Public Policies and Animal Well Being: A Bibliographic Review

Abstract

The populational control of wandering animals and the well-being of animals are among the non-resolved public policies in Brazil. The lack (or non-application) of educational and punitive laws in the area are some of the reasons for implementing Federal, State, and Municipal Public Policies dealing with this issue. The aim of this literature review is to reflect on the need for developing public policies focused on the surveillance and control of zoonoses in Brazil. By deductive reasoning, associated with bibliographic revision and documental research, we studied the norms, doctrines, and philosophical currents relevant to the area. We provide a brief summary of public policies in general. Next, we approach the concept of unified health, that considers the interdependency between human health, animal health and environmental health. We analyze the judicialization of public policies so that the State and the collectivity observe their duty to guard animals and protect the fauna. In this way, they may indirectly help to protect the human being. We try to enforce the implementation of public policies centered on the protection of animals, of the environment, and of human beings deriving from the concept of unified health.