Not so long ago, applying scientific principles to animal welfare was unheard of. Now, there are many scientific journals, research and academic institutes that exist with the purpose of researching, teaching and disseminating information about Animal Welfare Science. This book looks at how and why Animal Welfare Science developed as a scientific discipline in its own right. It pays specific attention to how empirical, ethical and cultural elements are part and parcel of this discipline. It describes how science is used to assess animal welfare issues - the strengths and limitations of approaches - and how standards have emerged because of this.
Contents: 1. Animals and moral concern 2. Animals in the human mind 3. Animals and Western values 4. A science of animal welfare 5. Studying animal welfare through basic health and functioning 6. Studying animal welfare through natural living 7. Studying animal welfare through affective states 8. Studying animal welfare through motivation 9. Affect, motivation and animal welfare science 10. Combining and balancing the approaches 11. Animal welfare assessment in practice 12. The study of animal welfare as "mandated science" 13. Coda
David Fraser is one of the pioneers of animal welfare science. He has published widely on animal welfare research, its practical applications, and its philosophical basis. He is currently Professor and NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Animal Welfare at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and serves as an advisor to many international organizations.
Recommended ... it will probably become recognized as a primary source on historical and cultural attitudes, behaviour and beliefs on animal welfare. (Journal of Agricultural Science, 2009) "David Fraser takes an historical framework of modem animal welfare. This outlook provides past views of empirical, ethical, and cultural perspectives that have shaped today's stance on animal care." (Animal Keepers' Forum, September 2009) "[This book] is truly a seminal text for laypersons and professionals to aid them in Understanding Animal Welfare. The author provides many examples of point-counterpoint arguments that have been made regarding the status of animals and the ranges of acceptable welfare requirements as viewed or stated during those debates." (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, June 2009) "This remarkable book demonstrates how to ask the proper questions and proposes several answers." (The Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, May 2009) "The science in its cultural context provides a fresh approach to any studying or working in animal welfare science, and for college-level libraries catering to them. Modern welfare issues are surveyed in a coverage of highlights of issues and ideas from a range of disciplines, from science to moral issues. A key text for college libraries." (Midwest Book Review, March 2009) "It will probably become recognized as a primary source on historical and cultural attitudes, behaviour and beliefs on animal welfare." (Experimental Agriculture, 2009)