VETERINARIANS AND ANIMAL WELFARE : ENSURING ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
Dr. Harshit Kaur Sachdev
M.V.Sc. Scholar, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine
Co.V.Sc, and A.H., Jabalpur
ABSTRACT:
Animal welfare is an increasingly important and widely discussed topic in contemporary society, reflecting a growing awareness of our ethical responsibilities towards non-human beings. The term “animal welfare” refers to the well-being of animals, encompassing both their physical and psychological health. As humans have become more attuned to the intricate web of life and the interconnectedness of all living beings, the call for improved treatment of animals has gained momentum. This essay explores the significance of animal welfare, and the role of veterinarians examining the moral and ethical dimensions that underscore our responsibility towards these sentient creatures.
Keywords: Animal welfare, Health, Ethics, Awareness, Responsibility, Veterinarians
INTRODUCTION:
The term animal welfare denotes preventing or reducing the incidence of animal pain or distress and promoting animal well being. Some overall goals are to pertain animals on farms or in laboratories as well as companion animals. Veterinarians are someone who often the first contact with animals for their help by receiving inadequate care and being badly treated.
Some intentional, deliberate abuse of animals is an extreme marker of a pattern of abuse within a family. Veterinarians who report suspected animal abuse sometimes can avert similar abuse of other vulnerable family members, especially children or older adults. Two studies reported that >90% of veterinarians would report cases of suspected animal abuse to authorities. Most agreed that animal abuse in families would tend to be linked with abuse or mistreatment of children or older adults.
Occasionally seen by veterinarians, outright abuse appears less common than the neglect, poor husbandry, or lack of essential medical care of animals, some of which may be inadvertent. A serious problem occurs with animal hoarders who may be mentally ill. The person, perhaps without awareness, acquires more animals than they can possibly care for properly. Some communities routinely combine efforts of animal control and mental health agencies when dealing with such cases.
The Animal Welfare Committee defines it as a combination of an animal physical health and psychological well being. People believe that animals can be used for human purposes, but that they should be treated so that discomfort is kept to a minimum. Physical health involves – nutrition , exercise, social groupings , veterinary care and environmental conditions. Psychological well being involves – addressing animal motivational needs , providing animals with choice and control , matching the environment to animals natural adaptations and encouraging animals to develop and use their cognitive abilities.
To enhance animal welfare – Animal welfare ranges on a continuum from very poor to very good. There are no clear dividing lines between good and bad.
Animal welfare must be assessed at the individual animal level , not at the group or species level. Good welfare will look different for different individual animals – its relative , not absolute. There is no single measure of welfare – we need to look multiple variables to assess welfare. Welfare is a quality of the animal , it is not something that we provide to animals.
Veterinarians play a crucial role in safeguarding the well-being and ethical treatment of animals. As advocates for animal welfare, these professionals possess the knowledge and expertise to promote the health, happiness, and rights of animals. Through their dedication and commitment, veterinarians strive to enforce ethical standards and ensure the proper treatment of animals in various contexts.
The field of veterinary medicine plays a critical role in safeguarding animal welfare and promoting ethical treatment practices. Veterinarians are entrusted with the responsibility of providing comprehensive care, preventing and treating diseases, and advocating for the well-being of animals. This essay explores the vital role of veterinarians in ensuring ethical treatment of animals and the ethical considerations that guide their professional practice.
- Promoting Preventive Care:
Veterinarians prioritize preventive care to minimize animal suffering and maintain their overall health. This includes routine vaccinations, regular check-ups, and education on responsible pet ownership. By emphasizing preventive measures, veterinarians help prevent diseases and provide early intervention, ensuring ethical treatment through proactive healthcare.
- Treating Animal Illness and Injury:
When animals do fall ill or sustain injuries, veterinarians utilize their expertise to diagnose and treat them with compassion and professionalism. They adhere to ethical principles such as beneficence (acting in the animal’s best interest) and non-maleficence (avoiding harm), ensuring that animals receive appropriate medical attention, pain management, and rehabilitation.
- Advocating for Animal Welfare:
Veterinarians are often at the forefront of advocating for animal welfare at various levels. They actively participate in policy development, research, and public awareness campaigns to promote legislation and practices that protect animals from cruelty, neglect, and exploitation. By speaking up for animals, veterinarians contribute to the ethical treatment of animals on a broader scale.
