Animal welfare is a fairly recent but troubling argument in society. This topic makes a strong argument over a variety of opinions. Animal welfare has become a major issue and has developed internationally. Human concern, safety and animal rights are the meaning of the concept of animal welfare. Over decades of animal protection, people have fought to prevent acts of animal cruelty and help support animal rights. Animal welfare involves the aspect of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is a fairly recent topic that has affected society. Animal cruelty has now drawn comparisons to household abuse by humans. The concern is recent because as society evolves, human attitudes change, which now affects animals. Animal welfare is used to combat animal cruelty, as reducing violence between animals and humans can help animal welfare regulations. Research and testing have become more important and are causing strong public concern regarding the treatment of animals. Many activists today are trying to change the way people look at the animal they have as a companion. Ethical questions are the many concerns regarding animals and the question always asked is: "Who has the right to control the animal?" » New research has been created for animal welfare and the causes of animal abuse. Since animal abuse is a relatively new topic, new research is constantly being discussed. In the Bahamas, a study was done at the College of the Bahamas and indicated that “…dogs were just as likely to be considered household members in households without domestic violence” (Fielding 197). Homes where violence reigns show that humans replace animal victims with human victims. Animal rights activists are trying to break down the symbolic boundaries between ...... middle of article ......lliam J. "Domestic Violence and Dog Care in New Providence, Bahamas." Society and Animals 18.2 (2010): 183-203. Premier Academic Research. EBSCO. Internet. September 21, 2011. Freeman, Carrie Packwood. “Framing Animal Rights in American Animal Rights Organizations’ “Go Veg” Campaigns.” Society and Animals 18.2 (2010): 163-182. Premier Academic Research. EBSCO. Internet. September 21, 2011. Izzo, Genevieve N., Meredith J. Bashaw, and John B. Campbell. “Enrichment and individual differences affect welfare indicators in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri Sciureus).” Journal of Comparative Psychology 125.3 (2011): 347-352. Premier Academic Research. EBSCO Web. October 5, 2011. Sikes, Roberts. and William L. Gannon. “Guidelines of the American Mammal Society for the Use of Wild Mammals in Research.” Journal of Mammalogy 92.1 (February 2011): 235-253. Premier Academic Research. EBSCO. Internet. October 5. 2011.