Animal welfare

[Permacultura Cantabria]

Hi everyone,

We are passionate about improving the lives of animals and want to hear from you! Join our forum to discuss Animal Welfare.

Why Participate?

• Share your experiences and best practices
• Learn from others’ insights
• Collaborate on ideas to promote better treatment of animals

Whether it’s about pets, wildlife, or farm animals, every voice matters. Let’s work together to make a difference!

Start sharing your thoughts today!

[Ana]

Hi, my name is Ana! I am a student and I volunteer in a refugee for rescues in my hometown. I am a vegan and animal welfare is such an important issue for me. I wanted to share with all of you information about changes in U.S. laws. In 2024 new laws took effect to promote animal welfare across several fronts. For example, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada implemented cage-free egg laws, and New York banned the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores to combat puppy mills. Additionally, Maryland introduced a pioneering fund to support non-animal research methods, reflecting growing interest in humane science practice. I think this is the right path if we want to protect animals and lead us to a future that is friendlier to all species.

Some tips I can share to be more conscious about helping animals’ wellbeing:

– Buy cruelty free cosmetics and hygiene products.
– Buy local products, eggs from free-range hens, organic meat (I know that being vegan is not easy and is not within everyone’s reach).
– Try not to buy leather garments.
– If you intend to buy a pet, foster or adopt, do not buy puppies.
– You can collaborate with the animal shelter of your town or your area, donating feed, material of all kinds or volunteering from time to time.

We can help animals with small changes in our rutines, I swear it is worth it 🙂 Thank you for the space!

[Permacultura Cantabria]

Hi Ana, thank you so much for the infomation and your tips, we find them very helpful.

Here in Spain the Animal Welfare Law has undergone significant changes in recent years, culminating in the approval of a new regulation in 2023. The main objective of this law is to improve the protection and welfare of animals, legally recognizing them as sentient beings and establishing stricter measures against mistreatment and abandonment.

Main changes and novelties of the law are the folowwing:
– Legal recognition of animals as sentient beings: Animals are no longer considered objects or things and are recognized as beings capable of feeling, which implies greater legal protection and responsibility on the part of owners.
– Regulation of the breeding and sale of animals: The sale of dogs, cats and ferrets in pet stores is prohibited, promoting adoption from shelters and animal shelters. In addition, breeding may only be carried out by registered breeders and under strict welfare conditions.
– Mandatory training for dog owners: A mandatory training course is introduced to ensure responsible and appropriate pet ownership.
– Prohibition of the euthanasia of healthy animals: The euthanasia of animals for economic reasons or for reasons of space in shelters and kennels is prohibited, being allowed only for health or behavioral reasons that represent a risk.
– Stiffer penalties for abuse and neglect: Fines are increased and harsher penalties are established for those who commit acts of cruelty or neglect, including possible imprisonment in serious cases.

Even so, we still have important struggles pending. Bullfighting is still legal. There are many movements of organizations, associations and certain political parties demanding the total prohibition of this practice, but for now it does not seem that it will become a reality. A large part of the population, as well as right-wing and ultra-right parties defend bullfighting as something cultural and traditional that must be defended. For animal lovers and defenders it is a deep shame that this continues to be the case.

We also have problems regarding the welfare of farm animals, as many of them are still in terrible conditions and are treated only as means of production to fulfill economic interests and not as living beings with feelings. We seek to improve the living conditions of animals destined for food production, promoting more ethical and sustainable farming systems.

There are still many things to change, that is why we believe it is very important to create spaces for debate and learning.

[Author]

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