- Ensuring Ethical Standards:
Veterinarians are guided by professional codes of ethics that outline their responsibilities towards animals, clients, and society. These codes emphasize the importance of honesty, integrity, and confidentiality in the veterinarian-client relationship. Veterinarians are committed to providing evidence-based care, maintaining professional competence, and respecting the autonomy and decisions of pet owners while considering the best interests of the animals under their care.
- Collaboration and Continuing Education:
To further enhance their skills and knowledge, veterinarians actively engage in continuing education and professional development. By staying abreast of advancements in veterinary medicine, they can offer the best possible care to animals. Collaboration with other professionals, including animal behaviorists, nutritionists, and animal welfare organizations, enables veterinarians to provide holistic and ethical treatment approaches.
- Expertise and Compassion:
Veterinarians undergo extensive training and education to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to care for animals. Their expertise enables them to diagnose illnesses, provide medical treatment, and perform surgeries on animals. Furthermore, their compassion towards animals motivates them to prioritize the overall welfare of their patients, ensuring they receive appropriate care and attention
- Preventive Care and Health Promotion:
Veterinarians emphasize the importance of preventive care to maintain the well-being of animals. Through routine check-ups, vaccinations, and promoting responsible pet ownership, they help prevent diseases and improve the quality of life for animals. By educating pet owners about proper nutrition, exercise, and behavioral training, veterinarians contribute to the ethical treatment of animals in households
- Animal Welfare in Agriculture:
Veterinarians also play a crucial role in ensuring the ethical treatment of animals in agriculture. They collaborate with farmers and livestock producers to implement animal welfare protocols, ensuring animals are raised in humane conditions. By monitoring animal health, providing pain management, and enforcing strict regulations, veterinarians contribute to the welfare of livestock and promote ethical farming practices.
- Advocating for Animal Rights:
Beyond direct care, veterinarians serve as advocates for animal rights and welfare. They actively support legislation and policies aimed at protecting animals from cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Through their involvement in organizations and initiatives, veterinarians raise awareness about animal welfare issues, promote responsible pet ownership, and work towards creating a more compassionate society.
ETHICS
It looks at the moral source of human behaviour. It attempts to determine the best course of action when conflicting choices and it is a key component to living within a society in a civilized way. Some examples of veterinary ethical issues include – are surgeries such as ear cropping, declawing or debarking always appropriate , should animal be temporarily put to sleep for radiograph to lessen human exposure.
ANIMAL RIGHTS
The idea that animal should have the same moral rights as humans. For example the rights not to be used for food , clothing , entertainment , medical research or product testing. There is a continuum of rights for animals ranging from few or no rights to lots of rights . Our own individual belief systems all fall somewhere along this continuum.
Most zoo and aquarium professionals fall somewhere along the middle of the continuum, believing that animals have the right to humane care. Our individual belief system based on our individual experience , education , culture , religion etc give us our varying opinions on the rights of animals.
ANIMALS IN RESEARCH
For medical researchers to learn how to treat a disease , they have to study it in a living organism. Animals are physiologically similar to humans and are therefore good models when humans cannot be used.
Ethical treatment of animals
Laboratory animal research is indispensable to the discovery and development of innovative medicines that treat and prevent disease. Our company is dedicated to the ethical and responsible treatment of all animals used in the development of medicines and vaccines. Decisions regarding animal care, use and welfare are made by balancing scientific knowledge and regulatory requirements with consideration of ethical and societal values.
It is important to note that a large variety of nonanimal (in vitro, or test tube) studies are performed at our company prior to or instead of animal studies. Research animals are used only to address important scientific questions or to fulfill a regulatory requirement. Animals involved in research within our company’s research laboratories are all bred specifically for research purposes.
To promote our commitment, we subscribe to the 3 Rs—replacement, reduction and refinement—for animal-based research.
The care and use of laboratory animals in biomedical research is highly regulated. In general, the regulations govern housing, feeding, veterinary care and research project review conducted by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)/Ethical Review Committee (ERC), as well as unannounced government inspections. Our animal facilities are staffed with veterinarians and animal care technicians trained and certified as research animal experts. In our research laboratories, 96 percent of the research animals are rodents.
Animal research oversight
Animal research is highly regulated and monitored by health authorities. Internally, it is the focus of our Quality Assurance (QA) Animal Welfare department, which includes a comprehensive, risk-based audit and oversight program designed to ensure that the Animal Care and Use Program at each research site meets relevant local standards and is in compliance with all applicable legal requirements covering animal research.
