Internationally, organizations such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have developed guidelines and standards for animal welfare. The European Union has implemented comprehensive animal welfare legislation, including the EU Animal Welfare Directive.
But sanctuaries face a rights dilemma: What about the invasive species? What about the hyper-aggressive rooster? The rights model has no answer for predator-prey relationships. Does a cat have a right to hunt a mouse? Does a sanctuary starve the cat (violating its welfare) to save the mouse (upholding its right to life)? What about the hyper-aggressive rooster
Most sanctuaries end up as —they adopt the abolitionist goal (no exploitation) but use welfarist tools (pain management, enclosure enrichment) to achieve it. Does a sanctuary starve the cat (violating its
Rights are abolitionist. The goal is not bigger cages; it is empty cages. The goal is not bigger cages
While often used interchangeably, these terms represent different philosophical approaches to how animals should be treated. Animal Welfare: The Pragmatic Approach
Consider the farmed animal sanctuary. Here, pigs, cows, and chickens are rescued from slaughter. They are not property; they are residents. They are given veterinary care (welfare) and never bred or killed (rights).