Animal rights and protection

1. Animal rights
Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather and going to circuses and zoos. Many of us
bought our beloved “pets” at pet shops and went fishing We never considered the impact of these
actions on the animals involved. People often ask if animals should have rights, and quite simply,
the answer is “Yes!” Animals surely deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation.
Jeremy Bentham, the founder of the reforming utilitarian school of moral philosophy, stated that
when deciding on a being’s rights, “The question is not ‘Can they reason?’ nor ‘Can they talk?’ but
‘Can they suffer?’” In that passage, Bentham points to the capacity for suffering as the vital
characteristic that gives a being the right to equal consideration.. All animals have the ability to
suffer in the same way and to the same degree that humans do. They feel pain, pleasure, fear,
frustration, loneliness, and motherly love. Whenever we consider doing something that would
interfere with their needs, we are morally obligated to take them into account.
PETA which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is the largest animal rights
organization in the world. It counts more than 6.5 million people around the world among its
members and supporters. The group uses many tactics to push its agenda of reducing animal
suffering. These tactics include pursuing legal cases, promoting vegan diets, and running ad
campaigns against fur clothing
2. Animal laws in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has a very good, modern Animal Welfare Law (APA 2008) that forbids the inhumane
handling of animals and places strays under special protection. On 14 April 2011, the Bulgarian
Parliament passed an amendment in the Penal Code, which criminalizes Extreme Cruelty to
Animals. That came into force on 27 July 2011. So, what is the problem then? The problem is that
Bulgaria has no enforcement body to implement the new law and therefore change can not take
place. Bulgaria has no legitimate Zoo or animal police with powers and Bulgarian police officers do
not want to bother to investigate and take animal abusers to justice. Since 27 July 2011 we have
witnessed a number of extreme animal cruelty cases in Bulgaria and no criminal was caught and
punished with a jail term, or even with a fine.
3. Improving animal welfare on farms
Farm animals are healthier when raised humanely. They live longer, healthier, and more active
lives. High welfare farming can be less damaging to the environment. And farmers can earn more
too. So working with governments, farmers, and consumers all over the world– campaigning for
farm animals and partnering with businesses to show that farming can be sustainable and profitable.
Humane farms are better for animals, people, and the environment, and let me tell you some facts:

 Raising animals humanely can use less feed, fuel, and water than intensive farming, reducing
costs and pollution
 Humane farms can create jobs, boost profits and keep local food supplies healthy
 By farming crops and livestock, humane farms can reduce environmental damage – recycling
nutrients and improving the soil
 Greenhouse gas emissions are often reduced when animals are healthy and have good welfare.
 4. The OIE guiding principles for animal welfare
The US Animal Welfare Act of 1966 set minimum standards for transportation, sale, handling,
housing, and other animal-related activities. The federal guidelines apply primarily to animals held
for research, testing, and other commercial purposes.
Animal welfare is a complex and multi-faceted subject with scientific, ethical, economic, cultural,
social, religious, and political dimensions. It is attracting growing interest from civil society and is
one of the priorities of the OIE. The OIE, at the request of its Member Countries, is the international
organization responsible for setting standards on this topic. The strategy focuses on the development
of international standards on animal welfare, in consultation with Member Countries and key
international stakeholders, developing the capacity of Veterinary Services,
improving communication with governments and raising awareness around the issue, and, finally,
supporting Member Countries in the implementation of these standards.

The guiding principles which inform the OIE’s work on the welfare of terrestrial animals include
the ‘Five Freedoms’. Developed in 1965, and widely recognized, the five freedoms describe
society’s expectations for the conditions animals should experience when under human control:

 freedom from hunger, malnutrition, and thirst;

 freedom from fear and distress;
 freedom from heat stress or physical discomfort;
 freedom from pain, injury, and disease; and
 freedom to express normal patterns of behavior.

With regards to the welfare of aquatic animals, the OIE has developed international standards for
the welfare of farmed fish (except ornamental species) in the Aquatic Code and advocates the use of
‘handling methods appropriate to the biological characteristics of the fish and a suitable
environment to fulfill their needs.

5. Animals affected by disaster

7 Слаид When disasters hit, animals experience the same terrible effects as people: injury,
starvation, thirst, displacement, illness, and stress. Governments must take urgent steps to protect
both people and animals by including animals in their disaster plans. Governments and the global
disaster response community know that protecting animals helps people rebuild their lives following
a disaster. Yet animals are rarely included in national disaster plans and investments, and their
needs are rarely factored into relief operations.

8 Слаид There is already undeniable evidence that animals, birds and plants are being affected by
climate change and global warming in both their distribution and behavior. Since 1970, we’ve lost
68% of all wildlife populations. As our planet heats up, we’re living through more extreme weather,
floods, fires and droughts. Wild animals are struggling to cope – food disappearing, water drying
up, their homes destroyed. Unless greenhouse gas emissions are severely reduced, climate change
could cause a quarter of land animals, birdlife and plants to become extinct. Saving wildlife means
saving its habitat, its home. It’s about keeping the climate stable, forests growing and oceans
healthy.

Animal shelters play a vital role in our communities as they continuously work to reunite pets
with their owners, shelter those in need and find new homes for animals that are lost or born on
the streets. They provide animals with food, water, and medical care; protection from the elements;
relief from suffering; and a caring human presence. Many times, these animals would have nowhere
else to turn.

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organization for animals under direct human influence,
which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need, and protects them. They focus on targeted
neutering, educational programs, and lobbying to support responsible pet ownership. Population
growth can be humanely managed through neutering and in combination with strong legislation
supporting responsible pet ownership. Stray animal populations can be reduced in the long term.
This method is called Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR), dogs and cats are humanely
caught, neutered, and vaccinated, and as soon as they are recovered from surgery, they are
released back to their previous territory.

6. The Fur and Cosmetic industry

Today, over 40 countries have banned animal testing for cosmetics and more than 1000 companies
are already certified as cruelty free. Unfortunately, the U.S. is not included in this group. According
to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, animal testing for safety is not required but is also not
illegal; if a company wishes to research on animals, it can. Furthermore, in China it is actually
required by law that cosmetics have to be tested on animals. Therefore, if a company sells its
products in China, it does so knowing that animals will be tested.
With so many alternatives, it seems entirely unreasonable that people still inflict pain on animals for
testing. Huge corporations with quality products and millions of buyers still test on animals.
Unfortunately, when a person purchases makeup from brands like these, they are, in effect,
supporting and fueling animal testing and animal cruelty. Worse than that, most of these people do
so unknowingly.

No federal humane slaughter law protects animals in fur factory farms, and killing methods are
gruesome. Because fur farmers care only about preserving the quality of the fur, they use slaughter
methods that keep the pelts intact but that can result in extreme suffering for the animals.