Humane treatment of animals as a marker of civilized society

In today’s conditions, social relations concerning animals have become particularly relevant and require increased attention. In Ukrainian scientific doctrine, research on this issue is fragmentary since the humanistic approach to animals in domestic theory and practice only began at the beginning of the 21st century. With the intensification of agriculture, the emergence of large-scale agriculture, and the use of animals for research, society’s interest in improving breeding conditions, keeping them, and reducing their suffering has increased. Public attention and scientific progress refuted the argument about animals’ lack of consciousness and sensations. This approach to animals, which generates certain moral obligations of humans, requires the introduction of tools to ensure the observance of the rights of “smaller friends”. Humane treatment of animals, ensuring their welfare, is considered an essential criterion for belonging to a European civilization. The solution to this issue depends on various aspects, including the country’s economic development level. Mahatma Gandhi stated that the moral development of the nation is evidenced by the methods of society’s treatment of animals. Attitude to animals is a marker of the civilization of society. Standards of humane treatment of animals are one of the European values, the perception and implementation of which is a mandatory requirement, taking into account the European integration processes in Ukraine, its sustainable development. The goal of this study is to search for effective methods that are adapted to the realities of animal treatment in Ukraine. Conducting the analysis will allow forming a new perspective on the established social approaches to the treatment of animals.