Animals used in advertising and media productions face welfare risks during filming, and misleading portrayals can distort public understanding of animal needs.
Animals in advertising and media occupy an uncomfortable space between entertainment and exploitation. Even where welfare monitoring exists, gaps in oversight allow suffering to occur during productions. The viral economy of social media creates demand for exotic pets and trained wild animals that feeds directly into welfare-compromising supply chains. The slow loris trade — driven largely by cute videos — is a direct example of media demand causing wildlife suffering and illegal trade. AI-generated animal imagery offers a genuinely cruelty-free alternative that the advertising industry is increasingly adopting.