Additionally, all relevant sites have active and engaged IACUCs or ERCs who review, approve and monitor research studies. The committee membership includes veterinarians and scientists knowledgeable in animal-based research and, often, nonscientists and community members. Committees review proposed animal studies and animal care facilities and investigate, as appropriate, any research-animal welfare concerns. The IACUCs/ERCs regularly communicate with and provide status reports to our company’s institutional officials regarding animal welfare compliance.
For some diseases, genetically modified (transgenic) animals are important to model disease processes and are a powerful tool in our company’s search for treatments and cures. We are responsible for ensuring that all recombinant DNA research conducted at or sponsored by our company is compliant with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA. This includes oversight by institutional biosafety committees and such work is always conducted in accordance with local laws and regulations.
Global policies and guidelines governing appropriate animal research practices are in place and are kept up to date. These standards for the care and use of animals in studies meet or exceed applicable local, national and international laws and regulations
U.S. regulations and annual inspection results-European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.
As further evidence of our commitment to the highest level of animal care, our research sites voluntarily secure a third-party review and accreditation of our animal research programs and facilities by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC International), an external, independent organization.
Our scientists whose work involves research animals are trained to perform the duties required. Training includes review of regulations and policies, instruction on how to search for animal research alternatives, explanation of the role of the IACUCs/ERCs and training on how to raise concerns about misconduct. Qualified veterinarians work with the scientific staff to consult on and assist with all animal-related research projects. Our company places a high value on its animal welfare stewardship responsibility; violation of these policies is grounds for employee disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
Contract research organizations
All agreements with contract laboratories include terms regarding our company’s expectations for animal care and use as well as regulatory compliance. We perform due diligence on and monitor contract laboratories that perform animal studies on our behalf to ensure that our company’s expectations for animal care and use, and regulatory compliance are met. Additionally, animal research conducted at contract laboratories is subject to protocol review by our IACUC/ERC or an equivalent committee. Noncompliance with regulations or standards can lead to termination of the relationship
Support for animal science and research animal well-being.We advocate for the development of best practices and dissemination of information by supporting and participating with nongovernmental organizations to foster a greater understanding of biomedical research, advancements in research-animal science and the development of alternatives to animal use.
Replacement, reduction and refinement
To the philosophy of using the best scientific methodologies and animal alternatives whenever possible or permissible by law. To promote this commitment, we subscribe to the 3 Rs—replacement, reduction and refinement—for animal-based research.
Replacement: Using nonanimal systems or less-sentient species (e.g., cell cultures, computer modeling, bacterial assays, and fly or worm models). Our scientists have access to specialized software that searches the scientific literature for viable alternatives to animal research. In addition, the company employs information specialists in our research library, trained by the Animal Welfare Information Center of the U.S. National Agricultural Library, to assist our scientists in identifying potential animal alternatives. We also have extensive in vitro expertise and investments, including an in vitro department that develops and utilizes nonanimal research methods (cell cultures) in the discovery and development of new medicines and therapies, and experts in computer modeling and simulation.
Reduction: Using the minimum number of research animals necessary to obtain valid scientific data. Sophisticated animal models that yield precise data, such as telemetric monitoring models that monitor ECG and blood pressure, reduce the number of animals needed. In addition to state-of-the-art data collection and sharing systems, we have statisticians on staff who advise on study design and analysis in order to minimize the number of animals included in a study.
Refinement: Minimizing distress or discomfort. Our scientists conduct extensive literature reviews to choose the best scientific models and design the most effective studies. When animals are required for a study, anesthetics, analgesics and tranquilizers are used whenever possible to minimize or eliminate potential pain or distress.
Our Animal Welfare group collects, promotes and internally disseminates information on the principles and practice of the 3 Rs. Training on the 3 Rs is part of staff orientation for animal research. It is our responsibility to use the most appropriate methodology and to aggressively seek scientifically valid 3-R approaches to animal research. As an example of the third R, refinement, we have created a world-class imaging department that allows scientists to view cancers and other pathologic diseases in animals and monitor the long-term effectiveness of new treatments in a noninvasive manner. In addition, we have voluntarily made the decision not to use chimpanzees (nor to fund their use directly or indirectly in studies by external research partners) in biomedical research in the foreseeable future.
Internal animal alternative award
Since 1994, in support of the 3-R philosophy, we have presented an Animal Alternative Award annually to the team or teams of our company’s scientists that develop new techniques to support the alternative principle and publish their work to share innovations with the greater scientific community
contribute to the well-being and welfare of animals, fostering a society that values and respects the ethical treatment of all creatures
VETERINARIANS AND INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL
ETHICS COMMITTEES
The role of veterinarians within the Animal Ethics Committee’s sphere of activities and institutional animal welfare extends well beyond the formal ethics meetings. Training of investigators and technical staff is an important function carried out by veterinarians in many institutions using animals. This training usually includes formal instruction on compliance with the Code and relevant legislation, and extends to practical workshops in animal handling techniques, routine research procedures, anaesthetic methods, euthanasia techniques and general or specific surgical skills.
This may be done in conjunction with training provided by research group leaders. The ongoing monitoring of animals and animal facilities is another essential role. The veterinarian is the ideal person to monitor pain and distress and instigate alleviation measures when necessary. As the Animal Ethics Committee is required to provide comment on the building ormodification of animal facilities the veterinarian also has a central role to play in assisting the committee to determine the appropriateness of the housing environment.
The concept of genetic modification of animals, while enabling scientists to concentrate on specific genes essential to the disease process, has brought with it a whole new set of potential welfare issues to those entrusted with the monitoring of research using animals. Veterinarians, conversant with this discipline acting in conjunction with animal technical staff and investigators, are well-positioned to assess the welfare and genetic stability of newly created genetically modified animals. They are also best able to institute special care when necessary and to implement measures where increased susceptibility to disease is involved. Given the sometimes sensitive nature of particular research protocols, and the unique role of veterinarians within institutions and their Animal Ethics Committees, veterinarians are often required to act as de factor
“information or publicity officers” with potential for interaction with the media and the general community in public forums. The veterinarian’s role may also include that of an independent complaints officer for concerns and issues raised by staff, students and members of the general community relating to the care and use of animals for research or teaching purposes.
The veterinarian who is a member of an Institutional Animal Ethics.Committee has, by nature of his or her training and experience, a unique and significant role in being able to provide beneficial advice to the Animal Ethics Committee, the investigators and/or teachers, and the institute itself whilst facilitating the accumulation of scientific knowledge in the most humane manner.
ROLE OF VETERINARIANS IN ANIMAL WELFARE
For many veterinarians, animal welfare is a matter of animal health: As long as an animal is healthy, it is also happy. For the past forty years, however; behaviour biologists have shown repeatedly that, whereas poor health contributes to poor welfare, the opposite is not necessarily the case. There is more to good welfare than good health.
Numerous studies have shown that, despite many generations of selection for various traits, the behavioural repertoire of domestic animals is almost identical to that of their wild ancestors. A broiler chicken has a similar demand for dust bathing as a jungle fowl. A thoroughbred racehorse has the same demand for social contact as the Przwalski horse. These are just two of many other examples.
Consequently, to ensure a certain level of welfare in our domestic animals, it is important that they are able to perform their species-specific behaviour beyond eating behaviour, drinking behaviour, eliminative behaviour and resting behaviour.
And that’s where the controversy begins Which elements of the animal’s ethogram are essential and which ones are not? Must a prey animal show flight behaviour regularly to be happy? Must a well-fed animal show foraging behaviour to be content? Is social contact through bars enough contact?
The controversy consists of, on the one side, practitioners or producers that need to house and manage animals in such a way that their production is productive and, on the other side, animal protection people or animal rights people who are against any “exploitation” of the domestic animals.
As with most issues, obviously the optimum lies somewhere in between these two extremes. We all have to compromise and so must our domestic animals. In return for regular food, water, shelter and medical care, the animals must give up some of their freedom. But how much they must give up, how restrictively we can keep them with good conscience, is a matter of dispute.
The veterinary profession plays a key role in the controversy in that it possesses a detailed knowledge of both camps. Practicing veterinariansand veterinary inspectors are in regular contact with the animals, either in the clinic or during visits to the farms, either to treat sick animals, to institute preventive measures, or to control that legislation is being followed. At the same time veterinarians possess (or should possess) the scientific background that enable them to judge the welfare of their patients and clients. Veterinarians play a central role in biomedical (including veterinary), wildlife and farm animal research. The comprehensive nature of veterinary training equips veterinary graduates to handle a diverse range of professional responsibilities relevant to the use of animals for scientific purposes and animal welfare. In the Indian context, veterinarians in scientific institutions may be divided into two main categories: those involved in the production, medicine and surgery of animals used for scientific purposes; and those involved on Institutional Animal Ethics Committees, and, of course, there are many veterinarians whose duties involve elements of both categories.The broad range of duties in the first category includes management of laboratory animal production and maintenance colonies, operation of preventative medicine programs, clinical medicine, provision of research support, maintenance of quarantine facilities, operation of in-house pathology programs, experimental surgery, and involvement in animal house design. For those veterinarians involved with Institutional Animal Ethics Committees their role is to promote animal welfare and regulatory compliance duties include review of proposals to use animals for scientific purposes, the minimisation of pain and distress, the monitoring of animals in research and teaching, the administration of animal ethics committees, provision of advice to the institution, provision of advice to researchers, provision of consultation and advice concerning compliance with relevant legislation and the Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, and training of research and technical personnel.
