Animal Care – What is it All About?

Animal care is the health, well being, and happiness of non-human companions. The term’s animal care and animal welfare overlap, however, in many ways. Most animal advocates focus their efforts on advocating for the rights of companion animals, while animal rights activists work to ensure that animals are treated humanely. Where do these overlap?

In most cases, animal care covers a broad range of issues related to the health and safety of animals as well as their environment. However, the specific issues addressed by animal advocates and animal rights groups tend to be very different from those that would be considered animal welfare. For instance, many advocates against animal cruelty focus on issues of extreme pain and suffering. Others may focus on preventing cruelty and exploitation within the animal industry while there are animal rights enthusiasts who focus on protecting animals without regard to their individual rights.

On the other hand, the issue of animal care can mean different things to different people. For instance, some animal rights groups focus on advocating for the rights of companion animals while other animal care advocacy organizations work towards creating better living conditions for farm animals and other animals used for food, fur, or medicine. Pet sitters also fall into this category along with shelters, dog breeding facilities, wildlife refuges, and the breeding and hunting of wildlife. There are also organizations that work to improve the quality of the lives of handicapped humans and animals. Some examples include the National Association of Housecall Veterinarians and the National Pet Sitters Registry.