Animal Welfare Definition

While accepting that there is no single internationally accepted definition of animal welfare, the NZVA adopts the following position statement:

"Animal welfare is the state in which an animal is in reasonable harmony with its environment, has adequate fulfilment of physical, health and behavioural needs and is not subjected to unnecessary or unreasonable pain or distress. We, as veterinarians, acknowledge the complexity of animal welfare as a public policy issue, influenced as it is by scientific, cultural, ethical, conservational, economic and political factors.

Our training in veterinary science, especially in areas such as animal health and behaviour, provides a particular expertise and interest in those areas, which confers an ability to assess – and therefore also a responsibility to promote – humane treatment of all animals, whether companion, production, stray or wild."