For decades now, the majority of scientists have agreed that all vertebrate animals, (mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles) are sentient. However, after an eight-hour-long parliamentary debate, British MPs have failed to recognise animals as sentient beings. Given the chance to vote on the NC30 clause that would have transported the EU’s recognition of animals as sentient beings into UK law, parliament voted against it. As a result, many animal rights advocates are concerned for the welfare of animals in post-Brexit Britain.
As the Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association, Gudrun Ravetz worries that the against-vote “undermines the government’s precious promises that the UK will continue to be known for our high standards of animal health and welfare.”
The recent news represents a significant setback for animal rights globally. Having disregarded animal sentience, this parliamentary decision effectively defangs ethical standards for treatment of non-human animals. Sentience is one of the cornerstone concepts used to argue for animal rights, but this basic characteristic, long agreed-upon by a consensus of scientists, may now need to be argued on a case-by-case basis in issues concerning animal welfare. Naturally, this setback concerns animal lovers and professionals alike.
“It is extremely concerning,” explains Ravetz, “that a marginal majority of MPs have voted down this seminal clause. Enshrining animal sentience in UK law would have acknowledged that we consider animals as being capable of feelings such as pain and contentment and, so, deserving of consideration and respect. It is a founding principle of animal welfare science, and for the way that we should treat all animals.”
According to the Collins English Dictionary, sentience means having the capacity for feeling or perceiving; consciousness, and having an awareness or sensation that does not involve thought or perception. Being ‘sentient’ means to have feelings and emotions both negative and positive; to feel fear, pain and frustration, contentment, comfort and happiness.
The government claims to have rejected the clause about animal sentience on the basis that the Animal Welfare act already covers it, but David Bowles rejects that assurance. As the head of public affairs for the RSPCA, Bowles insists that “animal sentience is never mentioned in the Animal Welfare Act and, crucially, only domestic animals are really covered by the provisions of the Act anyway and animals in the wild and laboratories are expressly exempt. It is simply wrong for the Government to claim that the Act protects animal sentience.”
Only four days after British MPs failed to recognise animal sentience, the BBC aired an episode of Blue Planet II in which national treasure Richard Attenborough stresses the emotional capacity of animals. In the enlightening series about the undersea world, Attenborough points out that “pilot whales have big brains. They can certainly experience emotions. Judging from the behaviour of the adults, the loss of the infant has affected the entire family.”
While many would argue that the sentient ability to feel empathy is exclusive to humans, award-winning environmental writer Carl Safina explains that “many animals express empathy for each other. In one case, an old woman who couldn’t see well got lost and was found the next day with elephants guarding her. They had encased her in sort of a cage of branches to protect her from hyenas. That seems extraordinary to us but it comes naturally to elephants.”
The disappointing result of the debate raises concern for domestic animals in the UK. The government’s disregard for animals as feeling creatures with their own awareness may render animals -especially in the wild and in laboratories- even more vulnerable to being exploited. There is a growing fear that worldwide efforts to support animals in their habitats could decrease in the wake of the UK failing to consolidate the benchmark for animal rights recognition in Europe, at a time when it is more important than ever to recognise animals as sentient beings who need conservation, protection and, fundamentally, our respect.
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I recall the dog named ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ who stayed for a long time by his master’s grave in Edinburgh, Scotland
I have two dogs as companions they are part of my family they are sentient everything I do I must take their feelings into consideration
I’m not a crackpot it’s just basic decency
What is wrong with that country???Everyone knows that animals are sentient beings!!!
They must be out of there minds thinking animals have no feelings ex. elephants when a baby gets hurt or stuck they all come to rescue the babe if one can’t do it alone the others come to help. What would you call that? Step on a dogs paw paw they yelp. Animals wild or domesticated. What about the dog that lays by his owners grave because he some how knows that his master is in the ground whats that but emotion. Look how the wild animals go beyond the call of duty when protecting their babies. What do you call these things. It’s called survival. What do you call that. People that don’t own animals never experience what they are truly made of they give us their heart (we abuse) they give us their soul (we abuse) and their loyalty to no end (we again abuse). When will the think they know it all people Actually knows nothing of the animal kingdom tame or otherwise get to make these decisions. Would like to see someone with a heart involved in these decisions.
This country is run by a bunch of idiots. All animals feel pain
Quisiera saber si los gobernantes y legisladores ellos son sensibles o solo les interesa gobernar para destruir los paises que ya no sabe n como vivir pues estan todos sumergidos en la pobreza la corrucion la violencia y un sin fin de cosas mas no creo que ustedes sean sensibles lo es un perro porque ama no maltrata y es fiel y tiene principios y valores olvidados por los humanos
Very disappointed in Theresa May. Wish the royals would speak up and take a stand for the animals.
