Sentient, The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics

Sentient, The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics ...is an independent veterinary advocacy group that aims to bring the recognition of animals as sentient beings to the national agenda

GOALS
- Promote public awareness of the need for improved welfare for all animals.
- Advocate that humans have a responsibility to ensure that animals’ needs are met by promoting their freedom to express normal behaviour and protecting them from pain and suffering.
- Promote a greater focus on the humane treatment of animals as a priority wherever animals are used or affected by humans.
- Dissemi

nate and instigate scientific research relating to animal welfare, use and policy.
- Promote public awareness of the need for improved welfare for all animals.
- Advocate that humans have a responsibility to ensure that animals’ needs are met by promoting their freedom to express normal behaviour and protecting them from pain and suffering.
- Promote a greater focus on the humane treatment of animals as a priority wherever animals are used or affected by humans.
- Disseminate and instigate scientific research relating to animal welfare, use and policy.
- Facilitate collaboration and informed debate amongst professionals, government, industry and the general public.
- Form strategic alliances with other welfare organisations.
- Advocate for legislative change to improve animal welfare.
- Acknowledge and influence consumer power in driving change.
- Provide an avenue for veterinarians to use their expertise to identify animal welfare needs and to address these by presenting scientific arguments and solutions.

Rodeos are a form of animal cruelty that is currently protected by law. At the 2025 Royal Easter Show a horse forced to ...
28/06/2025

Rodeos are a form of animal cruelty that is currently protected by law. At the 2025 Royal Easter Show a horse forced to participate in a saddle bronc event was apparently killed but we have no details about this because rodeo operators are not required to publicly report the deaths and injuries of animals. This is an industry with effectively no scrutiny or oversight. Scientific and peer-reviewed studies have shown rodeo events cause fear, distress and potential serious injury and death for the animals. Sentient supports this petition to Premier Chris Minns and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to demand an immediate inquiry into rodeos, their exemption from cruelty laws and total lack of transparency. Please sign and share!

MAKE RODEO OPERATORS REPORT THE DEATHS AND INJURIES THEY CAUSE

This is so upsetting: A whale was caught in a shark net off the Gold Coast recently. It was able to dislodge itself, but...
27/06/2025

This is so upsetting: A whale was caught in a shark net off the Gold Coast recently. It was able to dislodge itself, but was left swimming with part of that net still caught on its body.

Rescue crews worked urgently to try to free the whale from the remains of the net.

A fascinating article about guerilla "rewilders." people who are skirting regulations and rehabilitating native species ...
26/06/2025

A fascinating article about guerilla "rewilders." people who are skirting regulations and rehabilitating native species and releasing them back in the wild. We acknowledge their sentiment but see the important role that regulations play in protecting animals' interests.

Amid an extinction crisis, some amateur conservationists are taking matters into their own hands, releasing threatened animals on their properties. It's skirting rules and worrying scientists. But the guerilla rewilders say it's too late to wait for permission.

Some fantastic changes: The new Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 will provide a new framework for determining ownership of...
25/06/2025

Some fantastic changes: The new Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 will provide a new framework for determining ownership of the family pet in divorce and separation proceedings. Pets will no longer be recognised merely as property, but as “companion animals”. Family law courts must now consider animal abuse, including threats to harm pets, when deciding which partner is awarded ownership.

The special bond between owners and pets has been recognised in family law changes, with dogs and cats defined as companion animals and not just property.

This excellent presentation to the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) is a science-based analysis of the welfare ...
23/06/2025

This excellent presentation to the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) is a science-based analysis of the welfare problems faced by dressage horses due to the equipment used, along with humane alternatives. Pain, discomfort and injury to horses is a widespread issue in dressage and the more public awareness there is, the greater the pressure for change.

This video presents the full 50-minute briefing our research team delivered to the FEI Veterinary Committee on 9 April 2025. For the first time, Crispin Pare...

As a folllow up to our recent posting about the repeated whipping of a horse called Nico by Olympian Heath Ryan, who has...
22/06/2025

As a folllow up to our recent posting about the repeated whipping of a horse called Nico by Olympian Heath Ryan, who has been suspended by Equestrian Australia, here is a great ethical analysis of the issue by veterinarian Dr Anne Quain and animal scientist Dr Cathrynne Henshall. The authors challenge Mr Ryan's claim that whipping Nico saved him from the knackery, and reviewed the scientific evidence that shows it is neither necessary nor ethical to violently whip a horse to teach them a lesson. For this reason, the International Society for Equitation Science and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe argue that training methods causing fear and stress are inefficient and pose unacceptable welfare risks.

Just like any other animal, horses feel pain, which is why more needs to be done to minimise the use of whips.

