Guiding Principles Contents

guiding principles contents

3 index 20 culling 5 preamble 20 domestic animals 20 domesticated pet animal 7 statements of principle 20 domestication 8 key principles 20 ecological sustainability 10 climate change 20 ecosystem services 10 community engagement 21 euthanasia 11 community animals 21 exotic (non-native) animal 12 wild animals 21 exotic pets/wild pets 14 food and farmed animals 21 farmed animals 21 feral animals 15 working animals 21 food animals 15 the use of animals in science 21 humane and in medical and non-medical 21 imperiled species preparations 21 intensive livestock farming 15 invasive alien species 22 inhumane 22 intrinsic value 17 key definitions 22 introduced species 18 animal 22 introduced alien species 18 animal welfare 22 invasive animals 18 animal welfare frameworks 22 livelihoods 18 banner principles 22 performing animals 18 biodiversity 22 pest 19 biological sustainability 22 pet animals 19 climate change 22 precautionary principle 19 community 23 sentience 19 community animals 23 sustainable use of nature 19 community engagement (including animals) 19 companion animals 23 taming 19 conservation 23 therapy animals 19 cruelty 23 training animals 23 unethical hunting 23 wild animal 23 working animals

2 International Fund for Animal Welfare 3 Guiding principles animals and people thriving together

preamble

In order to achieve IFAW’s vision of Conservation decisions should to protecting wild animals and their animals and people thriving together, be guided by full consideration of habitats from human harm, whether we follow key principles in our work. ecological sustainability, biological caused intentionally or unintentionally. sustainability, and the precautionary Responsible human behavior should Conservation policy should be based principle. prevent, avoid, or at the very least, on sound science within an ethical minimize direct and indirect harm to framework that recognizes the Humans have a moral responsibility all animals. intrinsic value of individual animals to provide for the needs of those and species, and the welfare needs of animals who are dependent on animals as sentient beings. them. This responsibility extends

4 International Fund for Animal Welfare © Scott Anger x IFAW 5 Guiding principles Section 1 statements of principle

6 International Fund for Animal Welfare 7 Guiding principles © IFAW/Donal Boyd key principles animal welfare no matter what the perceived intrinsic value precautionary principle sentience sustainable use benefits might be, as outlined in IFAW supports sustainable use, in Animal welfare is both a science the Banner Principles. The notion of intrinsic value is shared In the face of scientific uncertainty The quality of life and suffering principle, as long as it is truly and a philosophical position. by many conservation and animal and contested information, IFAW animals experience is of moral ecologically and biologically Animal welfare science endeavors welfare communities. applies a precautionary approach to concern. Animals are sentient beings sustainable, as well as equitable and to provide objective assessments biological sustainability making decisions about conservation and, as such, their welfare should be humane and complies with the of the physical and mental Conservation’s traditional concern is and animal welfare interventions. integrated when formulating and Precautionary Principle. wellbeing of animals in relation to In order to ensure biological for the intrinsic value of species, IFAW believes that alternatives to implementing policy. Good welfare the quality and suitability of sustainability, populations of living habitats and ecosystems. potentially harmful actions must be (physical and mental wellbeing) is not environments they are in. When organisms should not be so heavily identified and prioritized, with the the just the absence of pain and justifying our treatment of and exploited or otherwise compromised Animal welfare’s traditional concern burden of proof placed on those suffering, positive experiences and effect on animals, we must that they decline to levels or is about the intrinsic value of proposing a decision that may cause emotions are critical to ‘a life worth consider why an action is conditions from which they cannot individuals. harm, whether by action or inaction. living’, one of the defining criteria for necessary and how it will affect naturally recover. good welfare. the animals. An animal welfare IFAW believes that all life has intrinsic philosophical position requires value. Individual animals, populations, science and ethics form that any use of an animal must be ecological sustainability species and the ecosystems in which the basis of policy justified and that justification must they live all have worth, for their own balance the ‘benefit’ to wider Ecological sustainability is vital for the sake, independent of their usefulness The process of science builds society against the ‘cost’ to the wellbeing of life on Earth and must be to humans. knowledge. Scientific knowledge, individual animal. There are limits the foremost objective in considered in an ethical framework, to what we should do to animals conservation. guides decision-making.

