Welfare Legislation Research Articles

More Reward Than Punishment: Labor Resilience at Midcentury

More Reward Than Punishment: Labor Resilience at Midcentury

The Role of the 3Rs for Understanding and Modeling the Human Placenta

Modeling the physiology of the human placenta is still a challenge, despite the great number of scientific advancements made in the field. Animal models cannot fully replicate the structure and function of the human placenta and pose ethical and financial hurdles. In addition, increasingly stricter animal welfare legislation worldwide is incentivizing the use of 3R (reduction, refinement, replacement) practices. What efforts have been made to develop alternative models for the placenta so far? How effective are they? How can we improve them to make them more predictive of human pathophysiology? To address these questions, this review aims at presenting and discussing the current models used to study phenomena at the placenta level: in vivo, ex vivo, in vitro and in silico. We describe the main achievements and opportunities for improvement of each type of model and critically assess their individual and collective impact on the pursuit of predictive studies of the placenta in line with the 3Rs and European legislation.

Managing Animal Welfare in Food Governance in Norway and Sweden: Challenges in Implementation and Coordination.

Simple SummaryAnimal welfare is an important issue in society, and having a strong animal welfare legislation is per se important. However, in addition to a strong legislation, it is necessary to create a system that can enforce the legislation and to have a public administration in place in order to achieve a coordinated implementation. Both Norway and Sweden have received some criticism for their coordination of animal welfare control efforts. However, they have reacted to this criticism in different ways. Norway has centralised the coordination, making the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) solely responsible for animal welfare control. Sweden, on the other hand, has instead focused on developing better guidelines to be used by the 21 regional County Administration Boards in order to improve uniformity. In this study, we have compared the Norwegian and Swedish ways of coordinating animal welfare control and identified challenges and relevant organisational preconditions for achieving uniform and consistent compliance. The results show that Sweden’s organisation may need more coordination between multiple organisational units, while Norway has better preconditions for achieving uniformity in animal welfare administration. However, in Norway, the safeguards for the rule of law might be an issue, due to NFSA acting as de facto “inspector”, “prosecutor” and “judge”.A key issue in food governance and public administration is achieving coordinated implementation of policies. This study addressed this issue by systematically comparing the governance of animal welfare in Norway and Sweden, using published papers, reports, and legal and other public information, combined with survey and interview data generated in a larger research project (ANIWEL). Governing animal welfare includes a number of issues that are relevant across different sectors and policy areas, such as ethical aspects, choice of legal tools, compliance mechanisms and achieving uniform control. Based on the challenges identified in coordinating animal welfare in Norway and Sweden, relevant organisational preconditions for achieving uniform and consistent compliance were assessed. The results showed that Sweden’s organisation may need more horizontal coordination, since its animal welfare management is divided between multiple organisational units (Swedish Board of Agriculture, National Food Agency and 21 regional County Administration Boards). Coordination in Norway is managed solely by the governmental agency Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), which has the full responsibility for inspection and control of food safety, animal health, plant health, as well as animal welfare. Thus, Norway has better preconditions than Sweden for achieving uniformity in animal welfare administration. However, in Norway, the safeguards for the rule of law might be an issue, due to NFSA acting as de facto “inspector”, “prosecutor” and “judge”.

The fundamental renewal of the social security system protecting interests of families with children

Subject. The social welfare for families with children is actively evolving in Russia. Its social and legislative framework is advanced as well, promoting the respective organizational, material and technological basis. The technology for assisting and supporting the said category is renewed. The fundamental renewal of social support practices for families with children depends on the adoption of the new social welfare legislation. Objectives. We analyze processes renewing the social welfare for families with children and articulate what specifically can be done to support them. Methods. The study involves a set of general research methods, including logic, systems, comparative, functional, statistical and sociological ones. Results. We determined how it is possible to shift from social servicing to strengthening reproductive and educational opportunities of families, especially young ones. This implies various aspects and mechanisms for assistance by type of family, their problems and needs. The article demonstrates the transition from socio-economic support to socio-cultural, socio-educational, socio-psychological servicing. The fundamental renewal of various social servicing practices was found to result in a growing role of non-governmental sector. Conclusions and Relevance. Implementing and developing a personalized servicing program, as a new simplified service procedure, is a promising step to enhance the efficiency and quality of social welfare services. In Russia, the social welfare system can be mainly updated by activating the social activity of profit-making and non-profit entities. Self-help, self-organization of families seem to be the most promising trends, as the social welfare system is being technologically reshaped.

