One welfare a framework to improve animal welfare and human well-being

24 Section 2

Section 2 of the One Welfare framework covers the connection between

poor states of human and animal welfare. It examines cases involving

animal welfare, socio-economic indicators and offences in different social

contexts, including those taking place within underprivileged communities.

Improvements in animal welfare can support interventions tackling social

issues (such as homelessness, hoarding, dog fighting and separation anx-

iety). Integrating animal welfare as part of general livelihood improvement

programmes, including disaster and war responses, is seen as key to success.

We all live in a social configuration in which we have a shared life

between humans and other animals. Animal and human welfare are inter-

linked in socio-economic issues, and poor animal welfare can generally be

used as an indicator of much wider human well-being. We interact with

animals in different ways within rural, urban or working environments.

Underprivileged communities may be found in inner-city, suburban, rural

and remote locations, and in any situations where resources – such as

sources of finance or education – are limited.

This section focuses on the interactions at both individual and commu-

nity levels and has been divided into a number of subsections to help in high-

lighting the multiple angles within which animal welfare is linked to human

well-being within a social context. The section does not intend to provide a

fully comprehensive list of interactions, but to include sufficient examples to

enable readers to develop and implement initiatives within their own localities.

Overall, this section relates to areas where improved animal welfare

goes beyond animal protection to reach human support.

2.1 Companion Animal Welfare

Companion animals are likely to be the ones interacting most closely with

humans. They are part of the daily lives of many and, in most circumstances,

they share housing and have become one more member of the family.

The welfare of companion animals is intertwined with that of those

who share their lives with them. Compromising their welfare, whether in-

tentionally or not will inevitably affect the family and – depending on the

actual issue – also affect others such as neighbours or people or other ani-

mals who interact with the family or the companion animal itself.

Behavioural problems reported by the owners of companion animals

can adversely affect the human–animal bond (HAB) and can impact dir-

ectly on the owner and their family, but may also have negative effects on

the wider community. The behaviours involved may be the result of in-

appropriate learning or lack of training and these can often be addressed

by training interventions. However, many companion animal behaviours

which are reported by owners or by communities as being problematic are

the outward manifestation of an emotional health issue for the animal.

Such emotional disturbances can be reactive and result from suboptimal

environments, which do not meet the species-specific environmental needs