Animal Welfare Estonia was created with a purpose to increase knowledge about animal welfare and keeping of companion animals. Our dream is to connect people and organisations, who share similar views, so we could move together towards animal friendly future! In our actions, we rely on science-based information and we really do believe that people learn their whole lives.
MISSION
We promote the field of animal welfare by raising awareness of responsible animal keeping, humane treatment of animals and animal welfare. We develop educational programmes aimed at different age groups and contribute to the formation of a more animal-friendly society by focusing on a science-based approach.
VISION
Better tomorrow, where humans and animals can feel safe and live in harmony.
CORE VALUES
- Empathy
- Respect
- Sense of responsibility
- Transparency and honesty
- Informing
- Teamwork
- Innovation and life-long growth
Basic principles of animal welfare
Being a good pet owner doesn't seem very difficult. Loving and caring for your furry or feathered friend seems like a logical step, and instructional materials can seem redundant. At the same time, animal abuse is common and there are also people who do not see it as a problem. Scientists, veterinarians and animal lovers have searched and will continue to search for an answer to the question of how to assess animal welfare as precisely and unambiguously as possible.
The foundation of modern animal protection and animal husbandry requirements can be considered the Brambell report presented in England in 1965, which defined the minimum requirements for keeping farm animals. The report stipulated that the animal must be able to stand, lie down, turn over, clean itself or scratch and stretch its limbs. The Farm Animal Welfare Council in England developed the idea of Brambell's presentation and developed the five freedoms to assess the basic needs of animals and set guidelines for welfare assessment. Today, the five freedoms are widespread and used in assessing the welfare of various animal species, in lawmaking, in dealing with consequences, and in veterinary curricula at universities. Each freedom is individually important, and in summary, the freedoms form a framework to ensure the animal's well-being at a minimum level.
With the aim of providing specific guidelines for ensuring well-being and a forward-looking approach, the five freedoms framework has been further developed over time in the course of achieving the five conditions/well-being goals. The idea is to keep the focus of the animal's welfare on ensuring a positive and fulfilling life, rather than focusing on providing a minimal solution.
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