Encouraging animal sentience laws around the world
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Animal sentience is an important issue that, unfortunately, has not yet received full recognition and acceptance in legislation worldwide.
When we recognise animal sentience, we accept that animals can feel both positive and negative emotions. We understand that they are capable of experiencing positive emotions like joy and excitement. And we also know that they can feel fear, pain, and distress.
Recognising animal sentience isn’t a purely theoretical or abstract concept. If we accept that animals can feel pain and distress, we must accept it is our responsibility to minimise experiences that harm animals like factory farming and the wildlife trade and entertainment industries.
Understanding animal sentience also changes our priorities regarding animal welfare legislation. Basic animal protections might ban physical mistreatment or violence, but sentient beings require more than just being free from physical pain.
Animal sentience legislation requires us to consider the mental and ...
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