The welfare conditions of animals used in pet food production are rarely visible to consumers, yet billions of farmed animals annually contribute to the global pet food supply chain.
The welfare connection between pet food and farmed animal suffering is indirect but substantial. Millions of chickens, pigs, farmed fish, and other animals whose welfare may not meet high standards contribute to the ingredients used in everyday pet food. Welfare-conscious pet owners who invest in high-standard food for their companion animals may unknowingly fund poor welfare for the animals that produced the food. Transparency in ingredient sourcing and third-party welfare certification are growing tools to address this gap.