ILAR Journal Online, Volume 31(4) 1989: Perspectives on Animal Use

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ILAR Journal V31(4) 1989
Perspectives on Animal Use

World Veterinary Association Policy Statement on Animal Welfare, Well-Being, and Ethology

ILAR News invites your comments on this policy statement, which was submitted by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) Executive Committee on Animal Welfare (Eli Mayer, chairman). The committee comprised six veterinarians from Israel. Canada. Australia, Brazil. South Africa, and the Federal Republic of Germany: a member from the United States was added in September 1989. The policy statement was approved by the WVA General Council tin May 27, 1989 in Paris.

The World Veterinary Association (WVA), knowing that the veterinary profession is the only qualified group of specialists able to both diagnose and licensed to treat diseased, suffering, and distressed animals, as well as apply all possible preventive measures, has decided to claim its rightful place as the leading authority in the field of animal ethology, welfare, and well-being.

It has therefore created within its framework an international body of veterinary specialists in these fields, representing all the continents, in order to define a suitable policy. This is approved as follows.

A. Animal Ethology and Welfare

In accordance with worldwide sensitivity regarding the use of animals, the veterinary profession fully embraces the two disciplines of ethology and welfare. The veterinary philosophy relating to the two fields can be stated as follows.

Ethology puts the emphasis on knowledge which is scientifically based. Its aim is to clarify (a) needs that can be fulfilled and (b) harm that can be avoided. With this knowledge animals can be cared for in the best manner. Only with optimum management and care (animal welfare) can the animal live and produce to its potential. This is also an ethical approach.

Clearly man is the species responsible for the environment and for other species. The veterinary profession is preeminent in this work. We do not accept the view that animals have specialized rights as an entity on their own. We believe that animals can benefit more from the point of view that man is responsible for the provision of animal welfare than from the view which promotes animal rights alone.

B. Freedoms of Animals

It is recognized that certain provisions of care are essential to welfare in the form of five freedoms. Modified from various sources in applied ethology, these can be stated as follows:

1. freedom from hunger and thirst
2. freedom from physical discomfort and pain
3. freedom from injury and disease
4. freedom from fear and distress
5. freedom to conform to essential behavior patterns

C. Animal Welfare in Veterinary Education

In order to establish an informed position on animal welfare, appropriate to the veterinary profession, it is considered essential to have this subject dealt with in undergraduate education. For this purpose the follow-lng principles should be adopted.

1. The subject of animal welfare should be incorporated as [an] independent discipline in the veterinary curriculum.
2. The overall scientific discipline of animal welfare should incorporate applied aspects of ethology, bioethics, and the concepts of suffering and well-being.
3. The subject should be given at the preclinical level of veterinary education, although it is recognized that it would have extensions into the clinical level.

It is also considered necessary for postgraduate opportunities in education to be available to veterinarians wishing to specialize in ethology and welfare.

D. Animal Experimentation

According to our present knowledge in our increasing struggle to control diseases of both humans or animals, we must accept that experimentation with animals, in certain cases, is unavoidable. However, every effort should be made to discover or utilize alternatives to animal experimentation. There should be legislation to control all institutions, their functions where animal experiments are carried out. Experimental animals must be kept under optimal conditions at all times. The experiment must be thoroughly, scientifically planned and not unnecessarily duplicated. All animal colonies used for experimentation must be under the control and responsibility of a veterinarian, suitably qualified.

E. Conservation of Wildlife

We endorse all the efforts of veterinarians or others to conserve our wild animals and protect endangered species. In all aspects of the control, capture, translocations, and the housing (if necessary) of wild animals, their welfare and care should be paramount and under veterinary responsibility.