(ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering).
The gold standard for welfare is the originally developed for livestock but now applied across the board:
(access to fresh water and a healthy diet).
(sufficient space and proper facilities).
The scale of industrial agriculture makes maintaining individual welfare difficult, leading to debates over "ag-gag" laws and environmental impact.
Despite the progress, the 21st century presents massive challenges for animal advocates:
The journey toward a more compassionate world is not a straight line. Whether one leans toward the pragmatic improvements of animal welfare or the idealistic goals of animal rights, the objective remains the same: a recognition that we share this planet with billions of other sensing, feeling beings.