8 International Fund for Animal Welfare 9 Guiding principles community animals

IFAW recognizes the value of the control of community mutilations of domesticated relationships people have with animal population animals domesticated (community) animals The wholesale killing of community IFAW opposes the mutilation of any for companionship and livelihoods, animals such as cats and dogs is not body part of an animal when it is done and the important role these animals an acceptable or effective method of for any reason other than the play in human communities. The population or disease control. protection of the animal’s health or for health and welfare of community Problems associated with population, fertility control in cats and dogs. In animals is integral to the health and behaviors and disease in these such instances, the procedure must wellbeing of humans, our animals must be addressed through be performed by a skilled veterinarian climate change community communities, wildlife and the community-wide acceptance of who ensures best practices. environment. Community animals responsibilities governing the must be provided with the resources existence, safety, and wellbeing of training of domesticated engagement and care they need to safeguard their these animals. Research shows that animals own wellbeing and to ensure they do spay/neuter and vaccination programs IFAW supports positive training Climate change has profound implications for individual Through community engagement, IFAW aims to not pose a danger to people, or wild are far more effective than culling at methods that reward animals for animals, populations and their habitats. In recognition of strengthen and nurture the relationships between humans and/or domesticated animals. controlling population and disease. desired behaviors. the magnitude of this threat, IFAW believes that the nations and animals around the world. of the world have an obligation to endorse and implement breeding of domesticated euthanasia the Paris Agreement and reduce greenhouse gas The lives of communities, the animals in their care and the animals When it is apparent that the quality of emissions to decrease effects of climate change. wildlife around them are inextricably linked through the The breeding of domestic animals life of an individual animal is, or will Individuals and communities can play their parts by habitats, shared resources and the interactions they have. comes with responsibility to ensure likely be, unacceptably compromised, As residents of the Philippines braced for the imminent eruption of reducing their carbon footprints through lifestyle changes IFAW is committed to respectful and inclusive engagement the wellbeing of the parent animals and this cannot be remedied or the Mayon volcano, IFAW helped to help alleviate pressure animals face due to climate that empowers communities to identify opportunities to and the offspring. This applies to prevented, euthanasia may be in the evacuate around 300 animals (water buffalo and cattle) from the danger change. address important wildlife conservation issues while immediate care, individual welfare, best interests of the animal. zone to temporary shelters. incorporating animal welfare considerations. and genetic health of the lineage or species.

10 International Fund for Animal Welfare 11 Guiding principles wild animals culling and pest control not therefore be kept in captivity financial gains over the risk for rapid conservation funding to replace determination of rights, powers and wild animals in sport The cruel and inhumane treatment of because of their complex social or species depletion, as there is no existing income streams that rely on obligations in relation to resource and entertainment animals under the guise of culling or environmental requirements. In inducement to preserve or sustain trophy hunting. allocation and management should be Wild animals should not be used for pest control is not acceptable. If particular, the keeping of wild animals populations. conducted within a co-management/ sport or entertainment in any manner animals are considered a nuisance as pets can be especially problematic hunting imperiled species community-based management that is inherently distressing or cruel because they damage property or as it is largely unregulated, creates Animals should not be hunted for IFAW advocates for protection for framework. or that uses punitive training methods. pose health or safety risks, humane serious animal welfare, wildlife trophies, even if the animals killed are species, such as the harp seal, that The keeping of animals in captivity for alternatives that do not involve killing conservation, and human health subsequently consumed. In addition are not currently classified as canned hunting the primary purpose of entertainment animals or putting them into captivity problems and potentially contributes to reducing wildlife to a status symbol, “vulnerable” or “endangered” but Canned hunting, also referred to as is not ethically justifiable. should be attempted first. If lethal to the illegal trade of wild animals. trophy hunting targets exceptional, whose populations are under “put and take” hunting, involves the means are deemed scientifically and genetically significant individual exceptional pressure from human hunting of animals in an enclosure ethically justifiable, these must adhere hunting of wild animals animals that can negatively affect the related activity and are therefore designed to prevent an animal any to the principles of euthanasia Any form of hunting should be reproductive success of future imperiled. Imperiled species should chance of escaping; hunting animals described in this document. humane, justified and should not be generations. Furthermore, in many not be hunted. that are drugged or sedated, and/or; indiscriminate or pose a conservation countries there is also no regulation hunting human-habituated animals. wild animals in captivity threat. The ethical justification for over the actual killing of the animal so subsistence hunting IFAW opposes canned hunting. IFAW maintains that, in principle, wild hunting wild animals must be hunters, who may be inexperienced, Where legal subsistence hunting animals belong in the wild. Wild considered on a case-by-case basis. can cause extended suffering to the is permitted, it is a management commercial whaling A 4 year old tigress takes a morning animals should not be kept in captivity animal through injuries or multiple authority’s responsibility to ensure and sealing walk through her forest territory, unless the welfare requirements of Unethical and inhumane hunting of ineffective shots. IFAW emphasizes such hunting is conducted on an Commercial whaling (including while her mate is resting nearby. those animals can be met and there is wild animals for commercial the need for alternative land use ecologically sustainable basis and all so-called “scientific whaling”) and IFAW has campaigned since 2011 to an ethical justification based on purposes, including for food, fur, models and a commitment to making precautions taken to minimize the commercial sealing should be stop the shooting of seals around conservation and/or animal welfare. medicine, ornamentation, or oil them work. It is critical that the disruption of social structures and the prohibited as they are inherently cruel, Salmon farms in Scotland. In 2020, IFAW welcomed new animal welfare There are some species whose needs should be prohibited. Commercial international community works to infliction of pain and suffering on the unnecessary, and can pose a serious legislation which finally banned the cannot be adequately met, and should hunting incentivizes short-term secure alternative sources of animals killed. Decision-making, threat to the survival of these species. shooting of seals. information sharing and the

