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The welfare state: measuring animal welfare in the UK 2006
From farmyard to front room, science laboratory to pet shop, we affect animals in many ways. But how do we measure how they are treated? This unique, ground-breaking report looks at animal welfare through surveys and statistics.
Read on - and look at our traffic lights - to find out if animal welfare in the UK is improving, standing still, or getting worse.
- 2 Animal welfare in this area has worsened.
- 15 Remains unchanged or little change from previous year.
- 6 Animal welfare in this area has improved.
- 12 Insufficient data or no comparable data available.
Generic indicators
While many measurements of animal welfare fit into categories such as wildlife and farming, many do not. The following indicators, increased from five last year, look at an eclectic range of subjects which we feel are vital if we are going to be able to accurately measure the current - and future - state of animal welfare.
Farm animal indicators
Each year more than 900 million livestock are produced in the UK. Due to the sheer numbers and the huge variety of welfare issues involved in rearing, handling, transporting and slaughtering, the task of ensuring an acceptable quality of life for all farm animals is a highly challenging one. Gathering figures for this section has been very difficult, which in itself shows how vital regular monitoring and data collection is to ensure standards are continually met.
Pet animal indicators
Are we a nation of animal lovers? This is the question often posed when the RSPCA releases its annual Cruelty Stats - a catalogue of the cruelty and neglect imposed upon pets each year. But to gain an overall view of the way pet animals are viewed and treated, we need to take a wider view. The statistics from this section are all from RSPCA sources, as such figures are not collected at a national level by central or local government.
Research animal indicators
It is extremely difficult, but vitally important, to try and measure how critically the justification for animal use in testing is being assessed, and how well the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement of procedures) are being implemented. The five indicators reflect some of our key concerns and show where relevant information is, or should be, available.
Wildlife indicators
Human interaction with wildlife is often more negative than positive, as we can cause suffering and death to wild animals both unintentionally and deliberately, from accidents to not caring for them properly as pets, or killing them for sport.
Get involved!
- The RSPCA's vision is to work for a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with all other members of the animal kingdom.
- Visit the RSPCA
- Join the RSPCA Campaign Network