Will Victoria Miss the Sentience Doorway and Have a 2021 Animal Law Reform that Is Outdated even before It Is Enacted?

Updated animal law is ‘right’ for many economic, environmental, and societal reasons. While nonregulatory initiatives and programs are valuable as ancillary means of securing those benefits, law enforcement has a vital role in ensuring compliance by all stakeholders, and maintenance of standards that protect existing and future interests. Law’s vital role highlights the necessity of keeping it up to date. The contemporary science of the Five Domains validates that animals are capable of feeling and experiencing positive and negative states. The Five Domains is also the scientific authority for evolving animal legislation beyond what the Five Freedoms did over half a century ago. Legislatively defining animal sentience in a manner that creates positive animal welfare law is a keystone reform that has already been implemented in Australia. Victoria’s industry, public, and animals are at a critical legislative crossroads, and Victoria’s 2020 legal reform will either deliver meaningful change leadership or result in decades more of ‘business as usual’. To avoid implementing legislation that is outdated before it is even enacted, this paper demonstrates how a legislative definition of sentience which states: ‘sentience means that animals experience negative and positive [physical, mental and emotional] states’, is consistent with the contemporary science of the Five Domains and delivers benefits to all animal welfare stakeholders. For the body of the animal welfare legislation to be consistent with this up-to-date and scientifically authoritative definition of ‘sentience’, this paper further identifies amendments to be incorporated in the body of animal welfare legislation which provide further clarity and certainty to elevate standards of animal welfare and duplicate existing leadership practices that ‘go beyond simply not being cruel to them’.

Moving upstream: The Family First Prevention Services Act and re-imagining opportunities for prevention in child welfare practice

The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 is a landmark piece of U.S. child welfare legislation designed to prioritize maltreatment prevention, strengthen family preservation and foster care services, and promote the relational permanence of youth in out-of-home care. Successful implementation and realization of these policy objectives are not guaranteed; however, and are dependent upon a number of important factors including legislative clarity, policy demands and resources, and organizational readiness and capacity for change. Essential preconditions to policy implementation at the organizational level include education and planning, resource coordination, and adaptation to system processes. To support efforts to optimize the potential of the law to strengthen programs and services for children and families, this three-part manuscript targets the education and planning dimensions of policy implementation through (1) an overview of prevention and implementation science research, (2) a description of the provisions within the Family First Prevention Services Act, and (3) an analysis of possible implementation challenges and opportunities within the child welfare practice environment. Considerations and recommendations are offered to assist social workers and human service professionals in their efforts to improve child welfare prevention and intervention services for children and families.

Brexit: A Boon or a Curse for Animals Used in Scientific Procedures?

