The majority of dogs in US animal shelters are of mixed breed. Many animal shelters still use visual identification to assign breed labels, despite research indicating it to be largely inaccurate. Some shelters now include personality descriptions in conjunction with, or instead of, breed labels. However, little is known about the interaction between these factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to experimentally evaluate the impact of breed labels and descriptions on the perceived adoptability of dogs. Participants, recruited both in-person at a shelter and online, were shown ten dog photos, and indicated how likely they were to adopt the dog. The photos were randomly presented under four conditions: (1) photo only; (2) photo with breed label; (3) photo with description; and (4) photo with both a breed label and description. Overall, descriptions significantly increased perceived adoptability, while breed labels decreased it. Certain breed labels, such as ‘Chihuahua mix’, ‘Chow mix’, ‘Jack Russell Terrier mix’, ‘Miniature Pinscher mix’, and ‘Terrier mix’, negatively impacted adoption ratings, while ‘Lab mix’ had a positive effect. Descriptions like affectionate, calm, eager to make you proud, easy-going, friendly, lively, non-dominant, and sociable improved perceived adoptability, whereas energetic reduced adoptability. There were no significant interactions between breed labels and descriptions. Additionally, there was substantial individual participant variability in adoption interest across photos. These findings suggest animal shelters might increase adoption interest in dogs by removing breed labels and including positive descriptions in dog adoption profiles. Such changes may contribute to improved animal welfare by reducing shelter length of stay.

Catch-neuter-vaccinate-release (CNVR) programmes for free-roaming dogs (FRD) are humane and effective in controlling dog populations in developing countries. However, each component, from capture to release, can impact an individual animal’s welfare. This study aimed to develop a standardised welfare assessment scoring system for evaluating the welfare of dogs undergoing routine CNVR procedures at a veterinary training facility in Goa, India and to assess the impact of a targeted staff training intervention by comparing welfare assessment scores before and after its implementation. A score-based protocol was designed, incorporating 22 animal-, resource-, and management-based parameters covering six key steps of the CNVR procedure: catching/transport; cage/holding area; pre-operative period; surgery; post-operative period; and release. Eighty-two dogs were assessed initially. Areas for improvement were identified and informed the design of a targeted staff training intervention involving theory-based lectures and interactive sessions. Knowledge was assessed before and after receiving the intervention, with total scores on the assessment improving. The welfare assessment was repeated on another 81 dogs. Total welfare scores for individual dogs improved significantly after the staff intervention compared with before. This study demonstrates that a welfare assessment tool can be used to assess the welfare of individual dogs in a busy CNVR programme; furthermore, it can inform the compilation and delivery of a targeted staff training intervention and demonstrate improvements in dog welfare after such an intervention.

Technological enrichment, such as motion sensors, touchscreens, and response-independent feeders, offer innovative ways to enhance animal welfare in captivity by promoting species-appropriate behaviours and cognitive stimulation. A scoping review of 22 publications comprising 25 studies identified various technologies, with computers being the most common, and sensory enrichment the most frequent type implemented. Positive or neutral welfare outcomes were common, though some negative effects were also reported. Primates and carnivores were the most frequently studied groups. Despite increasing research since 2012, gaps remain, including limited peer-reviewed studies and a need for standardised methodologies to better evaluate the impact of technological enrichment.

Almost a decade has passed since a DEFRA consultation concluded that existing legislation governing the UK puppy trade was “outdated, inflexible, incompatible with current welfare legislation and cumbersome for both enforcers and businesses”. The rapid outgrowth of the trade’s governing legislature, fuelled by contemporary consumer culture and the high degree of trader anonymity provided by the internet, has enabled a high-volume, untraceable and profit-driven market to evolve. Increased demand for puppies, exacerbated by social media trends and the COVID-19 pandemic, is sustained by an online medium that both encourages and capitalises upon modern-day ‘click-and-collect’ purchase behaviour. Moreover, the internet has only intensified the demand for pedigree and designer crossbreeds, many of which are shown to suffer lifelong physiological disorders caused by the positive phenotyping selection necessary to achieve breed standards. These factors have made puppies an attractively lucrative, low-risk commodity. Evidence of multi-level fraud and organised crime involvement has been revealed along the supply chain, resulting in systemic canine health and welfare issues. Whilst large-scale breeding operations reportedly smuggle unvaccinated puppies onto the British market from endemic (rabies, Leishmania) countries, high densities of pet dogs in urban areas is reportedly leaving high faecal-saturation levels, spreading anthelmic- and antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Meanwhile, unsafe concentrations of ectoparasiticides are detected in rivers and lakes. This review collates evidence from available sources that illustrate the current nature and impact of inadequate regulation in the UK puppy trade, aiming to support stakeholders in their efforts for essential and comprehensive regulatory reform.

