Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the League Against Cruel Sports
This supplementary submission is made following
the oral evidence given by Mike Radford, Reader of Law at the
University of Aberdeen, at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Committee's sub-committee hearing on the Draft Animal Welfare
Bill. Mr Radford advised that the Bill should include protection
from mental as well as physical suffering, although he was unclear
as to how mental suffering could be identified. Our initial submission
addressed this question by proposing that the Bill adopt the Farm
Animal Welfare Council's "Five Freedoms" approach to
animal welfare, which includes the need for an animal to have
freedom from fear and distress. We would like to add further comments
on this point.
We believe that the evidence submitted by Professor
David Morton, Director of Biomedical Studies in Birmingham, to
the Defra committee considering the issue of cruelty and the principle
of least suffering in hunting with dogs, is of relevance here.
Professor Morton stated that although mental suffering is more
difficult to define than physical, as we cannot ask an animal
how it feels; a great deal can be inferred from the animal's behaviour.
He cites the principle of Critical Anthropomorphism,[1]
which involves the observation and interpretation of animal behaviour
in the light of evolutionary similarities between humans and non
human animals. Professor Morton states that "This method
has been used as a guideline for animal researchers in the laws
of several countries as well as internationally".[2]
15 October 2004
1 Morton, D B, Burghardt, G and Smith, J A (1990)
Critical Anthropomoprphism, Animal Suffering and the ecological
context. Hasting's Center Report Spring Issue on Animals, Science
and Ethics, 20, No 3 pp 13-19. Back
2
OECD (2001) Environmental Heath and Safety Publications Series
on Testing and Assessment No 19 Guidance Document on the Recognition,
Assessment and Use of Clinical Signs as Humane Endpoints for Experiemental
Animals Used in Safety Evaluation Envrionment Directorate. Back
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