Animal welfare legislation varies enormously across countries, creating a patchwork of protection that leaves billions of animals in legal but welfare-compromising conditions.
Animal welfare legislation is strongest in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and some North American jurisdictions. In much of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, welfare laws exist on paper but lack enforcement capacity, funding, or political priority. The gap between the legal standard and actual welfare outcome is large even in countries with strong legislation. Enforcement is the determinant of welfare outcome, not the existence of law.