Animal Welfare
Knowing The Importance of Animal Welfare
It is an undeniable fact that people have a growing knowledge and awareness of what is happening around the world and the various issues that people from different countries are dealing with. And among those issues concerned is something somewhat familiar to most people, especially the ones who have a soft spot for animals, or the ones who happen to be pet owners. It is none other than the issue of animal welfare.
What is Animal Welfare?
To simply put, animal welfare generally refers to the relationships that people have with animals, as well as the duties and obligations that the people have to fulfill to make sure that the animals under their care are treated humanely and with utmost responsibility.
Public interest in animal welfare, despite being popular nowadays, is not a new concept. The idea of taking care of animals had already been existing since prehistoric times – around 10,000 years ago – when domestication of animals was first practiced.
Why is Animal Welfare an Important Concern?
Animal welfare, and the knowledge and awareness thereof, is very important because there are so many species of animals all over the world that experience suffering from being used in various fields and human activities, such as food, medicine, manufacturing of various products, entertainment, fashion, and science. Some animals even experience suffering upon being taken as exotic pets, most of which are considered illegal.
The presence of various animal species is very important to maintain balance in the ecosystem. If the animals will be deprived of their rights and safety, in the long run, the number of species that might become extinct will surely increase, which is not good for the maintenance of the natural balance. Such kinds of problems and other issues concerning the safety of animals can be prevented and stopped by spreading knowledge and awareness about the importance of animal welfare.
Animals play a great role in maintaining the natural balance of society and the ecosystem. Without them, many of the human functions, activities, and experiences will not be fulfilled. Every animal, whatever the size, shape, species, or role in the ecosystem, deserves the right to have a good life where they enjoy the benefits of Mother Nature and harmonious relationships with humans and with one another.