The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way its animals are treated.'

Mahatma Gandhi

The above quote can mean different things to different people. To the Animal Welfarist' - all is well as long as no animal suffers involuntarily. To the Animal Rights Advocate, things will only be well when all animals are treated with respect, when their independence is honored and they are left to live their own lives.

Animal welfare is not animal rights. Animal rights is not animal welfare. The two differ immensely.

Animal welfare is based upon the belief that we as human beings have a responsibility to treat all animals (especially those under human wings), with empathy and to provide them with humane and ethical care for their well being. The principle of animal welfare uses a few major components in determining an animal's basic care level and state of well being: Freedom from thirst, hunger, and malnutrition. Freedom from discomfort due to environment. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease. Freedom from fear and distress.

Examples of the animal welfarist philosophy:

- They support raising and using animals humanely and responsibly for food, clothing, labor, research and entertainment.

- They support managing animal populations by hunting, keeping animals in zoos and other venues.

- They believe in responsible animal use

- They believe in human/ animal relations and strive for animal well being.

- They believe in the bond between human and dog as owner and pet.

Most animal welfarists will agree with one another that animal rights activists take it beyond the point of normal and do not advocate the removal of all animal use or companionship.

Animal rights enlist a foundation that places animals upon the same moral plateau as humans. It rejects the use of animals for any reason. Also known as animal liberators, animal rights activists argue that animals should not be regarded as property, or treated as resources for human gain. Instead, they believe animals should be looked upon as members of a moral community. This community being a Community of Equals with the right to life and individual liberty.

Examples of the animal rights belief:

- Absolutely no animal research.

- Extinguish all animal testing.

- Extinguish all animal agriculture.

- Extinguish fur ranching.

- Prohibit trapping, fishing and hunting.

- End animal use in entertainment.

- Abolish the pet trade.

- Vegetarian meals should become more the norm.

Animal rights advocates dispute that the animal welfare position is not consistent and ethically negligent for its regard for animals as property and resources. Where animal welfare believes in eating, hunting, caging, and exploiting animals in humane and ethical ways - Animal rights say become a vegan, empty the cages, and stop the hunting. Leave the animals to themselves.

Animal Welfare is more of a philosophy. Animal Rights is more of a political movement.

Animal Welfare focuses on the ethics of human action or inaction. It takes cruelty and suffering into account without giving moral rights to animals. Animal Rights fights against using animals as goods or belongings and believes that animals have a life of their own and that they are very well aware of it - what happens to them (the animal), truly matters to them and those (the animals) around them.

Something to consider, don't you think? What side of the cage do you stand on?

The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That is the essence of inhumanity.'

- George Bernard Shaw-

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