Sir Colin Spedding has worked in the area of animal welfare for over 30 years, including 10 years as Chairman of the Farm Animal Welfare Council. He is Currently Emeritus Professor at the University of Reading and Deputy Chairman of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals.

• Introduction * What is Animal Welfare and Why does it Matter? * All Animals - or only Some? * The Nature and Scale of the Welfare Problem * The Needs for Standards * Organizations Concerned with Animal Welfare * Achieving Improvement *Action Needed * Future Welfare Issues * Reflections, Unifying Themes and Conclusions * Appendix 1 BFF and WSPA Recommendations * Appendix 2 The Major Welfare Organizations * References * Bibliography * Index

'Colin Spedding‘s timely book ... succeeds by addressing every issue confronting animal welfarists objectively, scientifically and above all compassionately. This book will be a major contributor to the present and future work of all those committed to improving the welfare of every individual animal' Peter Davies, Director General, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals'In a field where argument is often typified more by emotion than hard facts, this logical analysis provides a superb structure for reaching sound and reliable conclusions. Furthermore, Sir Colin has looked into the future and gives us all an insight into the sorts of welfare issues that we may well be confronting in years to come' Judy MacArthur Clark, Chairman, Farm Animal Welfare Council 'I think it is brilliant, and had I Colin Spedding‘s experience and encyclopedic knowledge, I would have been proud to be the author. The book is thoughtful, well-informed, carefully constructed and erudite: it is sure to become a standard text' Harry V Thompson, Emeritus President, Universities Federation for Animal Welfare 'He gives... an objective account of the injustices and suffering meted out to animal by humans around the world and also tries to find possible explanations and solutions for it.' The Times Weekend, Sept 2000'Far-ranging and engrossing..it takes courage and fortitude to write a book which faces up to animal cruelty worldwide...this is an inportant book.' Farm and Food News, Quqker Concern for Animals, 2001. 'The style is direct, well-informed and...is seasoned with flashes of humour.' Brian J. Ford, Bookshelf, 2001.