Although animal welfare is often thought of as something that a particular group controls, in reality it is everyone’s responsibility. In essence the welfare of all animals needs to be of utmost concern to every person on the planet since animal human interrelationship with the food chain is always present. Humans and animals can live together in protected, caring and ethical ways that provide a safe and systemic caring environment for animals, reptiles, birds and marine life of all sizes and categories.
However, animal welfare goes well beyond taking care of stray pets in the major cities across the country and the world. In fact there are specific groups that work to help establish laws and standards of care for wild animals in captivity, animals raised for food production and animals that are in danger of becoming extinct. Wild animal welfare laws range from protecting the smallest insects in the Amazon rainforest to limiting the number of wild salmon that are harvested in northern oceans each year.
Another key aspect of animal welfare is the protection and safety of animals used in research and experimentation and those raised on small and large farms. Since it is not possible to eliminate animals from these types of issues, animal welfare laws strive to improve the living conditions of the animals and promote humane, safe, ethical management.