Animals are sentient beings, which means that they can experience emotions such as fear and contentment. Animal sentience is incorporated into EU law by the Lisbon Treaty. After March 2019, EU law will no longer apply to the UK – so it is crucial that UK legislation recognises that animals have feelings to ensure they are afforded sufficient protection from suffering.
Yet this week MPs voted not to include the principle of animal sentience in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill.
Please do everything you can to participate in the campaign to recognise animals as sentient beings in UK law. The recognition that animals have feelings and experience emotions is fundamental to their welfare.
There are a number of campaigns and petitions to join:
RSPCA campaign: https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/sentientbeings/takeaction
Compassion in World Farming petition: https://action.ciwf.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=119&ea.campaign.id=74771#takeaction