Veterinarians also play a major role in the development of institutional and regulatory policy, codes of practice, regulation and monitoring.Although principally outside the scope of this text, qualification as a veterinarian also provides a strong base for veterinary graduates to embark upon a scientific research career in such diverse fields as immunology, molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, virology, pathology, bacteriology, parasitology, animal management, wildlife research, agricultural animal research, and exotic disease research, and indeed there are veterinary graduates currently working as investigators
Global Initiatives for Animal Welfare
Recognizing the global nature of animal welfare issues, there is a growing need for international cooperation and initiatives. Organizations such as the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) play crucial roles in setting standards and guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals. Additionally, legislative measures at the national and international levels are essential for ensuring the enforcement of ethical standards.
ANIMAL WELFARE PRINCIPLES- The AVMA, as a medical authority for the health and welfare of animals in USA, offers the following eight integrated principles for developing and evaluating animal welfare policies, resolutions, and actions. The responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as companionship, food, fiber, recreation, work, education, exhibition, and research conducted for the benefit of both humans and animals, is consistent with the Veterinarian’s Oath.
Decisions regarding animal care, use, and welfare shall be made by balancing scientific knowledge and professional judgment with consideration of ethical and societal values. Animals must be provided water, food, proper handling, health care, andan environment appropriate to their care and use, with thoughtfulconsideration for their species-typical biology and behavior. Animals should be cared for in ways that minimize fear, pain, stress, andsuffering. Procedures related to animal housing, management, care, and useshould be continuously evaluated, and when indicated, refined orreplaced. Conservation and management of animal populations should be humane, sociallyresponsible, and scientifically prudent. Animals shall be treated with respect and dignity throughout their livesand, when necessary, provided a humane death. The veterinary profession shall continually strive to improve animalhealth and welfare through scientific research, education, collaboration, advocacy, and the development of legislation and regulation.
CONCLUSION:
Veterinarians are indispensable the ethical treatmentprofessional ethics, and continuous learning. By upholding high standards of care, veterinarians of animals. With their expertise, compassion, and commitment, they provide essential care, promote preventive measures, and advocate for animal rights.
Veterinarians play a crucial role in ensuring the ethical treatment of animals through their commitment to preventive care, treating illness and injury, advocating for animal welfare, adhering to the community at large, veterinarians contribute significantly to the well-being and ethical treatment of animals, ensuring they receive the respect, care, and protection they deserve.
Cruelty to animals is the infliction of suffering or harm upon animals, other than humans, for purposes other than self-defense. More narrowly, it can be harm for specific gain, such as killing animals for food or for their fur. Diverging viewpoints are held by jurisdictions throughout the world.Broadly speaking, there are two approaches to the issue. The animal welfare position holds that there is nothing inherently wrong with using animals for human purposes, such as food, clothing, entertainment, and research, but that it should be done in a humane way that minimizes unnecessary pain and suffering.
To make a veterinarian know and recognize his exact duties, privileges and responsibilities in vetro-legal cases both as witness and as an expertadvisor it is very essential that he should have a fair knowledge of all thesubjects of veterinary sciences.He must be well acquainted with the animal related Acts and the legalprocedures in the criminal courts.
References:
- Rollin, B. E. (1989). The Unheeded Cry: Animal Consciousness, Animal Pain, and Science. Oxford University Press.
- Fraser, D. (2008). Understanding Animal Welfare: The Science in Its Cultural Context. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Beauchamp, T. L., & Frey, R. G. (2010). The Oxford Handbook of Animal Ethics. Oxford University Press.
- Russell, W. M. S., & Burch, R. L. (1959). The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. Methuen.
- World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). (2020). Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Retrieved from https://www.oie.int/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access/
VETERINARIANS AND ANIMAL WELFARE : ENSURING ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
