Donors and Non-Government Organisations: Strengthening Advocacy Through a Unified Voice on Defining Sentience in Law
"Collective action transforms advocacy into lasting change."
David Attenborough’s documentaries brought pressing environmental issues into the global spotlight, inspiring NGOs, the public, and policymakers to unite in addressing climate change.
His work exemplifies how, by joining together, advocates can inspire action and achieve far-reaching, enduring impact
Transforming Advocacy into Actionable Law Reform
For NGOs committed to animal welfare, change is about more than education or advocacy; it’s about creating enforceable standards that deliver real-world impact.
The Sentient Animal Law Foundation (SAL) offers solutions to navigate a critical path forward—transforming compassionate advocacy into binding standards through law reform based on modern science.
​
Positive animal welfare law relies upon not just recognition but also provision of a clear, unified definition of sentience in legislation: “Sentience means animals experience both negative and positive states.” With this definition enshrined in law, positive welfare becomes a measurable duty of care, driving real improvements in animals’ daily lives—not just the prevention of suffering but the provision of a life enjoyed.
Imagine the impact of a unified commitment to this reform, uniting NGOs to achieve a global standard that truly elevates animal welfare.
Supporting Unified Goals Through Practical Reform
When reading the goals of most leading NGOs today, there’s a clear acknowledgment of animals’ capacity to experience positive states. Many organisations already reference the “Five Domains” model, recognising that animals experience emotional, cognitive, and physical states.
But the key question remains: How does acknowledgment alone translate into meaningful change for the animals they advocate for? This is where SAL steps in, bridging the gap between acknowledgment and enforceable change by defining sentience and codifying positive welfare as a legal duty of care.
​
In contrast to the piecemeal progress under anti-cruelty laws, where advocacy wins often address a single species or practice, positive animal welfare law breaks through the glass ceiling of fragmented improvements. SAL’s work transforms positive welfare from a sentiment into a standard, creating a legal framework that compels genuine improvements in practice.
​
This pivotal shift allows NGOs to achieve lasting, systemic change without having to advocate for each individual issue, one animal, one species or one practice at a time.
Transparency and Measurable Impact for Donors
Today’s donors demand transparency, measurable impact, and assurances that their contributions make a tangible difference. Supporting SAL’s law reform efforts offers NGOs a powerful way to demonstrate results and reassure donors that they are investing in a solution, not just a cause.
​
Unlike campaigns that deliver isolated changes, SAL’s law reform initiatives offer NGOs a framework that empowers them to achieve their missions at scale. For donors, this means their support fuels a legacy of real change—one that endures, is measurable, and impacts ALL species protected under the law.
Collaboration, Not Competition
In today’s competitive fundraising landscape, NGOs often face the challenge of balancing immediate welfare needs with long-term objectives. Robert Egger, in his work Begging for Change, wisely noted, “We don’t need more numbers, studies, or statistics. We need a plan.” SAL provides exactly that: a forward-thinking plan that unifies and amplifies the work of NGOs without competing for attention or resources.
​
Positive animal welfare law doesn’t replace or compete with an NGO’s mission—it strengthens it. While each organisation brings unique insights and actions to animal advocacy, legislative reform offers the enforceable foundation that advocacy alone cannot achieve. This is collaboration at its core, ensuring that welfare principles are preserved and strengthened for future generations.
​
Imagine removing the glass ceiling created by outdated, anti-cruelty-focused laws. Instead of incremental, issue-specific wins, we’re creating a unified shift in the duty of care that recognises animals’ sentience as a fact—not just a sentiment. This change enables NGOs to focus on their missions without needing to re-fight the same battles, year after year, and across borders.
Taking the Next Step Together
If you’re a donor, supporting SAL offers an additional avenue to create systemic change. By all means, continue to support your chosen charities—they do essential, admirable work. But consider a portion, or additional support, directed toward SAL, to help rewrite and update the rule book that all NGOs currently operate within. With your help, we can build a foundation for positive welfare laws that elevate the impact of every organisation working toward animal welfare.
​
For NGOs and their supporters, now is the time to set aside individual agendas and unify to support SAL’s law reform. The Sentient Animal Law Foundation is the only organisation uniquely positioned to bring the science-backed, enforceable standards needed to create a world where positive animal welfare is not just an aspiration, but a reality.
​
SAL invites you to explore our straightforward Three-Word Law Reform and consider adopting SAL’s position statement as part of actively supporting this law reform. In doing so, we can collaboratively elevate every like-minded animal cause, and ensure that each donated dollar, each hour, and each campaign builds toward a sustainable, shared outcome that gives a life enjoyed.