InformationThe Five Animal Welfare Needs

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 a person who is responsible for an animal must make sure that their needs are met. Where these are not being met, the animal might suffer, and the person(s) responsible for that animal may be prosecuted.

The five welfare needs defined by the act are:

1. The need for a suitable environment

Animals should have suitable shelter, comfy and suitable bedding for the species, secure and safe housing without hazards which could cause injury. Fish, aquatic and semi-aquatic animals should have good water quality. Their environment should be clean.

2. The need for a Suitable diet

Animals need to have the right kind of food containing the correct nutrients for the species. Some foods can be poisonous and if they do not get the right levels of nutrients they can become poorly or develop long term health conditions.

If you are unsure if you’re feeding the correct diet, we recommend speaking to your vet or an animal nutritionist who can give you advice.

3. To be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns

Animals should not show fear, distress or anxiety for long period of time or on a day-to-day basis. Where this behaviour is seen, the cause should be identified and removed as soon as possible to stop animals feeling like this for longer than they have to.

Boredom can also cause animals to show unusual behaviours like pacing, wall bouncing and head bobbing. These are known as stereotypical behaviours. Animals which are kept in conditions without exercise and enrichment will develop these behaviours and the longer they do them, the harder it is for them to stop.

It is also important for animals to exhibit behaviours specific to their species, such as rabbits being able to chew, cats being able to play and hunt, gerbils being able to burrow and hamsters being able to sleep during the day and be active at night.

Depriving an animal of the ability to behave in a manner which is normal for that species can cause them to feel bored, frustrated and ultimately cause them to suffer. 

4. To be housed with, or apart from other animals

Sometimes animals do not live in pairs or groups harmoniously and require separation to prevent injury or distress. This is usually seen in territorial species and species which are happiest living in a solitary environment, such as adult Syrian hamsters.

Some animals should not be housed together or near each other because they are considered predator and prey species, for example birds of prey and small mammals, or birds and cats.

There are some species of animal which require company of their own kind to live happily and are referred to as social species. Some social species of animal include horses, some species of birds, rabbits (housed with other rabbits) and guinea pigs (housed with other guinea pigs).

5. To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Animals should be prevented from experiencing pain and suffering as much as possible. Injuries and disease must be seen to by a veterinarian promptly to reduce pain and prevent unnecessary suffering.

Whilst accidents are often unavoidable, it is important that animals receive the appropriate treatment and pain relief as quickly as possible.

Many diseases are also preventable by vaccinating animals, practising good hygiene or using parasite prevention. Speak to your vet for advice on parasite prevention and disease control for your animals.

Neutering is often overlooked as a means of reducing pain and suffering, but neutering can be especially important to eliminate pyometras & reproductive cancers. These risks can be particularly high in dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets.