Course CodeBAG224Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationStatement of Attainment Learn Animal Welfare The welfare of animals encompasses much more than protecting animals from deliberate abuse and ill-treatment. If you work with, interact with or manage landscapes that provide a habitat to domestic or wild animals, then a knowledge of animal welfare is desirable. Many animals suffer unintentional abuse due to the ignorance of people regarding appropriate care. Animal rescue and protection organisations have many cases where domestic pets are not being looked after to a suitable welfare standard simply because they lack the knowledge to care for their pets properly. The same applies to wild animals. Many people are unknowingly causing harm to wildlife without even realising. For example, feeding wild birds is detrimental to their physical health if they are fed "human" foods which they would not normally eat in their natural diet (such as bread). In addition to this, feeding wild birds results in them becoming increasingly dependent on humans and, simultaneously, less able to provide for themselves. Consider the animals associated with the following landscapes: Domestic garden Pets e.g. dogs, cats Wild birds/animals entering the garden e.g. magpies, lizards Pests/disease-carrying organisms that are in your garden e.g. fleas, ticks Acreage Wild animals/birds inhabiting your land e.g. native wildlife Pests/disease-carrying organisms inhabiting your land Farms Animals raised for slaughter e.g. cattle, chickens Animals raised for food products e.g. chickens (eggs) Working animals e.g. horses, dogs Pests/disease-carrying organisms on the farm e.g. ticks, lice Urban landscapes Wild birds e.g. ducks, swans, seagulls Reptiles Invertebrates Pests Numerous landscapes call for the welfare of animals to be looked after and managed. What does animal welfare mean to you? Expand your knowledge with this eye opening course that will provoke your thoughts on how animal welfare applies to you and stimulate your mind to contemplate what you can do to improve the welfare of the animals around you. Lesson Structure There are 9 lessons in this course: Scope and Nature of Animal Welfare Psychology and Sentience Managing Animal Welfare Animal Protection Services Animal Rescue Services Animal Health Services Animal Welfare for Pets, Work Animals and Animals in Sport Animal Welfare for Farm Animals Animal Welfare for Wildlife: Free and Captive Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.