Policy Statement

ROLDA assesses the welfare of animals using the Five Freedoms (Farm Animal Welfare Council, 2003):

Freedom from hunger and thirst.
Freedom from discomfort.
Freedom from pain, injury and disease.
Freedom from fear and distress.
Freedom to express normal behavior.

STATEMENT AGAINST VIOLENCE

ROLDA main work is to protect animals from suffering and cruelty caused by human actions. We reject and advocate against any tactics or strategies involving violence against all animals.
Research has now established that there are strong links between violent behaviors toward humans and violent behaviors toward animals. We actively encourage law enforcement agencies to take violence toward animals seriously and to set appropriately severe penalties for people who are responsible for causing animals to suffer.

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND BELIEFS

ROLDA’ mission is to create a humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also benefit people.
We do not engage in or support actions that are illegal or violent, or that run counter to the basic principles of compassion and respect for other creatures’ life.

The key difference between animal conservation and animal welfare is that conservation focuses on species, populations and habitats, whereas welfare focuses on the individual animal.
The welfare of an animal can be described as good if the individual is fit, healthy and free from suffering.

STATEMENT ON ANIMALS IN RESEARCH, CLONING, TESTING

ROLDA advocates an end to the use of animals in research and testing that is harmful to the animals.
ROLDA opposes the use of animals in elementary or high school lessons, experiments, science fair competitions, or other projects that directly or indirectly cause death, pain, or distress to animals.
ROLDA opposes any cloning of animals for commercial purposes, whether for use as pets or in research or agriculture.
Cloning experiments reflect a spirit common to all systematic forms of cruelty to animals.
The commercial cloning of animals is an abuse of humanity's power over the animal world. And, like all abuses of power, it should be prohibited by law.

STATEMENT ON EUTHANASIA

The euthanasia of animals has been acknowledged by most animal protection organizations, including ROLDA, as an appropriate and humane means of ending the suffering of an animal in physical distress. It is also used widely to end the lives of animals that have severe behavioral problems, including aggression, and they pose a threat to the health and safety of people or other animals.

We recommend for use only those methods that cause a rapid loss of consciousness and that cause minimal pain, distress, and suffering in the animal. We oppose any euthanasia methods or techniques that do not meet these humane principles.