With the increasing number and diversity of reptile species kept in zoological facilities and households, their welfare in captivity warrants structured and consistent evaluation. However, focused research on reptile welfare remains limited within the broader field of animal welfare science. Recognising such a gap, this study adopts an evidence-informed approach to review existing literature and proposes two conceptual welfare assessment frameworks — one for zoo settings and another for private keeping. We first identify the intended audiences for each framework and discuss common challenges reptile caretakers may face when conducting welfare assessments in different contexts. The frameworks are grounded in established principles from the Five Domains model and the European Welfare Quality® protocol, incorporating both resource- and animal-based indicators under the domains of Environment, Nutrition, Physical Health, and Behaviour. The design rationale is also explained to support future refinement. Finally, these conceptual frameworks are intended as a foundation for the development and validation of adaptable tools, capable of guiding improved husbandry practices and resource allocation for better welfare outcomes across a broad range of reptile taxa.

Globally, millions of animals transition through wildlife rehabilitation facilities annually. Data recorded at these facilities can be used to quantitatively assess factors which result in the animals’ admittance, treatment, release, and survival, and how impacts such as high pathogen avian influenza (HPAI) has altered these parameters. Twenty-five years of records of herring gull (Larus argentatus) admittances into RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Hastings, UK (between 1999 and 2024) were reviewed to determine admission factors and their impacts on the number of days in care and the likelihood of release. Additionally, for the years 1999 to 2010, data were collected on days of post-release survival and distances from the centre travelled from ringed and released birds. During that 25-year period, 17,334 herring gulls were admitted into the Mallydams Centre with 9,013 released, and 2,796 ringed and released between 1999 and 2010. Release rates varied significantly with the category of problem identified at admission. Wild nesting herring gulls, even without the impact of HPAI, have been declining throughout the UK, and the additional anthropogenic pressures on urban gull populations have resulted in a documented national decline in the species. Rehabilitating and returning birds to the wild has shown to be important both for their animal welfare and population, as well as helping identify the impact of HPAI on local urban populations of all relevant species. Results from this research can be utilised to adapt training and resources at rehabilitation centres and determine euthanasia protocols to optimise animal welfare along with release and survival success.

The current study represents the second phase of developing the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Welfare Assessment Protocol (YFP-WAP), guided by the Five Domains model (FDM). Based on previously validated indicators, it aimed to create a scoring system to quantify welfare states. Application of the FDM grading system to the YFP-WAF revealed that indicators with higher scores influenced overall outcomes disproportionately, highlighting limitations in the original approach. As a result, a new scoring system was developed to ensure a more balanced contribution from all indicators across domains. The scoring system allows the separate quantification of welfare enhancement and compromise to prevent compensation between positive and negative experiences. It employs the sum of numerical values for each indicator, along with a percentage-based normalisation system to account for variations in indicator numbers across domains, ensuring balanced contributions to final welfare scores. In addition, a preliminary ‘Critical Scoring’ tool was created, which prioritises key indicators to identify urgent welfare issues before full assessment. Through the implementation of a standardised, transparent, and adaptable scoring method, the YFP-WAP aims to support individual-level welfare monitoring to improve the living conditions of captive porpoises and facilitate interventions for ex situ breeding programmes of YFP, and other closely related species. Despite challenges associated with fully capturing the complexity of welfare dynamics, this framework offers a practical and scientifically grounded approach for the assessment of the welfare of Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) under human care, that can also be applied or adapted to other cetacean species.

