Animal Welfare Science. An Interdisciplinary Guide

Animal welfare as a concept and practice is important to many disciplines and professions. From blue skies scientists to front line animal rescue, there is a need for this textbook which distils and interprets the core concepts and language of animal welfare science.

Coverage includes the main theories and why we needed them, practical advice for how to assess animal welfare, illustrative examples of different species and the importance of their interactions, and the stresses and strains experienced across an increasingly diverse workforce. Foundational knowledge is combined with real-world examples and recent advances to communicate the content and spirit of this unique field.

This accessible text is designed to support tertiary animal welfare curricula but is also relevant to the study of human-animal interactions, anthropology, and related fields. It provides a jumping-off point for many areas of knowledge and application for anyone interested in how animal welfare and science intersect. Animal Welfare Science was created to provide an informational grounding that fosters competency, credibility, and the confidence to engage with peers across the animal welfare space. It also provides an overview of the career landscape with practical advice about the challenges and pressure points that you may encounter. Sidebars, boxes, bullet points and tables, along with copious color illustrations aid accessibility.

CONTENTS

Author Bios

Part I: Theory

1. Introduction

2. Theories – Foundational Texts

3. Theories – Strain

4. Theories – Domains

5. Definitions

Part II: Assessment – Body and Mind

6. Physical State

7. A Natural Life

8. Subjective Experiences

Part III: Evaluation

9. Animal Welfare Assessment

10. Assessment – Group

11. Implications for Conservation

Part IV: Interactions – Humans & Animals

12. Interactions: Conspecific

13. Interactions: Heterospecific

14. Interactions: Animal & Human

15. Interactions: Human & Animal

Part V: Human Factors

16. Individual Factors

17. Norms

18. Codified, Ethical and Economic Conduct

19. Professional Settings

20. Animal Welfare Science as a Cross-Cultural Space

21. Themes

Glossary

Notable People and Animals