And what is animal welfare exactly?
It’s one of those terms you assume you understand until you really stop and think about it. But starting a discussion like this without a clear baseline definition undermines its value.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, animal welfare really comes down to “the condition in which [the animal] lives. An animal is in good state of welfare if it is healthy, comfortable, well-nourished, safe and able to express its innate behavior.”
With that in mind, what animal welfare foundations are trying to accomplish becomes a little more obvious. They are trying to provide animals everywhere with the best living conditions possible.
And animal welfare public relations is hugely beneficial in reaching that goal.
What are the Opponents Saying?
Those who disagree with animal welfare foundations usually do so on the premise of deficient information. Sometimes, they’re afraid of losing out on things like animal-based forms of entertainment. But most of the time, they’re simply too uninformed to care.
That’s where animal welfare PR steps in.
Efforts like communication campaigns help spread messages like the fact that sanctuary zoos and aquariums can still exist, but be held to higher standards of ethics that don’t cause animals stress.
Above all, increasing education can transform a once-apathetic population into a collection of supporters by making critical information public.
What do Animal Welfare Foundations Promote?
The idea of animal welfare, by default, promotes a society that considers the thoughts and feelings of the voiceless.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? A society that treats animals like sentient, individual beings might, in turn, start to also make the world a little better and a little kinder for everyone.
And isn’t that what we all want?
But it all starts with spreading a message of compassion and awareness. It all starts with informing the public. It all starts with PR.
What can Animal Welfare PR Help Accomplish?
With a clear, unified message – and with the right conduit for spreading it – animal welfare foundations can accomplish unthinkable feats.
In the 1960s, two stories published in the media – one in Sports Illustrated and one in Life. The first story was about a family dog that was stolen and used for undercover medical experiments. The second story was about the horrific housing conditions of animal dealer facilities. The two stories garnered so much public outcry that President Lyndon B. Johnson decided to sign the Animal Welfare Act into law.
It was a huge win for the animal kingdom – and one that could not have happened without an informed public. It could not have happened without the right PR.
Movements like this only crescendo with a rallying of public support.
We have a long way to go still – and animal welfare PR is vital to the cause.
If your animal welfare foundation needs PR services, we’d love to help. Contact Orange Orchard online to find out more, or call us at (865) 977-1973.