ANIMAL WELFARE EXPERT
As Heidi has spent her life working and living along side animals, she has come to be recognized as an expert through hands on generational experience, as well as educating herself regarding best practices, and updates in science and technology related to animals and their care and husbandry.
She has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS Morning Show, IHeart Radio, Fox news, O'Reilly Factor and more. She has served as a national spokesperson for exhibited animals, and an industry liaison to the USDA Animal Care Division. She also speaks on the topic on Animal Welfare and has numerous credits on this front. She is an experienced, professional trainer specializing in horses and dogs.
Contact Heidi to speak at your next event or seminar!
In the world today, discussions about animals become very emotional and also philosophical. It is truly wonderful that people care so deeply for animals. It is however, in Heidi's opinion, important to clarify a distinction in how people show their support for animals. She considers herself an Animal Welfare Advocate. There is a very important distinction between Animal Welfare and Animal Rights.
ANIMAL WELFARE
"Animal Welfare", as defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association," is a human responsibility that encompasses all aspects of animal well-being, including proper housing, management, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and, when necessary, humane euthanasia."
Animal Welfare Advocates...
- celebrate the bond and interaction between animals and humans in an atmosphere of well-being for all
- utilize scientific evidence, fact, and best practices to create/update animal care/handling practices seek to continually improve the humane treatment of animals
- believe that humans can interact responsibly with animals in entertainment, industry, sport, recreation, companion animals, and research (which includes saving human lives)
- understand that human intervention is necessary for the survival and propagation of many endangered species
in contrast...
ANIMAL RIGHTS
Animal Rights is a philosophical view that animals have rights similar to, or the same as humans.
Animal Rights Extremists
- seek to sever the bond/interaction between humans and animals
- believe animals should only be admired from afar, without human intervention
- push for animals to be given the same rights/status as humans
- philosophically believe animals should NOT be utilized to feed, clothe, assist, entertain, or benefit humans, EVEN if it saves human lives
- often misuse funding donated to their tax-exempt organizations for the purpose of helping animals
- willing to utilize emotion, philosophy, mistruths, intimidation, inappropriate legislation, and even well documented ties to terrorist activities to meet their goals
Some very useful links further highlighting this distinction...
