Attitudes of Taiwan veterinarians towards animal welfare

A survey was carried out to examine the attitudes of veterinarians in Taiwan towards animal welfare issues and current systems related to animal protection. The respondents were asked to express the extent to which they agreed with the importance of the Five Freedoms and relevant education in animal welfare. The survey was sent to 889 veterinarians and the response rate was 34%. According to the findings, veterinarians in Taiwan consider that current animal protection laws in Taiwan, and their relevant systems, are unable to protect animals effectively. They mostly have an uncertain attitude towards the statement that animal welfare can upgrade their professional abilities or enhance their image, in that they have a relative lack of awareness of animal welfare as well as also lacking further understanding of the importance and influence of animal welfare. However, many veterinarians strongly support the content of 'The Five Freedoms' and relevant training of animal welfare and ethics. Instead of denying the necessity and importance of the relevant issues, we consider that some veterinarians lack confidence in animal welfare merely because of a lack of relevant training. The results of the survey indicate that providing veterinarians with professional education of animal welfare is the first step which brooks no delay.