Simple SummaryMany animal welfare laws, including those regulating animals used in scientific procedures, have been impacted by the EU. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) is the main legislation in the UK governing animals used in scientific procedures and was amended with the introduction of Directive 2010/63/EU. Though in some ways it seemed that the Directive would improve the welfare of animals in scientific procedures, this may have not been the case. In light of Brexit, the UK faces challenges in maintaining the protection for these animals, particularly with no longer having access to REACH and the risk of duplicate experiments. There are also, however, opportunities to increase the protection already established and build upon the UK’s reputation of being a leader in animal welfare. This includes more transparency of experiments carried out, utilizing more non-animal methodologies and ending severe suffering. This article will explore the potential implications of Brexit on the welfare of animals used in experiments, focusing on legislation surrounding their welfare and protection. It will also suggest ways in which this protection can be progressed, with potentially more freedom to amend or introduce legislation to do so.The UK has long been hailed as one of the world leaders in animal welfare. Within the UK, animals used in experiments are provided some protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). This Act was impacted by European Union (EU) Directive 2010/63/EU, and subsequently the ASPA was updated to reflect any changes required. While the Directive is very similar to the protection the UK already afforded to animals used in experiments, there were some advances that the Directive provided that were not present in the ASPA. On paper, the changes introduced were promising but may not have been achieved in practice. In 2016, the British public voted to leave the EU, which presented concerns over animal welfare protection and legislation provided by EU law. With the completion of Brexit, there may be an opportunity to diverge from the Directive to advance protection for animals used in experiments. This article explores the influence that the EU has had on animal experimentation in the UK, the potential implications of Brexit on the welfare of animals used in experiments and suggests ways in which this protection can be progressed, with potentially more freedom to amend or introduce legislation to do so.

Cattle Cleanliness from the View of Swedish Farmers and Official Animal Welfare Inspectors.

Dirty cattle have been commonly recorded in official animal welfare inspections in Sweden for years. The relevant authorities have initiated work to better understand the causes of dirty cattle, in order to improve compliance and standardize the grounds for categorizing a farm as non-compliant with welfare legislation when dirty animals are present. This study investigated the occurrence of dirty cattle in official animal welfare controls, on Swedish cattle farms, and examined farmers' views on the reasons for non-compliance and on key factors in keeping animals clean. The data used were collected by animal welfare inspectors at the county level during the regular official inspections of 371 dairy and beef cattle farms over two weeks in winter 2020. In addition to completing the usual inspection protocol, the inspectors asked farmers a set of questions relating to why their animals were clean or dirty. Dirty cattle were found on 49% of the farms inspected, but only 33% of the farms were categorized as being non-compliant with Swedish welfare legislation. According to inspectors and farmers, dirtiness in cattle depends mainly on management routines, which is a promising result since routines can be improved. The results also revealed a need for better guidance for inspectors and farmers on when dirtiness should be categorized as non-compliance with animal welfare legislation.

Potency Testing of Venoms and Antivenoms in Embryonated Eggs: An Ethical Alternative to Animal Testing.

Venoms are complex mixtures of biologically active molecules that impact multiple physiological systems. Manufacture of antivenoms (AVs) therefore requires potency testing using in vivo models to ensure AV efficacy. As part of ongoing research to replace small animals as the standard model for AV potency testing, we developed an alternate in vivo method using the embryonated egg model (EEM). In this model, the survival of chicken embryos envenomated in ovo is determined prior to 50% gestation, when they are recognized as animals by animal welfare legislation. Embryos were found to be susceptible to a range of snake, spider, and marine venoms. This included funnel-web spider venom for which the only other vertebrate, non-primate animal model is newborn mice. Neutralization of venom with standard AV allowed correlation of AV potency results from the EEM to results from animal assays. Our findings indicate that the EEM provides an alternative, insensate in vivo model for the assessment of AV potency. The EEM may enable reduction or replacement of the use of small animals, as longer-term research that enables the elimination of animal use in potency testing continues.

A Short History of Long-Term Care in Nova Scotia.

The needs of older adults living in long-term care in Nova Scotia and across Canada are frequently ignored. There is historical precedent for this, as the voices of the poor and vulnerable have been under-represented throughout history. This paper aims to summarize the history of long-term care in Nova Scotia, Canada from its 17th-century origins to the end of the 20th century. The influences of key events, policies and concepts are examined chronologically: the systems implemented in Nova Scotia by French and later British colonists, the movement to delineate between categories of poor, the rise and fall of workhouses, and the development of social welfare legislation in Canada in the 20th century. Additionally, the surprisingly persistent stigmatization of poverty and dependence, and social versus health framing for older adult care, are all discussed. The authors hope that, by reflecting on the evolution of long-term care, this may result in better understanding of why contemporary problems are entrenched in our institutions. Through this understanding, tangible solutions might become more feasible.

