Urgent Action needed on status of Animal Sentience

There has been much discussion over the last few weeks over the issue of animal sentience (the ability of animals to feel emotion and pain).  An article in ‘The Independent’ reported that MP’s had voted against continuing to recognize animals as sentient in British law post-Brexit.

This has since been denied by the government and following a public outcry, the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove issued a statement to say that this was not the case.

Whilst we welcome these assurances we still have concerns about the removal of this crucial term of ‘sentient beings’ and our concerns are shared by Compassion in World Farming and the British Veterinary Association.

We would urge our members to visit the Compassion in World Farming website where the issue of Animal Sentience and their concerns are discussed more fully.

https://www.ciwf.org.uk/news/2017/11/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-animal-sentience