It begins with a look. For centuries, animals were viewed through the lens of utility—as livestock for the table, beasts for the burden, or pests to be eradicated. They were objects in a human-centered world, biological machines designed to serve our needs. But in the 21st century, that paradigm is fracturing.
The current state of animal welfare varies greatly depending on the context, location, and type of animals. Some areas of concern include: It begins with a look
The concern for animal welfare dates back to ancient civilizations, with philosophers like Pythagoras and Seneca advocating for animal kindness. However, the modern animal welfare movement began to take shape in the 19th century with the establishment of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in England in 1824. But in the 21st century, that paradigm is fracturing
If an animal has a right to life and liberty, then it is wrong to use that animal as a resource, regardless of how humanely it is treated. A "humane slaughterhouse" is an oxymoron. A "happy dairy cow" is a fiction, because her male calves are killed at birth and she is repeatedly impregnated and separated from her young. The rights advocate asks not, "Is the cage large enough?" but "Why is there a cage at all?" However, the modern animal welfare movement began to