Welfare Science

Animal Welfare Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had profound impacts on animal welfare including disrupted supply chains, mass culls of livestock and mink, increased pet adoption, and reduced wildlife tourism funding.

Key Facts

Millions of pigs, poultry, and mink were culled due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions
Danish mink cull of 17 million animals was one of the largest welfare events of 2020
Pet adoption increased dramatically during lockdowns, followed by abandonment concerns
Wildlife tourism funding collapsed, affecting conservation funding in many countries
COVID-19 emergence demonstrated links between wildlife trade, intensive farming, and pandemic risk

Welfare Considerations

COVID-19's animal welfare impacts were both immediate (mass culls, disrupted care) and long-term (pet welfare post-adoption, conservation funding gaps, zoonotic disease risk awareness). The pandemic highlighted welfare and public health connections that strengthen the case for welfare reform.

What You Can Do

Support organisations addressing post-pandemic companion animal abandonment and welfare
Advocate for pandemic prevention strategies that include farm animal welfare reform
Engage with the COVID-19 welfare lessons for future pandemic prevention