Sentient opposes the greyhound racing industry and sadly, evidence of ongoing cruelty continues to emerge. Adelaide grey...
21/06/2025

Sentient opposes the greyhound racing industry and sadly, evidence of ongoing cruelty continues to emerge. Adelaide greyhound trainer Jack Trengrove has been charged by governing body Greyhound Racing SA with 26 counts of animal abuse after the industry body conducted an extensive investigation. He faces a minimum penalty of five years’ disqualification from racing and a fine of up to $20,000 if the charges are upheld, but we believe he should also face charges under animal welfare legislation. What these dogs endured was horrifying, including scarring injuries, lack of appropriate veterinary attention, food bowls covered in faeces and dangerous kennel conditions. We commend GRSA for their findings but it is unsustainable to monitor the entire industry and this would not be an isolated case. Please share this with anyone who supports greyhound racing.

‘Breaches of the rules are treated with the utmost seriousness.’

Thanks to the vigilance of an on-track vet, seven dehydrated greyhounds were prevented from racing last week at the Warn...
21/06/2025

Thanks to the vigilance of an on-track vet, seven dehydrated greyhounds were prevented from racing last week at the Warnambool racetrack. Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) is investigating the matter. Dehydration is a significant concern and racing dogs in this condition can lead to muscle damage and even death. Tragically, on the same day a three-year-old greyhound suffered a foreleg fracture and was euthanased.

An animal welfare group says greyhound racing is riddled with systemic failures as the industry body investigates a case of seven dehydrated dogs.

Sentient supports the move by Equestrian Australia to suspend Olympian Heath Ryan after a two year old video emerged tha...
15/06/2025

Sentient supports the move by Equestrian Australia to suspend Olympian Heath Ryan after a two year old video emerged that showed him repeatedly whipping a horse called Nico around 40 times. Mr Ryan claimed he was acting "in the horse's best interests" because the horse was a "problem child" who needed to be taught to stop after an accident involving a female rider, and that the only other option was a knackery. We do not have any further information but based on first principles, this horse should have been assessed by a veterinarian for any medical problems and then provided with sound training based on the principles of equitation science. This brutality should not be exempt from prosecution. We will be investigating the situation further.

Equestrian Australia suspends Beijing Olympics competitor Heath Ryan over a video of him whipping a horse.

The NSW Government is about to decide whether to reintroduce 51 shark nets between Newcastle and Wollongong. The evidenc...
10/06/2025

The NSW Government is about to decide whether to reintroduce 51 shark nets between Newcastle and Wollongong. The evidence is clear that shark nets do not protect swimmers, but cause immense suffering to the animals caught, most of whom are not even sharks. The Animal Justice Party NSW has written a strong letter which you can email to your local MP using the link below.

🚫🦈 The NSW Government is about to decide whether deadly shark nets will return to 51 beaches from Newcastle to Wollongong as early as September.

We must act now to stop this.

90% of marine animals caught in these nets aren’t even sharks. They're turtles, dolphins, rays, dugongs and endangered species like humpback whales. Many suffer slow, painful deaths for a false sense of security. Shark nets do not keep people safe, but they do kill marine life.

If you live on the Central Coast, in Illawarra, Newcastle, Sydney’s eastern suburbs or the South Coast your voice is especially powerful.

Here’s how you can help:

✉️ Email your local MP in just one click (or personalise it to make it stronger)
https://nsw.animaljusticeparty.org/keepsharknetsout

📞 Call their office too. Your voice matters and a phone call shows commitment and that you care.

Tell them you don’t want shark nets to go back in NSW beaches. It’s time for modern, humane, science-backed solutions that protect people and marine life.

Join the Ban Shark Nets Working Group and help power the movement:

Send us an email: 📩 [email protected]

Together, we can protect our oceans and the lives that call them home.

This is really wonderful news: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is replacing the requirement for animal testing in ...
05/06/2025

This is really wonderful news: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is replacing the requirement for animal testing in the development of monoclonal antibody therapies and other drugs with more effective, human-relevant methods. The new approach is designed to improve drug safety and accelerate the evaluation process, while reducing animal experimentation, lowering research and development (R&D) costs, and ultimately, drug prices.

FDA Plans to Phase Out Animal Testing Requirement

While Sentient supports the export of chilled meat as an alternative to live exports, there are still serious welfare co...
04/06/2025

While Sentient supports the export of chilled meat as an alternative to live exports, there are still serious welfare concerns with the local industry, too, as revealed by researchers at Curtin University. Thousands of sheep, pigs and cattle are being subjected to emergency killings after transport to Australian export abattoirs, an analysis of internal government records shows. Curtin University researchers have also found it is taking almost 11 hours, on average, to inspect animals for injury and sickness after they arrive at abattoir facilities – delays that “significantly increase the likelihood of animals requiring emergency euthanasia”.

Euthanasia is most common response to welfare incidents in sheep, pigs and cattle with about 4% of animals experiencing serious incidents, research finds

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