Document type : survey from Ifop and 30 Millions d'Amis Foundation
Authors: Ifop and Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis
Preview: For the seventh year running, Ifop and Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis have surveyed the views of the French public on a number of proposals designed to improve animal welfare. The study, which shows that concern for animal welfare has taken root on a massive scale among the French, has this year seen a consolidation of these attitudes, which even reach the point of appearing "obvious", so sensitive is the public to animal welfare, in terms of both numbers and commitment over time.
Animal welfare in France today: the situation is improving slightly, say the French
Currently, 48% of French people (+3 points in a year) feel that animals are well protected by the law, 44% (+2) that they are well protected by judges and the courts, and 37% that they are well protected by politicians (+2). These are significant rises that, compared with all other years but one, make these results record-breaking, the exception being 2022, when the much higher figures reflected the recent adoption of France's "animal law". Leaving aside these figures influenced by a particular event, we can observe a gradual rise in the French people's appreciation of the actions of the authorities in the field of animal welfare. However, and this is perhaps the most important lesson, a majority of French people still believe that the law (52%), judges and courts (56%) and politicians (63%) are doing a poor job of defending this cause.
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Bans on sources of animal suffering supported by a large majority of French people
After a year marked by very slight falls in support for some more radical animal welfare measures, 2024 saw the French public still declare themselves massively in favor of banning all animal experimentation (88%, stable), intensive livestock farming (84%, +1), hunting with hounds (79%, +2, all-time high) and the sale of pets through classified advertisements (76%, +2). Support for the compulsory sterilization of pets fell by 2 points to 62%, following a 5-point rise last year. Regarding the fate of farm animals raised for slaughter, the French are broadly supportive of changes in practices: 83% (=) of those interviewed say they are in favor of the on-farm slaughter of animals by visiting professionals rather than in abattoirs, and 86% (+2, all-time high) believe that "the practice of slaughtering fully conscious animals is unacceptable under any circumstances". Unsurprisingly, the widespread introduction of video monitoring in abattoirs is supported by 90% (-1).
Importance ascribed to animal welfare continues to gain ground
Despite the recent change in the law on this subject, 78% of French people currently say they are in favor of banning the sale in pet shops of all types of animals other than dogs and cats. While this support is more than a simple majority, most importantly, it is higher than that in previous years, at a time when tougher legislation has recently been introduced, indicating that the latter is seen in a positive light. Following a strong partisan reaction in the media and a significant fall in positive polling, support for a bullfighting ban has returned to previous levels, and now stands at 75% of the French public (+4 points in a year), with a large majority among the youngest age range (79% of under-35s). Logically, a clear majority of French people feel that causing suffering to animals for the sake of particular local traditions is not justified (74%, +2).
Last, with the next European elections just around the corner, a good half of voters (52%) acknowledge that positions or measures in favor of animal welfare could encourage them to vote for one list rather than another. This "electoral windfall" is even more prevalent among young people (67% of 18-24 year-olds), whose last-minute mobilization came as a surprise in 2019. The "volatility" that animal welfare concerns can cause among voters also appears to affect the majority of supporters of all parties, with the notable exception of those who support the Republicans (39%) and Renaissance (45%).
Survey leading to an article in 24Matins.fr : Poll: the importance of animal welfare continues to gain ground in France
