Awareness of the use of animals in human society in fields such as farming, biotechnology and sport is dogged by the lack of a clear and objective exposition of the issues involved and a sense of possible conflict between human and animal welfare. This text addresses these dilemmas - what is the actual scale of the animal welfare problem; where does responsibility begin; what positive steps are actually being taken to alleviate animal suffering; and can a rational and compelling argument be given for the importance of animal welfare. It therefore aims to offer a comprehensive guide to the uninformed as well as those who have knowledge of the issues but lack conviction.