Scientists, Academics and Animal Professionals: Empowering Meaningful Change Through Positive Animal Welfare
"The purpose of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it in harmony."
In 1962, Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking work, Silent Spring, exposed the environmental impact of pesticides and catalysed a movement that transformed public policy.
Her research made a lasting difference, showing that scientific insights, when shared effectively, could truly change the world for the better.
Transforming Knowledge into Impactful Change
As scientists, academics and experts dedicated to advancing our understanding of animal welfare, your work is vital.
It’s your research that illuminates the intricate relationship between animals, people, and our shared environment.
This connection is at the heart of what the Sentient Animal Law Foundation is working to accomplish—transforming scientific insights into enforceable standards that ensure animals experience both the absence of harm and the presence of well-being.
Your role as part of this movement is powerful, not only to expand knowledge but to benefit society and create lasting impact.
Why Positive Animal Welfare Law Matters Now
Positive animal welfare builds on decades of research, including the scientifically grounded Five Domains model, which has evolved the understanding of animal welfare beyond the basic “Five Freedoms.”
Animals, like us, experience complex emotions—comfort, interest, and even joy. Positive animal welfare acknowledges this, aiming to create environments where animals are not only free from suffering but also given opportunities to thrive.
It’s a clear step forward, based on the science of sentience and aligning closely with the principles you’ve dedicated your work to establishing.
Aligning Law with Science:
A Collaborative Path Forward
The global challenges we face—climate change, antimicrobial resistance, food security, and biodiversity loss—are deeply interconnected with animal practices. In your research, you have witnessed how these issues tie back to the health and welfare of animals. The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of the human-animal-environmental relationship, with zoonotic diseases underscoring the need for sustainable, humane practices.
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The current model of anti-cruelty law, though essential, often focuses only on preventing suffering. But with mounting evidence of the interdependence between human well-being and animal welfare, simply preventing cruelty is no longer enough. Without a clear duty of care that supports positive welfare, the full spectrum of your research risks being underutilised, limiting its potential to drive meaningful, large-scale change.
The Risk of Inaction
Without laws that incorporate positive animal welfare, we risk perpetuating a status quo that places animals, the environment, and ultimately, humanity at continued risk. The urgency of addressing climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and food security cannot be overstated. As the scientific community knows well, delaying action compounds these challenges, creating a “race to the bottom” where the well-being of all living beings is compromised.
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The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the global consequences of ignoring the interconnected health of people, animals, and the planet. Your research shows that with proactive welfare standards in place, we can mitigate some of these risks, supporting resilience and adaptability in both human and animal populations.
Positive Animal Welfare Law: Elevating the Duty of Care
The Sentient Animal Law Foundation champions a straightforward yet transformative law reform: explicitly recognising in legal terms that animals experience not only negative but also positive states. This “3-Word Law Reform” establishes positive welfare as part of a legal duty of care, a framework that moves beyond the glass ceiling of fragmented improvements to create systemic change that applies to all species, across all contexts.
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Imagine your research informing a legally reinforced standard that elevates animal welfare practices worldwide. Positive welfare law ensures that the knowledge you contribute—on animal sentience, behavior, and environmental impact—shapes policies that improve the daily lives of animals and the health of ecosystems. This legal foundation doesn’t replace existing anti-cruelty measures but evolves them, creating a structure where compassion, science, and accountability converge.
Bridging Science and Policy: Your Role in Creating Change
As thought leaders in your field, your work holds the power to create societal change that transcends academia. By supporting SAL’s mission to enshrine positive welfare in law, you’re helping bridge the gap between scientific understanding and policy implementation. Just as Rachel Carson’s work influenced environmental laws, your insights can influence the framework that guides animal welfare practices globally, setting a sustainable standard for future generations.
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The Sentient Animal Law Foundation invites you to join this movement—to make a meaningful difference with your work, not only to expand knowledge but to benefit society and create lasting impact. As part of a collective, you have the opportunity to add your voice to a vision that ensures animal welfare reflects the full scope of your research, from behavioral science to environmental resilience.
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Together, let’s turn decades of scientific discovery into enforceable standards. Let’s move beyond fragmented wins to establish a legacy that protects animals, supports public health, and fosters environmental sustainability. Join SAL in this defining moment to help shape laws that uphold a duty of care rooted in positive welfare for animals and, ultimately, for all of us.
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Explore the resources and add your voice to the one collective voice working on the roots of meaningful change. Together, we’re building a foundation for positive animal welfare that will leave an enduring mark on society, the environment, and future generations.
