Animal welfare is a utilitarian philosophy. It accepts the premise that humans have the right to use animals for food, clothing, research, and entertainment—provided that suffering is minimized. The welfare advocate asks: Is the animal healthy? Does it have space to move? Is it free from fear and distress?
Research has shattered the Cartesian view of animals as unfeeling automata:
The importance of animal welfare and rights cannot be overstated. Here are just a few reasons why: