Discipline: Ethics

The Welfare of Dogs and Cats in the European Union: A Gap Analysis of the Current Legal Framework

Contalbrigo, L.; Normando, S.; Bassan, E.; Mutinelli, F.

Published in 2024

Analytical article raising the issue of pet welfare not covered by European legislation, such as ethical breeding, sales, transport and end-of-life care. It concludes that a transdisciplinary approach and better education in responsible pet ownership are essential to improve pet protection via a harmonized legal framework.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

Keywords:Abandonment, Adoption, Castration, Euthanasia, End of life, Abuse, Living environment, One Welfare, Spaying, Aging, Animal trade

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Review: Welfare in farm animals from an animal-centred point of view

Huber, K

Published in 2024

Scientific synthesis highlighting the anatomical and physiological alterations undergone by high-production livestock, leading to an imbalance between their natural capacities and the demands of industrial production. It calls for an ethical approach to animal welfare, focusing on their physiological limits, for more sustainable and respectful production.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Societal issues, Evolutionary processes, Resilience, Robustness

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Mémoire de thèse : Le Conseil National de l’Alimentation et ses missions en matière de bien-être animal, l’exemple du Comité National d’Éthique des Abattoirs

Maximilien Bailly

Published in 2024

Dissertation examining the role and evolution of the Conseil national de l'alimentation (CNA) and its management of the Comité national d'éthique des abattoirs (CNEAb), which deals with topics related to animal protection and abattoir ethics in a context of societal crisis. The CNEAb, initially a temporary body, has been made permanent, becoming a unique forum in Europe for constructive debate on animal protection, particularly in connection with the revision of the European regulations on animal transport.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords: Carcass quality, Euthanasia, Abuse,Animal trade, Transport, Societal issues

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European Parliament: Written answer to Question P-001523/2024: Respect for EU animal welfare standards, with reference to the excessive euthanasia of stray animals in Romania

Question: Nicolae Ştefănuță (Greens/EFA). Answer: Mrs Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2024

An MEP raises the issue of the mass slaughter of stray animals in Romania in relation to EU animal welfare standards. The European Commission points out that there are no specific European regulations on the euthanasia of dogs and cats, leaving this issue to the Member States. A proposal for a regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats, currently passing through the legislative process, addresses certain aspects of euthanasia.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

Keywords: Adoption, Euthanasia,Abandonment, Population management

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Etude de cas – Norsk Kylling pionniers du bien-être animal et d’une production de poulets durable

CIWF Food

Published in 2024

Case study on how Norwegian producer Norsk Kylling has adapted its chicken production to comply with the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) criteria, combining  profitability, animal welfare and sustainability. The measures described include lower stocking densities, slower-growing breeds and more humane slaughter methods.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Societal issues, Environment, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Carcass quality, livestock farming systemTransport

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One Health Approach to Rabbit Farming: Balancing Act between Environmental Impact, Farmers Livelihood, and Animal Welfare

Ibikunle Funso Olaleru, Ibukun Oluwatobi Busari and Olorunfunmi Isimioluwa Solana

Published in 2024

Book chapter describing rabbit farming as a sustainable solution to meeting demand for meat while having a low environmental impact, thanks to the feed conversion efficiency and low land and resource requirements of rabbits. However, challenges include the need to ensure adequate space to avoid stress and health problems and to guarantee animal welfare.

Document Types: Scientific work

Animal categories:Monogastric

Keywords: Environment, Housing, One Welfare, Pollution,Societal issues, livestock farming system

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Effects of electrical and percussive stunning on neural, ventilatory and cardiac responses of rainbow trout

Jeroen Brijs, Per Hjelmstedt, Erika Sundell, Charlotte Berg, Erik Sandblom, Albin Gräns

Published in 2025

Study evaluating the effectiveness of dry and percussive electrical stunning for the ethical slaughter of rainbow trout. The results indicate that percussivestunning is more effective, while dry electrical stunning requires further research before it can be validated as a humane slaughter method.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Euthanasia, Brain integration

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How does perception of zoo animal welfare influence public attitudes, experiences, and behavioural intentions? A mixed-methods systematic review

Nicki Phillips, Laëtitia Maréchal, Beth Ventura, Jonathan Cooper

Published in 2024

Systematic study identifying three types of factors that influence negative public perceptions of zoos whose objectives are conservation and education: human (interactions and ethics), animal (behavior and health), and environmental (facility conditions). These negative perceptions reduce the public's commitment to zoos and conservation, necessitating more structured research to improve the validity of the studies.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Education, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment, Human-animal relationships

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The Animal-Welfare Levy

Romain Espinosa, Nicolas Treich

Published in 2024

Article proposing a non-anthropocentric justification for a tax on meat consumption to improve animal welfare. Functioning like a Pigouvian tax, this tax takes into account externalities on farm animals and could make intensive livestock farming unprofitable. Taxes would be particularly high for chickens and pigs, reflecting the differences in welfare between the species.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Livestock buildings, Animal trade, Societal issues, Housing, One Welfare, livestock farming system

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Landscape review about the decision to euthanize a compromised pig

Stoffregen, J., Winkelmann, T., Schneider, B., K. Gerdes, M. Miller, J. Reinmold, C. Kleinsorgen, K. H. Toelle, L. Kreienbrock, E. grosse Beilage

Published in 2024

Synthesis of the results of articles examining factors that may influence a decision to euthanize a compromised pig on farm. The role of animal welfare as a justification and the training of those working with animals in making decisions on euthanasia emerge as the key factors.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Pain, Education, Euthanasia, End of life, Behavioural disorders, Aging

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