Animal Welfare and Human Health: A One Health Perspective

Animal welfare and human health are deeply interconnected — poor animal welfare conditions drive antibiotic resistance, zoonotic disease emergence, and mental health impacts, while improving animal welfare yields broader public health benefits.

Key Facts

The majority of emerging infectious diseases in humans have animal origins, often linked to intensive farming or wildlife trade
Antibiotic overuse in factory farming contributes to antimicrobial resistance that kills hundreds of thousands of people annually
Human-animal bond research shows pet ownership correlates with reduced blood pressure and loneliness in many populations
Slaughterhouse workers have elevated rates of PTSD, linked to repeated exposure to animal suffering
Improving farmed animal welfare reduces zoonotic disease risk at the source, benefiting human populations

Welfare Considerations

The One Health framework formally recognises that human, animal, and environmental health are inseparable. Policy that improves farmed animal welfare — reducing overcrowding, eliminating routine antibiotic use, and banning the most stressful practices — simultaneously reduces public health risks. This alignment creates a powerful argument for animal welfare reform that resonates across constituencies beyond traditional animal advocacy.

What You Can Do

Support One Health policy coalitions that link animal welfare reform to public health goals
Advocate for elimination of prophylactic antibiotic use in livestock as both a welfare and AMR issue
Engage public health organisations in animal welfare conversations using shared evidence
Support academic research on the human health co-benefits of improved animal welfare standards