Animal Welfare - a definition

Animals in the Wild (Photo: Courtesy M Walter)
Animal welfare is the requirement that all animals under human care or influence be healthy, properly fed and comfortable and that all efforts are made to improve their well-being and living conditions. In addition, all animals, which require veterinary treatment receive it and that if animals are to be destroyed it is done humanely.

The goals of the Strategy are:

Companion Animals (Photo: Courtesy M Walter) To achieve an enhanced national approach and commitment to ensure high standards of animal welfare based on a concise outline of current processes, sustainable improvements in animal welfare based on national and international benchmarks, scientific evaluation and research, taking into account changes in whole of community standards, and effective communication, education and training across the whole community to promote and improve understanding of animal welfare.

Progression and Implementation: The Strategy sets broad national goals on animal welfare and provides a framework for sustainable, scientifically based and acceptable animal welfare outcomes. An Implementation Plan has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders. This plan incorporates specific action plans with nominated lead agencies. It also identifies additional resources and funding requirements to implement the Strategy. It provides for national coordination with the associated reporting progress of implementation. The Australian Government has budgeted $6 million over four years to help implement the Strategy, which includes awareness, education and training components

For more information: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/animalwelfare/aaws.html