Introduction
Animal welfare is a fairly recent, yet controversial argument in society. This troubling topic has strong arguments for a variety of different opinions and has become a major international issue. Thus, through the evaluation of the role of veterinarians in animal welfare it will be suggested through the analysis Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and the past, present, and future of animal welfare that veterinarians play an important role in the livelihood of animals.
WHAT IS ANIMAL WELFARE
In the simplest form, animal welfare can be defined as the relationships individuals have with animals and their duty to assure that animals are treated humanely and responsibly. While there is a broad agreement among the general public and animal professionals that individuals should treat their pet humanly, there is still a debate on how to maintain and accomplish this. The Five Freedoms have been created, which state animals should have; Freedom from Hunger and Thirst – by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour. Freedom from Discomfort – by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease – by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind. Freedom from Fear and Distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering. Animal Welfare is however, not only about ensuring an animal is not treated cruelly or caused unnecessary pain or suffering, it is about ensuring that an animal’s physical state, its mental state and its ability to fulfill its natural needs and desires are considered and attended to.
WHAT IS VETERINARY MEDICINE
When you hear the word, “veterinarian,” it is likely you immediately think of animals. Which is quite accurate since veterinary medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment of disease as well as disease prevention in animals of all types, large and small. Veterinary care is usually led by a certified veterinary physician and involves postgraduate study and qualification. Many vets work in clinical settings, treating animals directly. These vets may work in a practice, treating animals of all types. Some may be specialized in a specific group of animals such as companion animals, livestock, laboratory animals, zoo animals or horses. Some may even specialize in a discipline such as surgery, dermatology, laboratory animal medicine, or internal medicine. Just as healthcare professionals, vets face ethical decisions about the care of their patients. Current debates within the profession include the ethics of purely cosmetic procedures on animals, such as declawing of cats, docking of tails, cropping of ears and debarking on dogs. Employment opportunities for veterinarians include such diverse areas as clinical practice, teaching and research, regulatory medicine, public health, and military service. Veterinarians in academia instruct veterinary students, veterinary technology students, other medical professionals, and scientists. Veterinary college faculty members conduct research, teach, provide care for animals in the veterinary teaching hospital, and develop continuing education programs to help practicing veterinarians acquire new knowledge and skills. Research veterinarians employed at universities, colleges, governmental agencies, or in industry are finding new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent animal and human health disorders. These veterinarians have made many important contributions to human health. They also developed and refined techniques such as permanent artificial limbs and new treatments for joint disease and broken bones. As the veterinary field of medicine continues to rise in popularity so will the medical breakthroughs as veterinarians will only become more important in society
ANIMAL WELFARE PAST PRESENT FUTURE
One can speculate that the concern for an animals well being even in the earliest time was frowned upon. Cats and dogs have lived among humans for over 10,000 years. Yet even after all this time the abuse and neglect of animals is still a serious worldwide problem. In the last decade, several counties have made significant progress in recognizing animals as sentient beings who deserve respect and compassion. But, many more countries still categorize animals as property. And they fail to adequately protect animals. Despite some promising advances in legislation to protect companion animals most countries fall short in both how they view animals and how they protect them under law. While the law is useful at times because it provides a legal basis for filing charges against people who mistreat some animals under some circumstances, it is mired in the same kinds of compromises and exceptions that are still being fought today. The new laws specifically excludes mice, birds, rats, cold blooded vertebrates and invertebrates, or any animal used for food. In the past 44 years the culture of the animal movement has changed, expanded, mutated, and split. While the idea of respecting animal lives and abstaining from various kinds of animal foods has been around for centuries, the modern animal rights movement is a uniquely 20th and 21st century phenomenon. Leaving communities hoping for a better future for animals.
CONNECTION TO THE NOVEL
Set during the great depression, a veterinary student, Jacob, abandons his studies after his parents are killed in a car accident and joins a traveling circus as their vet. Throughout the story Jacob is the protagonist of the novel, recognizing and, where possible, preventing abuse, and in the end saving the elephant Rosie from a harsh fate. What is interesting about this novel is that the storyline contains an abundance of abuse towards the animals and many people think this is how it “used to be” for animals in a circus. They are wrong. To this day Elephants are forced to work in circuses, like those depicted in the era of Water for Elephants, and are forced to lead unnatural, deprived lives. Just as Rosie does, except there is a greater possibility they don't have anyone to come to their rescue. Other wild animals used by circuses face the same fate, they spend their lives in cages and are forced to perform tricks for public enjoyment. This novel brings to light that even with the romantic plotline there is nothing glamorous or amazing about the kind of animal abuse rampant in circuses today. Elephants used in circuses, films, commercials, and other forms of entertainment are deprived of living in their natural habitat and being free. They are torn from their families and subjected to unimaginably cruel training meant to break their spirits and make them easier to control. They are dominated through negative reinforcement, and trainers and handlers carry the constant threat of the bullhook, a steel-tipped device similar to a fireplace poker used to prod, stab, beat and intimidate elephants and many other wild animals into submission. I found the storyline of this novel very engaging and interesting as it brought many current real-world problems to light, while also connecting them to the past. This novel shows the impact veterinarians have on animal welfare.