The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Angela Culp
Jaclyn Christensen
Jill Keierleber

Tarleton State University

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Introduction

As the cause for animal welfare has developed, people have become more aware of the
needs to establish standards for the care of animals. The American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) states that animals should be treated with respect and dignity all of their
lives (Newberry et al., 2010). It was eventually realized that a more detailed set of guidelines
were necessary. In 1965, in the United Kingdom, a set of standards were developed that could be
used across species, in any situation. These standards are considered the basic requirements to
maintain health and welfare for all companion animals. These principles were named the Five
Freedoms for Animal Welfare. (Newberry et al., 2010). These Five Freedoms are listed as
follows: Freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury,
or disease, freedom to express normal behavior, and freedom from fear and distress.

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Image A.

www.facebook.com/ProtestOAS

Pictured above is a dog that has clearly not been fed properly and is an enclosure that
does not have food or water. Based on the freedom from hunger and thirst, this dog deserves to
be provided with nourishment. To improve this situation, the dog should have access to clean,
fresh water at all times. There should be an adequate supply of food as well. Depending on the
individual animal, free choice food may or may not be appropriate to maintain health.

Freedom from Discomfort

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Image B.

www.pawplacement.org

The Animal Welfare Council describes the freedom from discomfort as providing an
appropriate environment, shelter, and comfortable resting areas. Image B. shows canines being
housed in open cages. These cages are overcrowded and do not have adequate space for the
animals to comfortably move around. Additionally, there is no bedding or anything except wire
to lay on. It appears that the housing is exposed to the elements and is lacking an appropriate
shelter. This housing arrangement does not meet the standards that would provide freedom from
discomfort. In order to meet such standards, the animals should be moved to a covered area and
be provided with additional space to move freely. Bedding should be provided for the animals to
comfortably sleep.

Freedom from Pain, Injury, or Disease

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Image C.

www.yourownvet.com

The freedom from pain, injury, or disease is essential to maintaining a good quality of
life. The Animal Welfare Council explains that both prevention and rapid diagnosis and treatment
will assist in providing this freedom. Image C. illustrates a feline who has contracted the herpes
virus. While it is unknown if this was a rapid onset of the disease, it is assumed by the severity of
the nasal and ocular discharge, as well as patient demeanor, that the condition is negatively
effecting the animals quality of life. To provide freedom from disease, the cat would need to be
quickly evaluated and given supportive care and treatment for the virus.

Freedom from Fear and Distress

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Image D.

www.scottishASPCA.org

The Animal Welfare Council describes the freedom of fear and distress as ensuring that
conditions and treatment avoid mental suffering. In this image, a canine is seen cowering and
displaying body language that suggests the animal is extremely anxious and fearful. To remedy
this, a quiet, low traffic area should be provided for the animal. Additionally, providing the
animal with housing that is less open with a hiding area may allow the animal to feel safer.

Freedom to Express Normal Behavior

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Image E.

www.mosaicscience.com/story/porklife-building-better-pig

The freedom to express normal behavior is described as providing sufficient space,

proper facilities, and company of the animals own kind. Image E. portrays pigs within a meat
production plant. The facilities have multiple pigs confined to a small caged area that appears to
be indoors and far from their natural element. While the facilities do allow pigs to be housed
with the company of the same species, the conditions do not allow the animals to express normal
behavior. To do so, the facilities should consider large, outdoor facilities with shelter and
appropriate care.

Conclusion

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Going beyond the five freedoms means to ensure that the quality of life may be more
easily defined for animals living in a home, but thats no reason to assume that we cannot
provide it within a shelter (Miller, 2008). This entitles shelter animals the right to the same, if not
better, care than the ones with owners or wild in nature. Whether they are injured, abandoned,
lost or in-between homes, we as the care givers should compensate on their behalf the care that is
permitted to them by following the rules of no hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury and
freedom from disease. Additionally, providing the freedom to express normal behavior and live
without fear or distress should be the goal for every animal- wild or captive.

References

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

Association of Shelter Veterinarians. (2012). Retrieved February 19, 2015, from Association of
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