Human well-being and animal welfare: Is there an ethical link to be implemented from the COVID-19 pandemic into the practice of emergency management?

Abstract

Through the definition of risk management and its interpretation in multidimensional protection of humans and animals in emergencies and during disasters, in this article, the authors focus on the ethical links between human well-being and animal welfare in emergency and disaster risk management. Coronavirus disease 2019 and its impact on animal welfare are used to consistently demonstrate the link between human well-being and animal welfare. Examples of international legal and ethical norms are provided to demonstrate the need for protecting humans and animals in emergencies and disasters, such as the proposed Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare. The proposed link is ultimately an expression of duty of care required for emergency and disaster risk managers.