Acknowledging differences, HSUS sees room for more cooperation among groups

摘要

Closing out the Oct. 11 AVMA Animal Welfare Forum lectures was Andrew N. Rowan, PhD, senior vice president of the Humane Society of the United States, with an animal advocacy perspective on conservation and zoo animal welfare. Instead of focusing on differences in perspective among the HSUS, organized veterinary medicine, and the zoo community, Dr. Rowan chose to high-light areas of agreement while also examining the broad range of values characterizing those involved. "Our level of agreement and common interests are far, far greater than differences and conflict, though I wonder if we'd ever know it by the current rhetoricS' he said. The HSUS opposes the capture of wild animals simply for display, Dr. Rowan explained. The organization is against keeping some species in captivity, such as orcas, and advocates that the zoo community take an active role in reforming or eliminating substandard facilities for other species.