Attitudes to animals in the animal protection community compared to a normative community sample

Attitudes towards the treatment of animals within the animal protection community remains largely under researched. In an attempt to begin to rectify this 407 members of the animal protection community were surveyed using the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS). Participants were also asked to indicate whether they identified more with animal rights or animal welfare perspectives, and a direct action or indirect action approach to securing animal protection. Results of the current study indicate that, regardless of philosophical or practical beliefs, those within the animal protection community were significantly more pro-animal welfare (as measured by the AAS) than members of the general community. This disparity was even greater between the current participants and those of a previous study who identified as being currently employed in the Primary Industry sector. Implications of this, as well as respondents’ philosophical and practical views are discussed.