Moving beyond minimizing suffering to actively promoting positive welfare states is the frontier of laboratory animal welfare. Positive indicators complement traditional harm-reduction approaches.
The evolution of laboratory animal welfare from minimizing suffering to promoting positive experiences represents a paradigm shift that is still underway. The Five Freedoms framework, while historically important, focused almost entirely on harm prevention. The Five Domains model and growing positive welfare science recognize that the absence of suffering is a necessary but insufficient condition for good welfare. Animals should ideally experience positive states including curiosity, comfort, social connection, and play in addition to being free from pain and fear. Research into positive welfare indicators for specific laboratory species enables institutions to assess and improve the quality of life they provide to research animals rather than merely confirming that minimum harm standards are met.