Driving evidence-based improvements for the UK's 'Stressed. Lonely. Overweight. Bored. Aggressive. Misunderstood…but loved' companion animals.

The Five Welfare Needs in UK animal welfare legislation underpin a legal duty of care and are an animal welfare assessment framework. Health and welfare problems arise when these needs are unmet. The veterinary professions work with others to address these problems, but there is no publicly funded U.K. companion animal welfare surveillance to identify priorities, or promote and monitor change. The veterinary charity, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), together with the market research organisation, YouGov, has undertaken a longitudinal nationwide survey, assessing whether the U.K's pet dogs, cats and rabbits are having their Five Welfare Needs met. Data from nationally representative samples of pet-owning adults, drawn from YouGov's online survey panel, have been used to produce the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report annually since 2011. Examples are given of how the PAW Report has been used to monitor trends in animal welfare problems, drive collaborative behaviour change campaigns, create evidence-based funding applications and inspire innovation in veterinary practice. The PAW Report has contributed to closing a gap in national companion animal welfare surveillance. When governments rely on non-governmental organisations to assist with animal welfare surveillance, reliable sources such as the PAW Report can inform research, policy and legislation.

Legal Complexities of Animal Welfare in Australia: Do On-Animal Sensors Offer a Future Option?

Simple Summary‘Good animal welfare’ has evolved in recent decades to recognise behavioural, physiological and health factors, acknowledging that an animal may have good clinical health and be productive, though their welfare may be poor. The five freedoms and domains of animal welfare provide internationally recognised frameworks against which to evaluate practices to shape evidence-based standards which recognise both the physical and mental health needs of animals to provide a balanced view of an animal’s ability to cope in its environment. Whilst there are many techniques to measure animal welfare, the challenge lies with how best to align these with future changes in definitions and expectations, advances in science, legislative requirements and technology improvements. Substantial literature discusses the use of technology for improving animal monitoring, management and productivity on and off farm, though little has been published in relation to using such technologies to support legislative compliance and drive overall improvements in animal welfare. This article discusses the current legislation around animal welfare (with a focus on the Australian red meat sector); the impact of public expectation of welfare standards and production practices; and the current and future opportunity for on-animal sensors to support animal welfare, monitoring, management and compliance.The five freedoms and, more recently, the five domains of animal welfare provide internationally recognised frameworks to evaluate animal welfare practices which recognise both the physical and mental wellbeing needs of animals, providing a balanced view of their ability to cope in their environment. Whilst there are many techniques to measure animal welfare, the challenge lies with how best to align these with future changes in definitions and expectations, advances in science, legislative requirements, and technology improvements. Furthermore, enforcement of current animal welfare legislation in relation to livestock in Australia and the reliance on self-audits for accreditation schemes, challenges our ability to objectively measure animal welfare. On-animal sensors have enormous potential to address animal welfare concerns and assist with legislative compliance, through continuous measurement and monitoring of an animal’s behavioural state and location being reflective of their wellbeing. As reliable animal welfare measures evolve and the cost of on-animal sensors reduce, technology adoption will increase as the benefits across the supply chain are realised. Future adoption of on-animal sensors by producers will primarily depend on a value proposition for their business being clear; algorithm development to ensure measures are valid and reliable; increases in producer knowledge, willingness, and trust in data governance; and improvements in data transmission and connectivity.

Keel Bone Damage in Laying Hens

The use of alternative housing systems is increasing in response to the press of animal rights organisations and animal welfare-sensitive consumers. Pursuant to animal welfare legislation, it has become compulsory in the European Union member states to house laying hens in enriched cages or aviaries. However, one of the main problems associated with these housing systems is the frequent occurrence of skeletal damage, as a result of the reflexive movements of freely roaming animals. Owing to its protrusive anatomical structure, one of the most easily damaged skeletal parts is the sternum. Damage to the sternum is also referred to as keel bone damage. The term “keel bone damage” is used to describe bone deformities or fractures, which have long been named as bone anomalies in laying hens. Keel bone damage is a chronic disorder, which adversely affects the profitability of egg farms. Being a multifactorial disorder, it is difficult to identify the primary cause of keel bone damage, as many underlying reasons could be involved in its aetiology. Skilled and experienced practitioners can readily diagnose keel bone damage by palpating the sternal region. This study reviews the significance of keel bone damage for the egg sector and the welfare of laying hens.

