Pete the Vet: Policies on animal welfare in Ireland affect us all

"It’s increasingly recognised that the key to good animal welfare starts with encouraging individual pet owners to do the right thing, rather than waiting for the need for animal rescue groups to step in"

Pete the Vet: In 2023, the farm animal welfare priorities are focussed on pigs and dairy cows/calves, as well as a major review, from a European level downwards, of EU Animal Welfare legislation.

Last week, a one-day conference was held at UCD by the Animal Welfare, Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association. The aim of this group is to look at issues involving each of those areas, viewed from a veterinary perspective. The title of the conference was “The Economics of Animal Welfare in Financially Challenging Times”. Animal welfare is sometimes seen by some as a luxury, but the truth is that many people want to live in a world where optimal animal care is seen as a necessity rather than an optional extra. So how can this be done on a tight budget?

The day started with an overview of animal welfare policy in Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine established a detailed Animal Welfare Strategy for a four-year period from 2021 to 2025, with a vision that Ireland should become increasingly recognised as a country that actively promotes and safeguards the welfare of all animals. Much of this work passes under the radar of public attention, but it does make a difference to animals on the ground, including pets, farm animals and horses.