Document type: Ifop survey for the Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis
Authors: Hugo Masserre, Léo Major
Preview: For the ninth publication of this barometer, three months ahead of the 2026 municipal elections in France, Ifop has conducted a survey of the French public's perceptions of animal welfare on behalf of the 30 Millions d'Amis Foundation.
Pets are perceived to be significantly better-protected than wild animals
The French view animal welfare through the lens of the emotional bond they share with animals. Pets, who are in a relationship with their owners that is both everyday and emotional, are thus perceived as being well-treated in general (80%, up 2 points compared to 2025). By contrast, the further away an animal finds itself from this emotional context, the more precarious its condition is perceived to be - only 48% of French people believe that the welfare of wild animals is well-protected (-3 points compared to last year). This hierarchy thus reveals a vision of animal welfare that is strongly linked to animals' emotional closeness with French individuals, rather than to public institutions, which are viewed as lacking in sufficient engagement. Indeed, mistrust of the authorities has increased: only 43% of French people believe that the law is effective in protecting animals (-6 points in one year), and confidence in the judiciary and the courts is also declining (-2 points). This protection is perceived as being even weaker for wild animals, with a legal framework that is seen as less favorable to wild animals than pets. In light of this, 82% of e French public support the proposal by the Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis to grant animals the legal status of "non-human persons." (...)
Faced with what they perceive as a lack of protection for animals by the national authorities, the French overwhelmingly support the proposals tested in our survey
The proposals we put to the public can be grouped into four main areas:
– the selling of animals as commodities;
– farming and slaughter conditions;
– human leisure activities (hunting and bullfighting);
– scientific and medical uses of animals.
There is still widespread support for a ban on pet sales and this support has grown this year
The French remain strongly opposed to the commercialization of pet sales. 86% of French people are in favor of banning the online sale of all animals (+2 points compared to January 2025). Support is slightly less overwhelming, but still very high, for banning the sale of pets in pet stores (77%, up 1 point).
The French are uncompromising on issues related to animal breeding and slaughter
The French are particularly "firm" on issues related to animal breeding and slaughter. For example, 82% are in favor of banning intensive farming (with very strong support among young people), and 91% (= 2025) advocate banning the transport of live farm animals. Farming issues appear to be closely linked to those of slaughter. 81% of French people are in favor of slaughtering farm animals directly on the farm rather than in slaughterhouses, and 92% are in favor of widespread video surveillance in slaughterhouses—a record level since our barometer began. Finally, more broadly, 88% believe that the slaughter of conscious animals is unacceptable.
French people against human activities involving animals for "pleasure"
The French are sensitive to leisure activities that involve animal suffering. When it comes to bullfighting, 78% are in favor of banning it, the highest level measured since the barometer began. Conversely, only 21% believe it is legitimate to cause animals to suffer in the name of certain local traditions, a level of legitimacy that is in sharp decline (down 6 points since January 2025). The majority of respondents are also in favor of banning hunting with hounds (78%, up 2 points over one year) and making school holidays, weekends, and public holidays non-hunting days (between 79% and 82% support).
Scientific and medical uses of animals: the majority of French people say "no" to animal testing
A considerable proportion (80%) of French people are in favor of a total ban on all animal testing. […]
Election focus: animals take center stage in the 2026 municipal elections
Nearly half of French people (51%) believe that a candidate's stance or measures in favor of animal welfare would influence them to vote for that candidate. We observe differences based on age: young people (67% of those under 35) are more sensitive to this issue than seniors (41%), as are "pet owners" (63% compared to 37% of French people who do not own pets). It should be noted that there is no difference based on geographical location or level of education. In addition to sociodemographic variables, differences emerge based on partisan affiliation. Sixty-six percent of left-wing supporters (including 74% of LFI and Ecologist supporters) believe that a candidate's stance or measures in favor of animal welfare would encourage them to vote for them, compared to 35% of Republican supporters and 51% of National Rally supporters. The study also highlights a hard core of 18% of French people who believe that a candidate's positions or measures in favor of animal welfare would definitely encourage them to vote for them, an increase of 3 points compared to 2020. Although well behind the top three issues determining how people will vote in the upcoming municipal elections (security, finances, and healthcare), consideration for animals will have a significant impact on voters' choices!
Download the presentation of the results