Assessing the Uniformity in Australian Animal Protection Law: A Statutory Comparison.

Simple SummaryAustralia does not have any federal legislation pertaining to animal welfare; thus, the responsibilities lie with each state and territory. This situation has led to eight different pieces of animal welfare legislation across the country, with potentially distinct content and avenues for interpretation. These differences may create problems for the enforcement of animal welfare law, and hence it has been suggested that a uniform approach is required. However, before such an approach can be considered, the extent of the inconsistencies between the states and territories needs to be assessed. This review compares the differences between state and territory animal welfare laws to determine the presence and nature of any major inconsistencies. A total of 436 primary pieces of legislation were reviewed, with 42 included in the detailed analysis. Animal welfare laws were found to be generally consistent across the states and territories of Australia, but with some important shortcomings that are discussed.Animal welfare is not included in the Australian Constitution, rendering it a residual power of the states and territories. Commentators have suggested that inconsistencies exist between the state and territory statutes, and that a uniform approach would be beneficial. However, there has been no comprehensive assessment of the nature or extent of these purported inconsistencies. This review addresses this gap by providing a state-by-state comparison of animal protection statutes based on key provisions. Utilizing systematic review methodology, every current Australian statute with an enforceable protection provision relating to animal welfare was identified. A total of 436 statutes were examined, with 42 statutes being included in the detailed analysis. The comparison showed that animal protection laws are generally consistent between each Australian jurisdiction and were found to have similar shortcomings, notably including lack of a consistent definition of ‘animal’ and reliance on forms of legal punishment to promote animal welfare which have questionable effectiveness. It is argued that there is a need for attention to definitions of key terms and future consideration of alternative forms of penalties, but that a uniform federal approach may not be necessary to address these shortcomings.

Animal welfare official inspections: farmers and inspectors shared concerns

Official inspections to check the compliance of farms with European legislation to protect farm animals are often perceived negatively by farmers. In addition, the inspections have a limited effect on improving farm compliance. We looked at the perceptions of both farmers and their inspectors about animal welfare and the inspections in a case study of dairy production in France. The identification of gaps and commonalities between both parties should help us to propose improvements in the inspection method by which inspections could more likely encourage compliance with animal welfare legislation. To achieve this aim, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 dairy farmers and their 19 inspectors. Both farmers and inspectors described animal welfare in terms of the state of the animal and of the living conditions and care provided to them. The majority of farmers found that the official checklist used by the inspectors is inappropriate to assess the welfare of their animals; inspectors themselves reported that they often use their own criteria and indicators (often based on the observation of animals) in addition to the official checklist. Both groups disagreed with some requirements of the legislation. These findings suggest that the content and background of the legislation to protect animals should be made clearer to both farmers and inspectors and that these two groups of actors should be involved in the definition of key points to be checked on farms, with special attention to animal-based indicators. All this could improve farmers' engagement with the results of the inspections and, hopefully, could lead to better compliance with legislation and improvements in animal welfare on farms.