Each year, over 100,000 dogs are imported into Germany from other EU countries by animal welfare organisations, mainly from Romania. This study conducted a systematic content analysis of websites belonging to 241 animal welfare organisations that rehome dogs from southern and eastern Europe to Germany. Assessment included transparency, legal compliance, and availability of educational and medical information for adopters. The study shows that many organisations lacked information regarding dogs’ origins, transport methods, or health status which sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish between dog rescue and illegal dog trade. Photos were mainly used in adoption advertisements and behavioural descriptions were only included in two-thirds of the dog advertisements which poses a risk of increased dog relinquishment post-adoption due to behavioural unsuitability. Information on vector-borne diseases and typical behaviour of imported rescue dogs was not provided comprehensively. Few organisations violated legal standards, offering underage or banned breeds and failing to use the TRACES transport system. Most organisations relied upon private foster homes, while few had no temporary housing available in Germany. Although most claimed to conduct pre-adoption checks, comprehensive contract details were rarely published. The number of existing animal welfare organisations that rehome dogs from southern and eastern Europe to Germany is unable to be determined due to high fluctuation and the lack of central registry. Inadequate health disclosures and behavioural descriptions risk poor adoption matches and increased returns. Lack of legal compliance may endanger both animal and public welfare and opens the door to illegal dog trade. Sustainable animal protection requires better adopter education, reliable medical testing, and local engagement in source countries to reduce reliance upon transnational rehoming.

Obesity has significant implications regarding the welfare of companion animals. Data regarding obesity in exotic companion mammals (ECM) are sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate obesity in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), and rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Estonia, and to survey husbandry practices and owner awareness. Husbandry data were collected from patients visiting the Estonian University of Life Sciences’ small animal clinic via anonymous questionnaires over an eleven-month period. Three hundred and fifty-one questionnaire responses and body condition score (BCS) data for 177 patients (71 rabbits, 73 guinea pigs, 33 rats) were collected. Twenty-eight percent of rabbits, 23% of guinea pigs and 28% of rats were overweight (BCS > 3/5). Male rats were more likely to be overweight than females and there was a negative correlation between age and body condition. There was an increased likelihood of male guinea pigs being underweight. Owner questionnaires revealed that 20% of rabbit owners, 14% of guinea pig owners and 11% of rat owners believed their pets to be overweight while 58% of owners had not received husbandry advice from a veterinarian. Obesity is a significant welfare issue in the Estonian ECM population and several detrimental husbandry practices were identified, including inappropriate feeding, insufficient physical activity, individual housing. Further studies might investigate veterinarian awareness of the issues at hand and tendencies for other species.

In different parts of the world the claim is increasingly being made that continuous confinement of pet cats (Felis catus) is beneficial for both wildlife conservation and cat welfare. The first part of the claim is almost incontrovertible, but the second is misleading. The assertion that confined animals have superior welfare is rooted in thinking pre-dating the 1960s that equates welfare with physical health. By contemporary accounts of animal welfare, confinement of animals presents major welfare risks, and this recognition has been a major driver of refinement in livestock industries, e.g. moves towards free-range systems. Yet, these risks have not been widely acknowledged in debates over pet cat management. We argue that the current pervasive rhetoric from conservationists and some regulators that cat confinement is beneficial for wildlife and cats is, at best, confusing health with welfare. At worst, it is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public through portraying a win-win scenario where, instead, a trade-off must be navigated. Failure to recognise this trade-off undermines conservation goals three-fold. First, it limits the efficacy of behaviour change interventions to increase confinement. Second, it erodes public trust in organisations perceived as knowingly misleading the public. Finally, it reduces the incentive to make the one decision yielding long-term benefits for both cats and ecosystems; ceasing to own cats at all. Policy-makers should be wary of the allure of false win-win narratives when tackling contentious issues that require trade-offs to be made.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gillnet soak time to gain a better understanding of fish welfare, mortality, stress, and quality (as measured as muscle haemoglobin) during experimental gillnet fishery of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). An experimental study was conducted in a large-scale tank at a research facility with 131 wild-caught fish in four groups with gillnet soak times of 0, 2, 12, and 24 h (23–34 fish per soak time). Longer soak time caused higher mortality, with a mortality rate of 0, 7, 18, and 25% in the 0-, 2-, 12- and 24-h groups, respectively. Blood lactate levels were significantly affected by soak time, peaking at 2 h (with the widest confidence interval) and showing their lowest concentrations at 0 and 24 h. Soak time also significantly increased blood glucose and serum cortisol levels. Magnesium, creatinine, and iron increased significantly in all groups compared with control levels, but there was no significant difference between soak times. Haemoglobin content in the loin increased significantly only after 24 h of soak time for live fish. There was no significant increase in haemoglobin in the belly as a function of soak time. However, for all soak times, the belly had significantly more haemoglobin than the loin. Physiological evidence of traumatic injuries and stress were noted prior to increased muscle haemoglobin, meaning that good quality did not necessarily equate to good welfare. However, a higher level of muscle haemoglobin is a strong indication of poor welfare.

