Welfare Intro & Science

Question 1

Describe a vet’s role in animal welfare.

Answer 1

1. Treating and preventing
   disease (individuals or groups).
2. Promotion of animal
   welfare and understanding animal needs.
3. Improving and enforcing welfare standards.

Question 2

What are the three common approaches to animal welfare, and give a brief explanation for each.

Answer 2

1. Functional view: Focuses on animals’ physical health, productivity, and ability to adapt to their environment.
2. Feelings: Emphasises the subjective feelings of animals, such as pleasure, fear, and pain, aiming to minimise suffering and promote positive experiences.
3. Naturalistic: Considers the extent to which animals can express their natural behaviours and live in environments resembling their natural habitats.

Question 3

What are the 5 freedoms?

Answer 3

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain injury and disease
4. Freedom from fear
5. Freedom to express normal behaviour

Question 4

What is the five domains model?

Answer 4

Consists of four physical/functional domains and fifth mental domain that integrates them: nutrition, environment, health and behavioural interactions.

Question 5

What 3 methods can be used to decide what is ‘right’ when it comes to welfare?

Answer 5

1. Ethics
2. Law
3. Welfare science

Question 6

Define welfare science.

Answer 6

Applying scientific methods, to examine animal welfare.

Question 7

Define welfare ethics.

Answer 7

Right and wrong, moral issues in how we treat animals.

Question 8

Define welfare legislation.

Answer 8

Society determining how we must treat animals.