This is the sort of thing that should be put to public referendum. How dare these MPs say animals aren’t sentient. They don’t have the knowledge, and should have referred the question to experts if they don’t want to bother with a referendum.
They don’t bother because they really don’t want to know the truth it might make a difference then.
Massively disappointing, and ashamed to live in the same country as these uncaring so and so’s.
Everyone I have spoken to about this completely disagrees so please be aware these MP’s do not represent what the majority of us think in the UK.
(NB: it’s Richard’s brother, David Attenborough who narrates Blue Planet II, along with many other wildlife/nature shows)
The UK used to be known as a civilized country for animals. This negative voting for NC30 proves this is no longer the case. Can it be that the UK is no better than the rest of this uncivilized world? Shameful.
Por supuesto que los animales “sienten”: angustia, miedo, pena, alegría…a veces, disgusto. Eso en cuanto a sus sentimientos. Claro, ellos no te traicionan, no te engañan, no te defraudan, no te estafan, no te roban, no te explotan, no te segregan…Sí, es larga la lista de las malas conductas humanas de las que ellos carecen. Lo que es absolutamente cierto es que padecen DOLOR cuando los maltratan o cuando los sacrifican para el consumo. Nadie tiene derecho a abusar de ellos de ningún modo; merecen nustro respeto y nuestra a yuda, a TODOS SIN DIFERENCIA DE ESPECIES!!!!
The people who did this have to be real idiots . Its a shame you call your self human
These people are Morgan’s all animals feel pain and share emotions. This country is run by a bunch of idiots
How ridiculous, sad, and ignorant. Britain is better than this. Perhaps as in the USA, Brits are not fairly or knowledgably represented by those in government. As though animals have not suffered enough at our hands.
THIS LACK OF SENTIENT IS DISGUSTING, DISGRACEFUL, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THIS HARD HEARTED ATTITUDE SHOWN BY THESE PEOPLE TO ALL DOMESTIC ANIMALS & IS HARDLY AN EXAMPLE TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY TO GIVE ANY HELP TOWARDS THEM…DID ANY OF THESE PEOPLE EVER WATCH THAT WONDERFUL MAN RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH & HIS STATEMENTS ABOUT THE REACTIONS OF ANIMALS !! I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THEY DO, & ALSO RESEARCH THEIR OWN VALUES !!
Because the Muslims control the UK and they hate dogs and other animals!
Because the Muslims control the UK and they hate dogs and other animals!
That had to be 1 of the most uneducated, hateful, comments I have seen for a few bit. With a comment like that, I will DEFENITELY say animals are more sentient than some humans!
And NO. I am not a Muslim in defense!
Animals are innocent to the cruelty and un=fair practice’s that HUMANS put on them, i am disgusted with my own speices for these actions
You know, a certain country in Europe also decided that some people were less than cockroaches and it would be OK to
turn them into Lampshades, burn them up, gas them, rape and torture them and experiment on them. UK is has now put themselves in there with the Nazis as far as I am concerned. Good job douchebags! You all deserve the worst possible destruction hailed down upon you for this. So many Humans do not deserve to be alive on this planet. Everything they touch turns to shit!
the tories are the ones who are not sentient!
It is not up to a parliament to decide the spirituality of anything alive. If it is alive it has a spiritual motivation. Animals may not be aware they are aware but they are aware. Please visit http://www.dianetics.org
Permanatly shutdown
Those good-for-nothing Parliamentary members must be androids. Obviously, they sense no emotions.
This cause must be won and it can only be won by people. People who are committed to overturning archaic thinking and who oppose those who stand in the way of animal rights. That any “politician” could down-vote animal rights is a sure sign that the politics have been the motivation and not the irrefutable science confirming animal sentence. Those politics will definitely be linked to the companies who are making massive profit from animal slaughter and animal “by products”. Political lobbying, palm greasing and political payola will have played a significant part in this denial. I will continue to expose this and to press he case fort animals.
YES, YES, YES!
Witch hunts (they even killed all black cats)!
Hitler!
Equal rights for the good people of America & now this!
THE BIGGEST MASSACRE ON THE PLANET THUS FAR, BILLIONS EVERY YEAR!
WHAT ON EARTH WERE WE EVER THINKING TO THINK THIS WAS OK?
Kicked, punched, treatments with NO anesthetic, rape, murder… none of them WANT TO DIE!
THIS HAS TO STOP, YESTERDAY!
