Animal Welfare is a philosophy that it is the moral duty of humans to better the condition of animals, especially domesticated and farm animals raised, exploited, and often slaughtered by humans for human purposes. Animal Welfare is advocated by such authors as Peter Singer (Animal Liberation), and by such groups as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and VivaUSA.
It is related to animal rights, but distinct, as animal rights advocates (such as Gary Francione) argue that the animal welfare position is logically inconsistant and therefore unattainable, and that the goals of animal welfare can only be obtained through abolition of all human exploitation of animals for food, clothing, work, etc. Animal welfare principles are codified by positive law in many nations, but animal rights are recognized in almost none.