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.

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.

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.

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.

Animal welfare is a growing concern in dairy production, influencing consumer preferences and industry practices. While extensive research has been conducted in Europe and North America, limited data exist on consumers´ attitudes in Latin America, particularly Argentina. This study aimed to assess Argentine consumers’ perceptions, knowledge, and preferences regarding dairy cow welfare in grazing and confined systems. An online survey was conducted among Argentine residents (n = 3,051), assessing sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of animal welfare, perceptions of dairy production systems, and willingness to pay for animal welfare-certified products. Most respondents (99%) believed that cows feel pain, and 85% believed they have emotions. Most respondents (91%) agreed that pasture access improves animal welfare. A significant portion (70%) expressed willingness to pay a premium for animal welfare-certified dairy products, with women (p < 0.001) and younger consumers (p < 0.001) showing higher interest. Women and respondents connected to the agricultural sector considered animal welfare more frequently when buying animal-based products compared with men and those without an agricultural connection (p < 0.001). Consumers without a direct agricultural background were more likely to perceive confined systems negatively. Grazing systems were widely preferred, with respondents associating them with better welfare, healthier products, and environmental sustainability. Our findings indicate a consumer preference for pasture-based dairy systems in Argentina. These insights can help industry stakeholders refine their communication strategies and promote welfare-oriented production practices that better align with consumer expectations

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.