Animal Welfare Matters
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awsel.bsky.social
Animal Welfare Matters
@awsel.bsky.social
180 followers 240 following 430 posts
#AnimalWelfare Science, Ethics, and Law (AWSEL) | Veterinary Educator | One Welfare Advocate | Sweary Australian | Animal Welfare Feed | 🐾🩺🌱🦘🐑🦈🌊🌏
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awsel.bsky.social
"Octopus and Plastic Bottle — Tyler Toews in Vancouver, Canada. A mural showing an octopus [with its tentacles] wrapped around a floating plastic bottle, painted across the side of a building."

via ➡️ @streetartutopia.com 🎨🖌️
"Octopus and Plastic Bottle — Tyler Toews in Vancouver, Canada. A mural showing an octopus with its tentacles wrapped around a floating plastic bottle, painted across the side of a building." via ➡️ @streetartutopia.com 🎨🖌️
November 15, 2025 at 3:45 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Cartoon by Fiona Katauskas, The Guardian. #MelbourneCup #AnimalWelfare #HorseRacingKills #NupToTheCup #YouBetTheyDie #Australia #AusPol 🏇☠️💰
A cartoon by Fiona Katauskas from The Guardian newspaper. People dressed up entering the grounds of the racetrack. The banner overhead reads "Melbourne Cup - festival of animal cruelty, soaring betting company profits & expensively dressed people acting like drunken fools". A second text box reads "Well, when you put it like that".
November 1, 2025 at 10:35 PM
awsel.bsky.social
The heading is a quote from the movie Forrest Gump "Stupid is as stupid does". A man (Tom Hanks) in a cream suit sits on a park bench and is looking to his left. His brown suitcase sits at his feet as if he is waiting to travel.
November 1, 2025 at 10:06 PM
awsel.bsky.social
'Dog and Painted Boy' - by Trevor Cole in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. A real dog is seen touching noses with a painted image of a crying boy on a wall. #Art
Photo by Erika Lopez of her dog Carlos. Via @streetartutopia.com
Artwork on an outside wall called "Dog and Painted Boy" by Trevor Cole in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. A real dog (a small white dog with brown patches) is seen touching noses with a painted image of a crying boy on a wall. Photo by Erika Lopez of her dog Carlos.
October 24, 2025 at 11:51 PM
awsel.bsky.social
It is #Snake season in #Australia #AusPol. Be careful with your pets. I've seen six lizards in two days on dog walks. Keep #Dogs on leash in uncleared dense areas. 🐕🐍
A sign affixed to a black gate in red text that reads "Snakes present around this area in warmer months", with a snake icon underneath. It is an entrance to a dog park with dense bush and a creek.
October 24, 2025 at 4:39 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Switch your toilet paper to *ABOUT A DOG* (been using since they started) 50% of profits are donated to #AnimalWelfare #Pets #Wildlife charities. Made in #Australia, 100% recycled, FSC Certified & chemical free. Good for #Animals, the #Environment, and your bum!

Switch today ➡️🚽🧻 aboutadog.com.au 🐶❤️
The title reads "PAPER WITH A PURPOSE", subheading reads "Loo paper supporting pets & wildlife. There is a photograph of a very cute black dog sitting next to boxes and rolls of toilet paper and tissues. An ad for About A Dog - a toilet paper delivery service in Australia that supports animal charities.
October 22, 2025 at 10:38 PM
awsel.bsky.social
Virgin Airlines today launched a trial in Australia allowing pets to travel in the cabin, instead of unmonitored in cargo. This initiative has been eagerly anticipated by pet parents.

Congratulations @virginaustralia.bsky.social on leading the pack!!! 🫶🐈‍⬛✈️🐕🙏

www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel...
A blonde woman wearing a red Virgin airline uniform smiling standing next to Dr Katrina Warren (Vet) holding a gold coloured dog
October 16, 2025 at 10:38 AM
awsel.bsky.social
In loving memory of Jane Goodall, who dedicated her life to the animals she cherished. A truly beautiful and kind soul. It was a privilege to have met you. Your life and legacy will always be remembered. 😭🐒💔
A photograph of a woman with grey hair tied back in a low ponytail sitting closely with a chimpanzee. She is mimicking their vocalisations so they appear to be speaking the same language. The quote above reads, "The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves". Jane Goodall
October 2, 2025 at 8:11 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Legalised surgeries w/out anaesthesia or pain relief. Seemingly harmless industries like growing #Sheep for wool involves Mulesing (cutting the skin off #Lambs backsides w/shears) tail amputations, castrations. I will never stop fighting this cruelty. #BanMulesing #BanLiveLambCutting #AnimalWelfare🐑
A helpless lamb locked into a cradle on its back looking up at the camera. It has just had its tail amputated awake and has been mulesed having all the skin cut off around its bottom with shears. Image credit: https://www.peta.org.au/campaigns/clothing/cruelty-wool/mulesing-barbaric-unnecessary-cruelty/
August 12, 2025 at 9:04 AM
awsel.bsky.social
How Does Access to Veterinary Care Relate to Animal Welfare? (2025) 🐾🩺 #Veterinary #AnimalWelfare #CompanionAnimals #Pets #Dogs #Cats

➡️ www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Fig. 1. Veterinary professional services and their roles in supporting the 5 domains of animal welfare. (Data from Mellor DJ. Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms” by Updating the “Five Provisions” and Introducing Aligned “Animal Welfare Aims.” Animals 2016;6(10):59. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani6100059.)
August 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
awsel.bsky.social
A groundbreaking study reveals that red-footed #Tortoises experience long-term mood states, much like mammals and birds. Evidence of their #Sentience has implications for captive husbandry and #AnimalLaw.

#Reptiles #AnimalWelfare #AnimalBehaviour #Cognition

🔗➡️🐢 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) forward-facing the camera. The shell, or carapace, is dark brown or black with yellow or orange markings, particularly around the edges of the scutes (the individual plates of the shell). They have distinctive red markings on their limbs. Image credit: https://a-z-animals.com/blog/red-footed-tortoise-size-comparison-just-how-big-do-they-get/
July 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
awsel.bsky.social
When you take the dog for a Sunday walk at the beach and #ClimateChange smacks you in the face with a dying ocean. #MarineHeatwave #AlgalBloom #SouthAustralia

#AusPol govt you voted for continues killing unabated ⬇️

Southern Fiddler Ray (Banjo Ray)
Port Jackson Shark
Common Dolphin
+ thousands more
A dead Southern Fiddler Ray (Bango Ray) in a shallow pool at the beach, having been killed by an algal bloom. It is a tan colour with dark banded white body stripes and has distinct dorsal fins on its tail. Another Southern Fiddler Ray dead on the beach. A white dog with a black harness and blue lead leans down to sniff the ray that an algal bloom has killed. It is a pale brown colour with faded dark banded white stripes on its body. It has two dorsal fins on its tail. A common dolphin found dead on the beach near a Southern Fiddlers Ray. Both killed by a marine heatwave induced algal bloom. The common dolphin is grey on top with a white underside. A Port Jackson Shark found dead on the beach due to a climate change-induced algal bloom. A white dog's head is in the foreground. The shark is a grey colour.
June 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
awsel.bsky.social
#Democracy is a system in which citizens hold their government accountable. It is your democratic right to protect fundamental #HumanRights especially for marginalised & minority groups. Exercise your #RightToProtest. Fight for each other & our planet. #AnimalWelfare #ClimateAction #Environment.🪧✊⚖️🌏
A black and white meme. A politician stands at the end of a plank hanging over a cliff with a sheer drop, behind a lectern with a microphone, speaking to a group of people. The group of people at the other end of the plank (on safe ground) are citizen protesters who can drop the politician at any time. The quote written in bold white text reads: "The people don't know their true power".
June 8, 2025 at 3:32 AM
awsel.bsky.social
YAAAAY!!! Bloody classic still in my Aussie playlist. Watch a brilliant little Australian movie called "The Merger", which features this song. It's the type of movie only Australians will understand. Great song choice. Thanks Pete me mate 🍻
A promotional poster for the movie "The Merger" with the movie's characters painted on silo's in the background, and men playing football in front of goal posts on an oval.
May 25, 2025 at 3:54 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Mulesing in Australia. 🐑🔽
www.peta.org.au/campaigns/cl...
A lamb is lying on its back, restrained in a metal cradle. Its legs are held back with a bar, so its bottom is exposed. The lamb's tail has been amputated and all the skin surrounding its tail and bottom, and back of the legs has been cut off with shears. It is bloody and excruciatingly painful. This surgery, called mulesing, is performed by farmers without anaesthesia or analgesia. The lamb is looking up at the person taking the photograph whilst still being restrained.
May 22, 2025 at 9:42 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, including animal mummas. Today is a hard day for many. Sending you all love. 💐❤️
Thinking of you. Mothers who have lost children. Those who have lost mothers. Those with strained mother relationships. Mothers with strained child relationships. Those who have chosen not to be mothers. Those yearning to be mothers. With flowers for each.
May 11, 2025 at 2:35 AM
awsel.bsky.social
From RIOT GRRL. DON'T EVER LET THEM SILENCE YOU, girl. You are sensational, and what you have to say is important and relevant. You are undeniable, you are capable, indescribable, revolutionary. YOU ARE FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.
May 10, 2025 at 6:01 AM
awsel.bsky.social
The extraordinary story of Amanda Nguyen. WOW.
From RIOT GRRL. DON'T EVER LET THEM SILENCE YOU, girl. You are sensational, and what you have to say is important and relevant. You are undeniable, you are capable, indescribable, revolutionary. YOU ARE FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.
May 10, 2025 at 5:58 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Vote with your conscience on Saturday. #BanLiveExport 🐑
A flyer by Ban Live Export: A photo of a beautiful sheep crammed amongst other sheep with the statement: Labor, Greens, Animal Justice Party, will support the ban on exporting live sheep from Australia. Liberal/Nationals (LNP) will overturn the ban if elected.
April 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Studmuffin 🥰🐶💋
a white dog with lipstick kisses all over its gorgeous face
April 26, 2025 at 8:20 AM
awsel.bsky.social
I genuinely struggle to understand how someone can look at these sweet faces and into those pleading eyes, yet still choose to inflict such immense cruelty upon these gentle beings. 🚢🐑

Look at her. She is a sentient being.

#Sheep #AnimalWelfare #ChooseCrueltyFree #BanLiveExport #VoteWithCompassion
A beautiful sheep gazing up at the camera. She is behind white bars, trapped in the filth that is the live export of animals from Australia.
April 25, 2025 at 5:12 AM
awsel.bsky.social
ANZAC Day. Lest we forget the men, women, and animals who served in defence of our country. May we learn from history and strive for peace.
"Lest We Forget" silhouettes of the men, [women], and animals (camel, donkey, horse, dog, bird) who served in our wars. ANZAC Day Australia.
April 25, 2025 at 2:08 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Front of the veterinary science building at the University of Sydney
April 23, 2025 at 7:22 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Hey I was up the road! Murray River, SA, last week. How's the serenity...
April 17, 2025 at 8:40 AM
awsel.bsky.social
Remember, in our #Easter rush, to keep your #Dogs #Cats safe by placing food/bins out of reach.

🐶❤️🐱

❌ Chocolate
❌ Hot cross buns
❌ Grapes, raisins, sultanas
❌ Fatty meat, bones, and wrappers!
❌ Onions, garlic
❌ Xylitol
❌ Lillies

Call your nearest emergency centre for advice over Easter weekend. 🐣
My favourite Easter meme. Two chocolate bunnies are talking. One has his bottom bitten off and says "My butt hurts!". The other has its ears bitten off and says, "What?".
April 17, 2025 at 6:02 AM