Welfare Science

Animal Welfare and Public Health

Animal welfare and public health are interconnected through zoonotic disease, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and the health benefits of human-animal interaction, requiring integrated One Health approaches.

Key Facts

Over 70% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, originating in animals
Antimicrobial resistance from livestock is a critical public health threat
Food safety and animal welfare standards often align - higher welfare means lower pathogen load
Pet ownership is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and improved mental health
One Health approaches integrating human, animal, and environmental health are increasingly adopted

Welfare Considerations

Animal welfare and public health connections provide compelling arguments for welfare improvement that appeal to self-interest rather than altruism. AMR, pandemic prevention, and food safety are all improved by better animal welfare. This aligns welfare advocacy with health system objectives.

What You Can Do

Support One Health policy frameworks that integrate animal welfare and public health
Engage with AMR as an animal welfare and public health issue in public discourse
Advocate for farm animal welfare reform as pandemic prevention policy