WSPA Policy
WSPA’s aims
WSPA aims to promote the protection of animals, to prevent cruelty to animals and to relieve animal suffering in every part of the world.
WSPA aims to promote humane education programmes to encourage respect for animals and responsible stewardship, and laws and enforcement structures to provide legal protection for animals.
Definitions
The term “animal” includes all sentient creatures.
The term “suffering” includes stress, fear, pain, discomfort, injury, disease and behavioural distress.
The term “mutilation” includes any procedure carried out with or without instruments which involves interference with the sensitive tissue or bone structure of an animal.
General principles
The ethical basis for WSPA‘s policies is that it looks beyond the conservation of a species to the welfare of individual animals, as every animal has an intrinsic value and should be respected and protected.
WSPA believes that:
- Animals have the right to live their lives free from avoidable suffering at the hands of humans, rather than be used simply as ‘raw materials‘ for the benefit of mankind. Animals have biologically determined instincts, interests and natures and can experience pain.
- It is the duty of humans to provide for the welfare of other species.
- All animals kept by, or under the control of, humans must be kept in circumstances appropriate to their species. And, where the physiological and behavioural needs of a species cannot be met, the species must not be kept by man.
- Where the welfare of an animal under human control is in question, the animal must be given the benefit of any doubt.
- The different purposes for which animals are used must be regularly re-evaluated.
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