In recent years, social sensitivity towards animals has been increasing. The role of media, legal regulations, and social responsibility projects are reinforcing awareness of animal rights.
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli noted that the importance of animal rights and welfare has been emphasized more in recent years, stating, 'Animal rights advocates have developed social awareness on this issue. It is up to humans to defend the rights of animals who are subjected to unlawful treatment and do not have the chance to defend their own rights.'
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli, Responsible Manager of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Experimental Research Unit (ÜSKÜDAB), evaluated the issue of social sensitivity towards animals, which has been on the agenda recently with the legal regulation known as the street animals law.
Street animal problems have become more visible
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli stated that animals, as beings with whom people feel particularly close and find support, have always had a place in their lives and continue to do so, adding, 'The awareness that animals also have rights has developed. Especially the problems of street animals have become more visible, leading to the development of social responsibility projects.'
The importance of animal rights and welfare is being emphasized more
Çevreli noted that sensitivity towards animals has become increasingly visible in society recently, and continued:
'With the development of media and communication technologies, information about animals can be accessed more quickly, and in the light of this information, our empathy develops thanks to the selfless interest and love they show us. Although the human-animal relationship, which dates back to ancient times, was largely based on human interests, in recent years the importance of animal rights and welfare has begun to be emphasized more. Animal rights advocates have developed social awareness on this issue. It is up to humans to defend the rights of animals who are subjected to unlawful treatment and do not have the chance to defend their own rights. While thousands of animals face ill-treatment amounting to torture every day, people acting with ethical considerations feel an even stronger need to protect animals. This has reinforced social sensitivity towards animals.'
Humans domesticated certain species as they transitioned to settled life
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli reminded that humans domesticated various types of animals as they transitioned from hunting and gathering to settled life in the Neolithic period, stating, 'While the human-animal relationship was largely evaluated in economic terms during that period, today this relationship has come to the forefront in emotional dimensions such as love, friendship, and sharing loneliness. Animal rights, unlike the rights humans possess, refer to the rights that must be provided for animals to maintain their lives healthily within the ecosystem. The idea that animals, as part of the Earth's environment, should have certain rights and that these rights should be protected within the framework of law has begun to gain importance because the disruption of nature's original structure directly affects human life.'
The importance of education in shaping children's perceptions of environment and nature…
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli concluded her words by stating that research shows animal-assisted practices contribute to individuals' physical and psychological health, adding a new dimension to the human-animal relationship:
'Education plays a decisive role in shaping children's perceptions of the environment and nature. The effect of education is particularly great in transforming love for nature and animals, and environmental protection, into lasting behaviors and a way of life. Loving, feeding, and caring for a domestic or street animal provides lifelong positive contributions to a child's psychological development and imagination.'