Abstract
Simple SummaryAttitudes towards the welfare of non-human animals are related to beliefs about animals’ capabilities, particularly regarding experiences of pain and suffering. The current study explores the attitudes to animals among people who attended an animal welfare symposium at the University of Sydney. This population represents a unique sample of people who work, study or have a strong interest in animal care and welfare. The pilot study used a validated questionnaire that assessed attitudes to animals; specifically exploring participants’ (n = 41) beliefs about the sentience of animals and their emotional empathy with animals. The results found significant associations between participants’ beliefs in animal sentience and their demographic variables (age, sex and occupation). Female attendees showed stronger belief in sentience than male attendees did. When looking at emotional empathy with animals, the participants’ responses to the statements assigned into three clusters (or distinct groups) based on their content which reflected the internal emotional lives of animals and the treatment of animals by humans (Cluster 1), human interactions with animals (Cluster 2) and the keeping of companion and zoo animals (Cluster 3).Attitudes to animals are linked to beliefs about their ability to experience pain and suffering, their cognition, and their sentience. Education and awareness-raising play a pivotal role in increasing society’s consideration of non-human animal welfare. The current pilot study explores the attitudes towards animal welfare among a unique population of people who attended an animal welfare symposium at the University of Sydney. It involved administration of a validated questionnaire that assessed attitudes to animals; specifically exploring participants’ (n = 41) beliefs about the sentience of animals and their emotional empathy with animals. The resultant data revealed significant associations between participants’ beliefs in animal sentience and their demographic variables (age, sex and occupation). Female attendees showed stronger beliefs in sentience than male attendees did. Concerning sentience in cows, pigs and cats, older attendees showed stronger beliefs than younger people in sentience relating to hunger and pain. Also, with regard to questions about sentience in dogs, older attendees showed stronger beliefs than younger people in pain-related sentience in dogs. When exploring emotional empathy with animals, the participants’ statements could be assigned to three clusters characterised by the internal emotional lives of animals and the treatment of animals by humans (Cluster 1), human interactions with animals (Cluster 2) and the keeping of companion and zoo animals (Cluster 3). To the authors’ knowledge, this pilot study is the first of its kind to investigate the attitudes towards animal welfare of an important group of people who work, study or have a special interest within the animal care and welfare domain.
Highlights
Over the past few decades, traditional functional conceptions of animals as objects to be used by humans have increasingly given way to an ethic of care and compassion, as evidenced by increasing public sensitivity and concern about animal use [1,2,3]
For questions regarding sentience in cows, pigs and cats, age was negatively associated with questions about hunger and pain, in that older people attending an animal welfare symposium had stronger beliefs in sentience in cows, pigs and cats, regarding hunger and pain
The current pilot study sampled a rare population of individuals with clear commitment or interest to animal welfare and revealed some unexpected findings, whereby the participants’ responses to statements about emotional empathy with animals clustered together into three distinct groups based on their content
Summary
Over the past few decades, traditional functional conceptions of animals as objects to be used by humans have increasingly given way to an ethic of care and compassion, as evidenced by increasing public sensitivity and concern about animal use [1,2,3]. Public attitudes to the use of animals have direct and indirect effects on the treatment of animals in the human domain. A better understanding of trends in public attitudes to animal welfare can provide crucial insights into the ways in which the public can be expected to respond to topical issues regarding animals in the community. The term “animal sentience” refers to the notion that animals experience an array of feelings from pain and suffering to pleasure and joy [5]. Animals have been identified as “sentient beings”’
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
