The Institutional Framework of Animal Protection

Abstract

The initial task of this book is to document the structure — or, to be more accurate, structures — of animal welfare decision-making and the primary and secondary legislation that has created it, with particular reference to the frameworks concerned with farm and research animals. This is an essential first step if we are then to go on and adequately explain why things are as they are and attempt to predict future developments. What this chapter reveals is that, despite its supposed ‘Cinderella’ status, there is in reality a substantial body of legislation relating to animal welfare and a set of distinct administrative structures with responsibility for implementing and enforcing the law. A complete picture of the political system’s absorption of concern for animal welfare also requires an examination of the extent to which the issue has been considered, with or without executive action being required, in both Congress and the House of Commons. Thus, the chapter begins by attempting to quantify this impact.