Helicopter-based shooting using either a .308 semi-automatic rifle or a semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun is widely used to manage non-native ungulate populations in Australasia, but the animal welfare outcomes of these two firearms have not been robustly compared. We conducted a randomised field study to compare the animal welfare outcomes of helicopter-based shooting of fallow deer (Dama dama) using a shotgun with three types of lead-based shot (Winchester® 00 Buck, 1 Buck or 4 Buck) relative to a .308 rifle with 135-grain lead-based bullets in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023. All deer that were shot at (n = 390) were killed. Time-to-event curves for times from pursuit to first shot, first shot to insensibility, and the sum of these two metrics (‘total time’), were similar among the four ammunition types. The mean number of shots fired per deer was similar across all four ammunition types, but the mean number of wound tracts per deer increased across the four ammunition types with the number of projectiles per cartridge. All deer subjected to post mortem examination had $ \ge $ 1 wound tract or projectile in the thorax. Our study indicates that using a .308 semi-automatic rifle or a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun for helicopter-based shooting of non-native deer, when the latter is used at ranges ≤ 30 m, provides similar animal welfare outcomes.

The decisions made by horse owners on behalf of their animal, including decisions to involve a veterinarian, play an important role in the management of pain. This study explored horse owners’ experiences to understand how they conceptualised chronic pain within the context of their horse-human relationship, what led them to seek veterinary involvement, and how veterinary interactions shaped their perceptions of pain and its management. An ethnographic approach using constructivist grounded theory methods was adopted. This paper draws upon field notes generated through 200 h of observation undertaken within four veterinary practices in the UK, as well as interviews with horse owners and carers. Analysis identified that owners’ understandings of pain-related issues of their horse were based upon knowledge of what was normal for their animal, and deviation from this norm. Horse behaviours were ascribed meaning by owners in light of contextual factors, in turn affecting owners’ perceptions of pain. While pain could factor into decisions to initiate a veterinary consultation, it was generally not the specific reason owners presented their animal. Veterinarians’ approaches to identifying and treating painful problems played a role in the formulation of owners’ understanding of their horse’s behaviour. Interactions had implications not only for treatment opportunities, but for perceptions of veterinary expertise. This study highlights the context-specific nature through which pain recognition and decisions regarding a horse’s treatment arise. It highlights the drivers of human decision-making and offers potential avenues to support human behaviour change and improve horse welfare.

Animal welfare awareness (AWA) during transportation and in markets is a critical concern in livestock production, influencing the health of animals and other outcomes for stakeholders. Nevertheless, it remains understudied in many developing regions. This study investigates the level of awareness and practices regarding animal welfare during and after transportation among primary stakeholders — sellers, drivers, and buyers — in three livestock markets in Nigeria: Achida, Ikorodu Sabo, and Amansea. A structured survey focusing on the stakeholders’ familiarity with the concept of animal welfare, the Five Freedoms, the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, and encounters with veterinary control posts was conducted across the selected markets between February and July 2024. Furthermore, stakeholders were also questioned about barriers to improving practices. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to explore associations between the dichotomised awareness of animal welfare and key variables. A significant association between AWA and market location was revealed, but not with occupation. Further analysis showed that dichotomised awareness of Veterinary Control Posts (VCPs) and the Animal Diseases (Control) Act had significant negative associations with AWA, suggesting complex relationships between legal knowledge and familiarity with the concept of animal welfare. Additionally, transport-related mortality was reported by 70.7% of respondents, with overcrowding and sickness identified as primary causes. However, significant barriers, including economic constraints and a lack of authority to mandate standards, were the leading challenges often faced by stakeholders. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and policy reforms, including increased enforcement.

There are significant welfare concerns regarding the plight of working donkeys (Equus asinus) in developing countries. To-date, however, there has been limited work assessing the welfare of donkeys in many parts of Africa, including Kenya. This study aimed to characterise the unique welfare concerns of working donkeys in Meru County, Kenya. Baseline information was gathered, concerning challenges with feeding, working conditions and disease faced by owners and drivers with differences between pack and cart donkeys investigated. To this end, 102 donkeys underwent evaluation using a Standardised Equine Based Welfare Assessment Tool (SEBWAT) and 58 owners were surveyed. Important welfare concerns, including low body condition scores (BCS) (median [IQR] 2 [1.5, 2.5 out of 5]), hobbling (81/102; 79%) and mutilation wounds (49/102; 48%) were identified in all donkeys. The following categories registered significant physical differences between cart and pack donkeys: signalment (cart 100% male, pack 21% male); BCS (median cart 2.0, pack 1.5); and presence of skin wounds on the neck (cart 30%, pack 0%). Behaviour was assessed with differences noted in chin contact avoidance (cart 56%, pack 97%), tail tuck presence (cart 46%, pack 97%), number of donkeys owned (median cart 2, pack 1), reported administration of de-worming medication by owners (cart 95%, pack 17%), and occurrence of reported illness (cart 81%, pack 38%). This initial survey addresses welfare concerns related to the Meru County donkey population and will serve as a useful benchmark for future assessments as well as targeted interventions, including the introduction of modified carts to the region.