12 International Fund for Animal Welfare 13 Guiding principles the use of animals in science and in medical and non-medical preparations

animal experimentation The use of animals in scientific research should be minimized and alternatives should be pursued based on the principles of the 3 ‘Rs’ – Refinement of procedures to eliminate suffering, Reduction in the numbers of animals used, and Replacement of animals with non-animal alternatives when these exist.

wild animals in medicinal and non-medical preparations Wild animals and their parts and derivatives should not be food and farmed animals used in medicinal and non-medicinal preparations because the trade has proved to be inhumane and unsustainable. Alternatives made of non-endangered intensive farming the farming of wild animals to interactions with animals herbal and synthetic materials should be sustainably used of animals IFAW is opposed to the farming of throughout the chain of human instead. Intensive farming involves wild animals, as it is very unlikely that custody, particularly when unsafe/ industrialized facilities utilizing their biological and psychological unsanitary practices are involved. confinement systems with high needs can be met in this commercial Understanding that wild animals are stocking densities that deeply environment. Some wild farming an important source of protein for working invasive alien compromise the welfare of animals practices create serious animal many people, IFAW believes that the and pollute the environment. Buying welfare issues, increase risk of disease hunting of wild animals for food local, humanely raised food from and parasite transmission as well as should be conducted in a manner animals species sustainable sources and reducing the habitat degradation and exclusion. that is humane and ecologically consumption of animal products IFAW believes farming wild animals sustainable. lessens the harmful impacts on stimulates the market and incentivizes domesticated species used for work prevention and control of invasive alien species animals and the environment. poaching and the illegal trade in Working animals are used for activities such as carrying The presence of alien species is not necessarily harmful. native wildlife, as well as creating an goods, agriculture, law enforcement and therapy. The daily However, ecological conditions sometimes favor their treatment of farmed animals incentive for farmers to capture care of these animals must meet all requirements for survival to the point they become invasive and threaten Farmed animals, including fish, raised additional animals from the wild. physical, behavioral and mental health. Animals must not biodiversity and related ecosystem services. IFAW and slaughtered for food or other be forced to exert themselves to excess, work under harsh promotes policies that prioritize precaution and prevention purposes are entitled to positive wild animals as food conditions where these cause undue stress or injury, or be and that are humane as well as ecologically sustainable. experiences and protection from The development of new markets trained or motivated by punitive means. Equipment must distress and suffering during their for, and growing trade in, wildlife for A Maasai man with his cattle at the be comfortable and not cause pain or injury. Animals must Lekilesi Canyon in the Kitenden lives by ensuring the animals’ physical human consumption is resulting in Corridor just outside of Amboseli be allowed adequate rest and opportunities to relax and and emotional needs are met, practices that are neither humane nor National Park. The corridor ensures exercise natural behaviors. that a favoured route that elephants including contentment and control ecologically sustainable. Furthermore, have used for millenia to move across over their environment. this growing trade brings great risk of the Tanzanian border, is secured from Military search and rescue and therapy animals in habitat fragmentation and potential Benin sniffer dogs work to detect animal parts including zoonotic pathogen transmissions due conflicts with local communities. particular must also be ensured outlets for coping with the elephant ivory, and pangolin to disrupt and stop illegal emotional burdens that they absorb through their work. wildlife trade.

