To advocate for is to accept the world as it is—a place of immense animal use—and to fight for incremental, measurable reductions in suffering. It is the path of the legislator, the veterinarian, and the mindful carnivore. It saves millions of animals from agony today.

The concept of animal welfare and rights has gained significant attention in recent years, with many people advocating for the humane treatment and protection of animals. Animal welfare refers to the physical and psychological well-being of animals, while animal rights refer to the idea that animals have inherent rights and should be treated with respect and dignity. This report provides an in-depth examination of animal welfare and rights, including the current state of animal welfare, key issues and challenges, and proposed solutions.

We often use the terms "animal welfare" and "animal rights" interchangeably, but they represent two very different philosophies regarding how we interact with the non-human world. Understanding the distinction is key to meaningful advocacy.