Scandalous and VERY shocking. So ashamed of being a human being…
Animals have feelings and feel pain distress panic just like us this is wrong to say they don’t they deserve protection just disgusting to say they don’t
Death wish for everyone of these corrupt,incompetent animal hating bastards in the UK government, who fail to recognise animals as sentient beings.
They have been recognized as sentient in the US! That’s because they ARE!
YES!
The Poms have finally shown us what stupid human beings they are! Disgusted!
The fact that animals are living, sentient beings with emotional, psychological lives is a NO-BRAINER — everyone on the planet KNOWS this fact! — For further information, please look to NhRP : NONHUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT == “The legal struggle to recognize the fundamental rights of humans was arduous. So, too, will be the struggle to recognize the fundamental rights of NONHUMAN animals, since so many humans benefit from exploiting them.” – NhRP President @Steven_M_Wise
Wish everyone commenting here was on that parliament, the world would be a better & compassionate place to be.
Thank you all for your understanding a knowledge… <3
Kia Kaha! For the innocent animals…
these ‘people’ rare clearly insane or as usual thinking of the impact on the economy if non-human animals & other creatures are given the obvious recognition of being being sentient beings. how disgraceful. i would personally enjoy dropping 100 barrel bombs upon westminster from 30,000ft.
I totally agree! The people who voted and vote against acknowledging animals deserve a horrible and painful experience!
Boneheads!! Of course animals are sentient being. They feel pain and have intelligence. Unlike the British MPs who voted against animals as being sentient beings.
it would have been a very simple thing to add… just in case… spend 8 hours yammering just in order to be cruel.
the people who voted against it are probably animal abusers themselves and don’t want the law strengthened or don’t want to have to consider that animals DO have human feelings… or both.
How could they possibly say that animals are not sentient beings? Obviously animals are more sentient than those “humans” who voted this down! Is there some way this can be brought up for a vote again? I am disgusted to know that there are still people who believe that animals do not have feelings !
Seems like the Brits aren’t sentient beings either. Seriously. The sorry fact is that humans are evil, creatures of the Devil.
I have no words. Is there ANYTHING that can be done or is too late?
Never too late Rachael, we just have to push harder & for longer but many of us out here ‘will never be silent & we will never give up’ until all the tanks & cages are empty.
#CaptivityKills #TheCove #Cowspiracy #ForksOverKnives #AnonuymousForTheVoiceless #BanTrophyHunting #BanLiveExport #SaveAfricasWildlife #BanCannedHunting #AdoptDontShop #FreeLolita , Tilikum (RIP) … #FreeKasmanik #Arturo (RIP) …
Too many to mention but ‘seek & ye shall find’ sadly!
As for the people commenting on this thread… YOU ALL ROCK! Cut from a different cloth as these FOOLS IN parliament!
BTW..notice I did not capitalize the word Jackass..I did not want to misconstrue the 4 legged animal with these idiots.
Stupid jackasses..I guess this also means that those same MP’s are not sentient as they have no emotions, feeling of pain or remorse etc.. Too bad they sit on their brains, in parliament, without thinking!
At least non-human animals have brains, and use them!
I am very surprised. The RSPCA and similar organisations have had very good reputations over the years.
Yes, they are sentient! I lived in a teepee on the river in Reno, NV. and all my little friends would wake me up, sit with me and let me know of anything happening near-by, They by no means are just dumb animals. They care. they love, and they inform!
What a wonderful post ! There is so much to say in defense of animals. I hope this can be voted on again and SOON !
What a bunch of dumb ass’s. Karma will deal with each and every one of those people who voted against animals.
All animals are sentient beings. if they have a flight or fight response, if they will try to stay alive in the face of danger, they are sentient. we are just not present to see each and every emotion they exhibit. Anyone who kills an animal, anyone who raises an animal for slaughter, is not sentient. Those are the creatures who have no feelings.
Well said Dayle.
I would only add that those who do not and will not publicly state that animals are indeed very sentient beings are extremely ignorant, poorly educated, narrow-minded, and prioritize making money and loving money more than being wise and compassionate!
The tories and DUP should hang their heads in shame – they all voted against this. Remember this next time you vote at a general election. I sent a copy of the article in the Independent to my tory MP and surprise surprise no reply!!!
I would only add that those who do not and will not publicly state that animals are indeed very sentient beings are extremely ignorant, poorly educated, narrow-minded, and prioritize making money and loving money more than being wise and compassionate!
ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT DICKHEAD
Who the hell are you referring to????? Dayle Peters is correct. Use you pathetic brain to figure out there are plenty of other foods than dead animals to consume. It takes a little bit of effort. Anyone who can justify an animal dying just so some worthless asshole can shove it down its piehole is pathetic and hopefully they endure a long painful death!!!!!!!!