14 International Fund for Animal Welfare 15 Guiding principles Section 2 key definitions

16 International Fund for Animal Welfare 17 Guiding principles biological community companion sustainability A group of people who live in the animals same place or share a common The capacity of a biological system characteristic or interest (e.g. Companion animals are domesticated to endure in all processes that identify profession, values, socio-economic pet animals that have been habituated that system, e.g. reproduction, factor). to humans and are able to form close diversity, population, productivity, bonds with human beings and are and resilience in the event of disaster. therefore not typically caged, or otherwise closely confined (e.g. cats, community dogs, horses). climate change animals animal animal welfare banner principles Climate change refers to persistent Community animals are domesticated Any member of the kingdom Animalia frameworks The Banner principles are as follows: (typically decades or longer) species with which communities or conservation that has a sensory and nervous (i) Harms of a certain degree and kind alterations in the state of weather members of the community have The principle of protecting an system that enables them to respond A number of animal welfare ought under no circumstances to be patterns within a defined region, individual and interdependent ecosystem, wildlife habitat, or species to stimuli and interact with its frameworks have been developed to inflicted on an animal. (ii) Any harm to including temperature, humidity, wind, relationships. Examples would be from damage or irreversible loss. environment. For the purposes of this create benchmarks and a common an animal, even if not absolutely and amount and type of precipitation. dogs, cats, chickens, goats and cattle glossary, the use of the word ‘animals’ international understanding of the impermissible, nonetheless requires Climate change may be due to natural of small-hold farmers. Large herds of refers to those species that are language of animal welfare. These justification and must be outweighed internal and external processes such cattle do not usually meet this recognized as sentient. However, in include the Five Freedoms, the by the good which is realistically as variations of the solar cycles, definition. cruelty the spirit of the Precautionary original and best known; Fraser’s sought in so treating it. (iii) Any harm volcanic eruptions and persistent Behavior which causes physical or Principle, in certain cases we give the Three Approaches (Natural Life, which is justified by the second anthropogenic changes in the mental harm to another individual, benefit of the doubt to the possibility Emotional and Physical Wellbeing); principle ought, however, to be composition of the atmosphere or in whether intentional or not. of sentience even when broad the Quality of Life framework; and minimised as far as is reasonably land use. The Framework Convention community acceptance and scientific data are Morton’s Five Domains framework. possible. on Climate Change (UNFCCC) makes a engagement lacking. Each has a practical application and distinction between climate change Community members plant tree choice of framework will depend on attributable to human activities that The process by which IFAW builds saplings during the Bangalow Koalas circumstances. As well as the directly or indirectly alter atmospheric relationships and partnerships with planting event. As these saplings grow and corridors become connected, practical applications to improve biodiversity composition (e.g. increase in fossil the individuals closest to animals and a once-fragmented habitat will animal welfare animal welfare, it is important to The variability among living organisms fuel emissions leading to global their habitats for the purpose of one day provide habitat ensuring a healthy koala population into the The physical, behavioral, and mental adhere to key principles as well. There from all sources, including terrestrial, warming) and climate variability applying a collective vision for the future. wellbeing of animals; physical, are limits to what we should do to marine and other aquatic ecosystems attributable to natural causes, benefit of animals, humans and the The ZEN Project - a landmark physiological and behavioural animals no matter what the perceived and the ecological complexes of observed over comparable time environment. public-private partnership with measurements are used to assess benefits might be, as outlined in the which they are part; this includes periods. support from the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe that secures a vast animal welfare. Banner Principles. diversity within species, between expanse of former hunting ground species and of ecosystems. in the Panda Masuie Forest Reserve.