Small mammals are particularly dependent on owner-provided housing and husbandry yet are frequently kept in conditions that do not meet their welfare needs. This study used the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation = Behaviour) to identify behavioural drivers influencing housing provision among 723 UK small mammal pet owners. This model of human behaviour proposes that behaviour occurs when individuals have the capability, opportunity, and motivation to act. Owners of the eight most commonly kept small mammal species were surveyed: rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), hamsters (Cricetinae), gerbils (Gerbillinae), rats (Rattus norvegicus), mice (Mus musculus), chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), and degus (Octodon degus). Opportunity, particularly the availability of suitable enclosures, emerged as the primary barrier, while Capability and Motivation were identified as facilitators, with most pet owners willing and able to provide good levels of welfare. Owner approaches to assessing health and welfare at home were examined through qualitative word frequency analysis, with responses mapped to the Five Domains model. This analysis focused on rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters due to limited data availability for other species. Overall, behavioural indicators were most commonly used to identify positive health and welfare, while nutritional and physical signs were cited most frequently for negative states. Changes in eating behaviour were the most frequently cited indicators of ill health or poor welfare across all four species, suggesting this may serve as a practical health and welfare indicator for owners. Improving access to suitable housing and further exploring eating behaviour as an early health and welfare indicator may together support better husbandry for small mammal pets.

The study of animal welfare is essential for undergraduates seeking to pursue careers with animals, yet pedagogical research on this topic is limited. While animal welfare is an accepted (albeit relatively new) scientific discipline, student views on animal welfare as a science require further exploration. This article reports the findings from a mixed-methods action research project undertaken at Harper Adams University (HAU) in the UK. Undergraduate student questionnaire responses (n = 123) revealed key attitudinal constructs related to animal welfare, and relationships to demographic factors. Students overwhelmingly defined animal welfare in terms of health; however, rural (compared to urban) students more often perceived ‘naturalness’ as important in the maintenance of good welfare. Notions of what constitutes good animal welfare appeared to be mediated by prospective career paths. For instance, veterinary nursing students were more likely to define animal welfare based upon resource-based measures and appropriate treatment of animals, which may link to their future role in educating clients on these topics. Finally, student attitudes toward animal welfare science revealed deeper epistemological views on the meaning of ‘science’. That is, natural sciences were seen as trustworthy; students invoked the Scientific Method and disciplines such as neurobiology to bring credence to animal welfare science. Conversely, aspects of animal welfare addressed by the social sciences were dismissed as unscientific. Based on these results, recommendations for action are proposed, which include further research into the attitudes of educators, strategies for engaging with dissatisfied student groups, and elevating the social sciences within animal welfare curricula.

The popularity of keeping domesticated cats (Felis catus) indoor-only or outdoor-indoor varies according to geographical location, and both have risks and benefits. Walking cats (e.g. on leashes) may enable mitigation of roaming risks while providing outdoor access, but the practice of walking cats appears relatively uncommon and is yet to be examined in the literature. Semi-structured online interviews (21 participants across seven countries) were conducted to explore cat walking perceptions and experiences in owners who currently practise it. Interview recordings were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five main themes were generated: (1) Benefits of walking; (2) Challenges around walking; (3) Safety for walking; (4) Cat individuality and walking; and (5) Attitudes about walking across geographic contexts. Themes highlighted that participants perceived benefits of walking for both cat and owner but faced challenges largely due to dogs and their owners in addition to judgment from others in the community. The main priorities of walking were seen to be ensuring safety and attending to the individual needs of each cat. Reactions to cat walking appeared to vary according to local norms and attitudes about cats and owner-cat relationships. The subjective nature of both the concept and practice of cat walking was also emphasised. These findings provide an initial base for what the experience of walking cats can be like and highlight that further research to directly investigate the welfare impacts of walking on cats and their owners is now needed.