the desire to prevent
  unnecessary animal suffering (that is, whilst not
  categorically opposed to the use of animal,
  wanting to ensure a good quality of life and a
  humane death.

• Animal Rights denotes the philosophical belief
  that animals should have rights, including the
  right to live their lives free of human
  intervention.
• Welfare Physical fitness, Mental (feelings),
  Naturalness (telos).
• WSPA concepts on animal welfare

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Animal Welfare Societies in Greece

• Service Delivery
• Campaigning
• Lobbying
• Humane Education
• All of the above
• Some of the above

What do we achieve with each of the above?
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Rescue

• Immediate Results
• Satisfaction
• Peace of Mind
• Helping the individual animal
• Long lasting results?!
• All the animals you dont see?!

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No Rescue

• If your society is not dealing with rescue but
  only campaigningwhat happens to the strays?
• Can you really be called animal welfare if you
  ignore those in need?

WHO estimates dog population worldwide is 10
that of human population. Of these 75 can be
regarded as strays.
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An Act of Altruism?

• Directly rescuing within 1 year approx. 300
  animals
• 1 year undercover work in experiment lab,
  potentially saving 1000s of animals in the long
  run
• Debate What would you choose to do and why?

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A realistic viewwhere are you?

• Minimum Funds
• Minimum Manpower
• Maximum Work

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Cooperation!!!

• If there are already other groups doing rescue
  work, let them take yours on too and you fill in
  the gaps of campaigning and humane education so
  that all aspects are covered in your area
• (or vice a versa)

• If there are no other groups and you do not have
  many volunteers, try to set boundaries and choose
  areas to support each other, i.e. neutering
  project plus HE project geared towards
  responsible pet ownership.

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Ending on a Happy Note

• Remember
• Things are changing
• There are always worse animal cruelty cases
  elsewhere
• You are not alone!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
it is the only thing that ever has. (Margaret
Mead)
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Links

• www.who.int/en/
• www.wspa.org.uk

Photographs

• www.cawg-greece.com
• www.chrysalisgreece.com
• www.atourhands.com