Despite progress in animal welfare law in many countries, significant legislative gaps leave billions of animals with little or no legal protection from suffering.
Animal welfare legislation typically reflects cultural attitudes and political economy rather than scientific understanding of animal sentience. Agricultural exemptions mean the species experiencing the most suffering — farmed chickens, pigs, and fish — often have the weakest legal protections. The science of invertebrate sentience is advancing faster than legislation. Closing legislative gaps requires sustained political advocacy, strong evidence bases, and coalitions between animal welfare scientists, veterinarians, and civil society organisations.