Effective altruism approaches animal welfare by asking which interventions reduce the most suffering per pound or dollar spent. This lens has reshaped how many advocates prioritise their efforts.
Effective altruism applied to animal welfare reveals striking disparities in how many animals are helped per dollar donated. Corporate campaigns that secure welfare commitments from large food companies affect millions of animals at very low cost per animal affected. Wild animal suffering — affecting vast numbers of animals in nature through disease, predation, and starvation — is largely unaddressed despite potentially affecting far more animals than farming. The neglectedness of animal welfare relative to human causes means that marginal donations may go much further in reducing animal suffering than in many human welfare contexts. This framework helps advocates allocate limited time and resources toward highest-impact interventions.