“Youth Will Feel Honoured if They Are Reminded They Are Loved”: Supporting Coming of Age for Urban Indigenous Youth in Care


 
 
 This paper presents the first phase of a community engagement project that explores (re)connecting to coming-of-age teachings grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and doing for urban Indigenous youth in foster or away-from-home care. An intergenerational group of urban Indigenous Knowledge Holders in and around Victoria, British Columbia, Canada came together to discuss what a culturally appropriate coming of age could look like for urban Indigenous youth in care and how delegated Indigenous child and family service organizations could be involved. Four questions were discussed, and the conversations were recorded and subsequently themed. The event reflected the community’s commitment to supporting youth in their coming-of-age journey. Delegated organizations, in addition to acting as legal guardians for the youth, are cultural resources for the community and help connect youth to culture in their ancestral/home and urban communities. Communities work to ensure that youth have access to safe spaces where they can self-determine their identities as they enter adulthood. (Re)connecting to coming-of-age teachings is important because the imposition of Euro-Western child welfare legislation prevented the passing of cultural teachings. Our findings are consistent with literature that indicates culturally grounded, positive-action initiatives, like traditional coming-of-age rites of passage, help youth to cultivate resilience that can support the transition to adulthood. This aligns with evidence that demonstrates intergenerational cultural continuity is protective to health and wellness for Indigenous youth.
 
 

38.3 AN OVERVIEW OF CHILD WELFARE LEGISLATION AND POLICY ON SIBLING PLACEMENTS TO HELP PROVIDERS ADVOCATE FOR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTED YOUTH

Child welfare legislation that specifically addresses sibling rights at the federal level is scarce in the United States. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 mandates that “reasonable efforts” be made by states to keep siblings together, but each state may interpret this mandate differently. A majority of states have sibling placement policies and visitation statutes, but they vary in scope and depth. Whereas some states presume that it is in the child’s best interest to be placed with their siblings, other states have laws that are less specific. Furthermore, the definition of what qualifies as a sibling can vary from state to state. Visitation after placement and adoption is an even more complex and unregulated area. Only a few states address it in their legislation, and most states are not required to aid in sibling visitation adoption.

All Bark, No Bite: Section 11 of India’s Animal Welfare Legislation

Abstract Speciesism is a bias that causes humans to accord themselves moral superiority in their dealings with non-humans. When speciesism permeates legislative thought, it leads to statutes that sacrifice the interests of non-humans to those of humans. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (‘PCA Act’) is no exception. Section 11 of this Act enumerates specific instances that qualify as animal cruelty and prescribes punishment for the same. However, this section is riddled with statutory flaws, some owing their origin to speciesism: inadequate and sweeping punishments, the defective incorporation of the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’, and the limited recognition of cruel acts. This article seeks to analyse each of the aforementioned faults and prescribe solutions which would strengthen the animal welfare regime as a whole. While stressing on broadening the scope of punishable acts under section 11, along with the need for statutory language to reflect ‘severity’ of punishment, the article also argues for differentiated punishment drawn from a consequence-based model which acknowledges the trauma and suffering of the animal. The intention is to prompt a discourse on the ideal drafting of animal welfare legislation.

Applying Lessons from the U.S. Indian Child Welfare Act to Recently Passed Federal Child Protection Legislation in Canada

Indigenous children are overrepresented in child protection systems in the United States and to an even greater degree in Canada. Canada has recently passed federal child welfare legislation, Bill C-92, with the goal of affirming the rights of Indigenous Peoples and establishing guidelines with respect to child and family services for Indigenous children. The aim of this article is to contribute to ongoing discussions about the recently passed Canadian legislation, drawing on lessons learned in the United States context. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), passed in the United States in 1978, has created a legislative paradigm, which in some cases has been bolstered by state-level provisions. The ICWA can provide helpful lessons to consider in Canada as the new legislation is implemented and amended over time. Specifically, we examine elements of the ICWA related to accessibility and compliance with the law, along with deeper analysis of state-level statutes related to adoption provisions in light of the phenomenon of transracial adoption of Indigenous children. As reactions to the Canadian federal law have been mixed, this policy analysis may be supportive of conversations regarding its further development, particularly related to funding and enforcement. On a broader level, considerations of Indigenous community jurisdiction over child and family policies within our discussion are relevant to various settler-colonial contexts.

The ethics of Halal meat consumption: preferences of consumers in England according to the method of slaughter

BackgroundThe continued growth of the global Halal meat market has resulted in many mainstream businesses in the developed world trading in Halal products. A good understanding of Halal consumer behaviour...