euthanasia farmed animals imperiled species The act of killing an animal to prevent Animals bred for production of food, Species at risk of extinction or or cease unacceptable pain and skin or fibre; hoofed mammals farmed extirpation; there are various suffering. The act of euthanasia for food, milk and leather; fowl; fish international, national and regional should induce rapid death in a and animals farmed for their fur, skin, classification schemes for imperiled humane manner that minimizes fear, feathers and other body parts and species based on key criteria distress, pain or discomfort in the derivatives. designed to identify vulnerable taxa, process of dying or in the handling, establish recovery plans, prevent restraint, and other conditions further declines, and promote associated with the procedure. The recovery. method of euthanasia must produce feral animals rapid loss of consciousness, followed Domestic animals who live in a wild immediately by death, and must be state, and who are poorly socialized to irreversible. people and are fearful of humans. This intensive condition is usually irreversible. livestock farming Breeding, holding, and transporting culling domesticated ecological exotic (non- animals in large-scale, industrialized, Lethal or non-lethal removal of pet animal sustainability native) animal food animals confinement facilities with high animals for the purpose of controlling Animals kept, bred, or hunted for stocking densities. Animals are or reducing the size of a population. An animal kept by people in, or near, The ability of an ecosystem to An animal that belongs to a species human food. managed for optimal growth and human dwellings for the purpose of maintain ecological processes, not indigenous to the geographical production at the cost of fundamental companionship, status or emotional functions, biodiversity and area where it lives or is kept. welfare requirements, without regard and/or physical support. productivity into the future, often for quality of life. Industrialized domestic animals measured using indicators for overall humane livestock farming relies on Animals who have been changed biological diversity or ‘carrying Having or showing compassion and industrialized, monoculture crop genetically through selective capacity’ for certain indicator species. exotic pets benevolence to people and animals. production and high use of pesticides breeding over many generations by domestication /wild pets and drugs. humans for the purpose of enhancing A process through which humans certain phenotypes desirable for change a species of animal ecosystem An animal of an undomesticated human use, such as tractability, food, genetically and phenotypically services species maintained in captivity for fiber, appearance, or work. through selective breeding to serve a the purpose of companionship, IFAW team stop at the Sagamok First particular human purpose. The direct and indirect contributions decoration, status, or emotional Nation community to examine the roaming dogs and previously delivered of ecosystems to human wellbeing. and/or physical support. doghouses.

20 International Fund for Animal Welfare 21 Guiding principles © Nick Hawkins inhumane invasive animals pest Lacking in compassion for suffering; Non-native animals that have An organism with characteristics that © IFAW/Scott Anger cruel. expanded or shifted their range, people deem to be damaging or escaped or been introduced into an unwanted. ecosystem and which displace, out-compete or cause harm to intrinsic value existing native populations when they sentience taming unethical hunting The inherent value of something or move into or are introduced into a pet animals The capacity of an individual to feel, A process by which a wild or feral A form or method of hunting that someone, independent of its worth (or range that is non-native to them. Pet animals are typically kept in the perceive, or experience emotions, animal’s behavior becomes cannot be justified in terms of usefulness) to anyone, or anything home for the emotional support they positive or negative states or habituated to human handling. This is rationale or compromises animal else. provide to people. When animals are conscious feelings. Positive feelings in contrast to domestication, which welfare or conservation. confined indoors special attention such as vitality, companionship, requires modification of a species’ livelihoods must be paid to their physical, contentment, satiety, happiness, genetic characteristics by humans for A livelihood comprises the psychological and behavioral needs. curiosity, exploration, foraging and the exaggeration of phenotypes that introduced capabilities, assets (including both play are integral to good animal are desired for human use. wild animal species material and social resources) and welfare. A wild animal is an individual of a activities required for a means of species that is not domesticated and The movement, as a consequence of living. A livelihood is sustainable when precautionary that retains its wild characteristics and human intervention, of a species it can cope with, and recover from, principle therapy animals its needs for a natural life. outside its natural range. stresses and shocks and maintain or sustainable Domesticated animals used for the enhance its capabilities and assets A principle of science that prescribes use of nature medical, psychological or physical both now and in the future, while not caution or conservative action in the support of people. introduced alien undermining the natural resource face of scientific uncertainty or lack (including working animals species base. of data in order to reduce or alleviate Domesticated animals who have been threats of harm to the wellbeing of animals) trained to perform a task to assist Alien species means any live humans, animals or the environment The use of nature, including animals training animals humans. specimen of a species, subspecies or pending further scientific and wildlife habitats, by humans for The process of teaching animals to lower taxon of animals, plants, fungi performing investigation. any purpose in a manner that is truly perform behaviours that are desirable or micro-organisms introduced ecologically and biologically to humans. animals In Playa del Carmen, Mexico, IFAW outside its natural range; it includes sustainable, as well as equitable and along with our local partner Coco’s any parts, gametes, seeds, eggs or Animals trained to perform a task humane, and complies with the Animal Welfare, has been promoting better care of dogs and cats, having propagules of such species, as well as primarily for the commercial purpose Precautionary Principle. been able to save, rehome, sterilize any hybrids, varieties or breeds that of human entertainment, either and assist more than a 30,000+ animals. might survive and subsequently directly (e.g. circus performance, The fluke of a North Atlantic right reproduce. aquarium shows) or through an whale in the Bay of Fundy, New associated agency (e.g. advertising). Brunswick, Canada.

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