The UK established the world's first animal welfare protection laws, with the passing of the Protection of Animals Act in 1911 which made it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal. This draft Bill, which extends to England and Wales, seeks to consolidate and modernise the legislation in line with current animal welfare standards, including the reforms undertaken in other countries such as New Zealand and Sweden. Amongst its provisions, which are grouped under 10 headings, the draft Bill seeks to: i) establish a duty of care to ensure the welfare of all kept animals, enabling animal welfare organisations to intervene where there is evidence an animal is being kept in conditions likely to lead to suffering, rather than having to wait for evidence that the animal has suffered abuse before legal action can be taken; ii) prohibit the sale of pets to children under 16; iii) end the practice of giving pets, including goldfish, as prizes, for example at funfairs; and iv) make offences of animal cruelty or keeping animals for fighting arrestable offences, with the maximum penalty leading to imprisonment upto 51 weeks or a fine of upto £20,000, or both. This publication contains the text of the draft Bill, explanatory notes and a regulatory impact assessment.

This Model Animal Welfare Act has been designed to serve as a basic template and guidance document for those interested in enacting new legislation or improving existing animal protection legislation. It has been drafted using an extensive comparative law exercise, taking into account 'best practice' in the field. Thus it is aspirational in nature; seeking to provide the best possible structures, systems and provisions to protect the welfare of animals. This may mean that countries which are just starting to establish animal welfare requirements might decide to introduce its provisions progressively. In such cases, a strategic approach (step-wise and prioritised) is recommended. This could also be considered in cases where countries already have structures, systems and provisions that have been introduced gradually over time, but remain less than optimal. The important principle is that each country works progressively towards the best possible protection for the welfare of its animal population, and indeed - as elaborated in the Three Rs approach - the eventual reduction and replacement of any uses of animals which compromise their welfare.The purpose of this Model Animal Welfare Act is to function as an 'umbrella' or 'framework' law. It represents an international unification and harmonisation of animal protection and welfare legislation, which can be adapted or modified - if the circumstances require - in Common Law as well as Civil Law systems. Elements of both legal orders have been considered and incorporated to achieve (as far as possible for the present day) a comprehensive, far-reaching and progressive approach to animal welfare legislation which takes account of the desired expedience when it comes to prevention of animal cruelty and abuse, establishing responsibility and the principle of care towards the animal, promoting the education and sensitisation of the population, as well as offering effective solutions for efficient law enforcement. This Model Act was created in order to govern people's behaviour, while other civil or religious legal systems may take a very different form (for example, be limited to 'codes' or 'edicts'). Nonetheless, elements of this Act can also be used for inspiration in creating, amending or interpreting these.

This book examines the contents, influence, and potential of a personal selection of modern books published over the last fifty years that have been relevant to improving welfare. The works selected comprise three earlier classics that mainly deal with animal experimentation and intensive farming, as well as five that concentrate on specific subject areas, namely history, science, applied ethics, politics and law, that are important to protecting the welfare of animals against suffering inflicted by humans. The books are arranged in the order of their publication date, and for each one a few related works are also mentioned or discussed. This collection provides a broad understanding of animal protection issues, and provides the necessary basis for an informed and comprehensive approach to improving the welfare of animals. The books selected have been influential and they have the potential to improve animal welfare in the future.

Animals are widely used in neuroscience research to explore biological mechanisms of nervous system function, to identify the genetic basis of disease states, and to provide models of human disorders and diseases for the development of new treatments. To ensure the humane care and use of animals, numerous laws, policies, and regulations are in place governing the use of animals in research, and certain animal regulations have implications specific to neuroscience research. To consider animal research regulations from a global perspective, the IOM Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders, in collaboration with the National Research Council and the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, held a workshop in Buckinghamshire, UK, July 26-27, 2011. The workshop brought together neuroscientists, legal scholars, administrators, and other key stakeholders to discuss current and emerging trends in animal regulations as they apply to the neurosciences. This document summarizes the workshop.

Passed by Congress in 1966, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) sets general standards for humane care and treatment that must be provided for certain animals that are bred for commercial sale, sold sight unseen (Internet sales), exhibited to the public, used in biomedical research, or transported commercially. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations, known as the "Blue Book," as a tool to improve compliance among our licensees and registrants and to enhance the consistency of inspections by our field inspectors. The Blue Book consolidates into one source the AWA and the applicable regulations and standards. These regulations must be followed by those responsible for the care and handling of animals, including farmers. In addition, animal activists, lawyers, American citizens, zoologists, wildlife rehabilitator specialists, veterinarians, pet care and grooming organizations and their staff, other animal caretakers,USDA employees, and students pursuing research for essays and papers relating to animal rights and care may be interested in these regulations. Related products: CFR Title 9 Animals and Animal Products, Part 1-199, Revised as of January 1, 2017 is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/code-federal-regulations-title-9-animals-and-animal-products-part-1-199-revised-january-1 9 CFR Animals and Animal Products, Part 200- End, Revised as of January 1, 2017 can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/code-federal-regulations-title-9-animals-and-animal-products-part-200-end-revised-january-1 National Wildlife Refuge System: A Visitor's Guide is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/national-wildlife-refuge-system-visitors-guide Animals & Wildlife resources collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/animals-wildlife

This book deals with the role of education in improving animal welfare and reducing animal suffering inflicted by humans. It embraces situations in which humans have direct control over animals or interfere directly with them, but it considers also indirect animal suffering resulting from human activities. Education is regarded in the broad sense of creating awareness and facilitating change. First, consideration is given to a number of specific themes in which education can make an important contribution towards reducing animal suffering, and subsequently an examination is made of a number of interrelated contexts in which education can address the various themes. The considered educational themes are: · animal suffering and sentience that have both scientific and moral aspects · human discrimination against animals known as speciesism and the need for attitudinal change by humans · role and existing limitations of legislation in providing protection to animals · matter of enforcement of animal protection legislation · achievement of reform to improve animal protection by legislative and other means · training of professionals, carers, and users involved with animals to provide better protection · the scope for science to contribute to improved animal protection · animal protection as a regional and international issue