WEEK 3: Animal Welfare

Question 1

What are sentient creatures?

Answer 1

Animals that feel pain/pleasure

Question 2

Anthropomorphism

Answer 2

Attributing human thoughts, emotions, and characteristics to animals, gods, objects, and so on.

Question 3

Anthropocentrism

Answer 3

The human-centered POV that says humans are the only holders of moral standing. Basically humans > animals

Question 4

Speciesism

Answer 4

Like racism - placing the needs of one’s own species above those of other species. Abolitionists use it to describe humankind’s arrogance and mistreatment of animals.

Question 5

Animal Welfare

Answer 5

> The psychological and physical wellbeing of an animal
Measured on a scale from poor to thriving
“Belief that it is morally
acceptable to use animals if
they are treated properly”

Question 6

Animal Welfare vs Animal Rights

Answer 6

Animal Welfare emphasizes the humane treatment of animals being used for food, research, pets, etc. Animal Rights refers to varying stances taken by people regarding… animals’ rights (ex. reformist, abolitionist, etc)

Question 7

Reformists

Answer 7

Animal rights proponents who focus on changing methods of animal use.

Question 8

Abolitionists

Answer 8

Animal rights proponents who advocate the total abandonment of any animal use.

Question 9

Textbook definition of Animal Rights

Answer 9

Philosophy, sociology, and public policy as they deal with the standing of animals in relation to human society.

Question 10

Science and Ethics in the context of Animal Welfare

Answer 10

> Science deals with “What is”
Ethics deals with “What should be”

Question 11

How can science assess welfare?

Answer 11

Look at the animal: health, emotional state, productivity, natural history, observable behavior, changes to physiology

Look at the environment: housing/weather, feeding, handling

Question 12

First federal law to prevent animal cruelty in the US was made in…

Answer 12

1873

Question 13

The Five Freedoms (1979)

Answer 13

Freedom from…
1. Hunger & Thirst
2. Discomfort
3. Pain, Injury, or Disease
4. Fear & Distress
and
5. Freedom TO Express Normal Behavior

Question 14

Dr. Temple Grandin

Answer 14

Professor of Animal Sciences and renowned animal behaviorist - autistic advocate for animal welfare, led to the redesigning of slaughterhouses to reduce distress in cattle before slaughter.

Question 15

Glass Walls Project

Answer 15

Series of educational videos made with Temple Grandin’s help to show how slaughter plants work and how food processing happens, etc.

Made in response to the phrase “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.”

Question 16

Holistic Monitoring

Answer 16

Using multiple strategies for assessing the welfare of an animal.
>Behavior, hormones, reproductive success
>Training, enrichment, nutrition
>Individual history
>Natural history

Question 17

WelfareTrak

Answer 17

A web application that tracks zookeepers’ assessments of an animal’s physical, mental, and emotional states. Creates a huge database for all keepers to use and refer to for animals in captivity.

Question 18

Endocrinology

Answer 18

Testing/observing hormone levels in biological samples from individuals. Helps contribute to monitoring the welfare of an animal.

Question 19

Vermont Humane Federation

Answer 19

Network of Vermont animal welfare organizations.

Adoption, cruelty prevention, legislation, disaster prep, spay & neuter programs.