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Animal welfare trends that should always be in style

Everyday choices, from adopting a pet and selecting ethical animal experiences to the products we buy and the breeders we support, can have a lasting impact on animal welfare. By considering welfare at every stage, from welcoming an animal into the family to travelling responsibly and making ethical purchasing choices, we can help create a future where animals are treated with the respect and care they deserve.

RSPCA Australia
Wednesday, 26 August 2026

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Trends are a common, almost constant part of modern life. They can influence what we buy, where we travel, what we share online, and what we come to accept as ‘normal’. But when animals are involved, our decision to participate in a trend (or not) carries a different kind of responsibility. Whether positive or negative, a trend is never just a trend when it has the potential to affect an animal’s health and welfare.

In a busy world shaped by shifting cultural norms, the convenience of online shopping, and the appeal of novelty, it’s not always instinctive to pause and ask: what does this really mean for the animal? When it comes to animals, the choices that have the most positive impact are the thoughtful ones that look beyond convenience, cuteness, or popularity and instead consider the needs of each individual animal. Having a positive impact on animal welfare can often begin with small, everyday decisions made by people, who take time to make informed choices that put animal welfare first.

Consider adoption as your first option, and welfare as your guide

We know many prospective owners are drawn to the idea of bringing a puppy or kitten home and raising them from the very beginning. For some, this comes from the belief that starting young may help shape certain behaviours or personality traits; for others, it is simply the wish to experience every stage of their animal’s life as they grow.

However, simply raising an animal from a young age does not determine whether they will develop health or behavioural issues later in life. An animal’s behaviour and wellbeing can be influenced by many factors, including their environment, training, socialisation, and experiences during important stages of development. And while raising a puppy or kitten can be an enjoyable stage for many, it is also a significant commitment requiring considerable time, effort and ongoing care. Their early life stage is relatively short compared to the many years of companionship you’ll share with them throughout their lifetime.

Every animal has the potential to become a wonderful lifelong companion, and the best match may not be the one you first imagine. Choosing the right companion animal is about more than appearance, breed, or age. It’s worth thinking carefully about which individual animal would truly match your circumstances, household dynamics, and routine. Looking beyond breed, age, and appearance can create space for an animal whose personality, energy levels, needs, and temperament are well suited to your home and lifestyle, while also considering whether you can meet their needs both now and into the future. Taking the time to choose the animal who is right for you – and you are right for – will set the foundation for a happy and fulfilling companionship.

Welcoming an animal into your home is a meaningful decision, and adoption offers the chance to make a real difference to the life of the animal you choose. When you adopt, you’re not only giving one animal the opportunity for a loving home, you’re also creating space for another animal in need to be cared for until they too find their family.

While adoption may not be the path everyone takes, it’s important that animal welfare remains a key consideration when bringing any animal into your home. If you choose to purchase from a reputable breeder, taking the time to do your research, about the breed you’re considering and the potential breeders you purchase from.

Take the time to ask careful questions before bringing an animal home. Were their parents bred responsibly, with health and welfare genuinely prioritised? Are you able to meet the parents and assess their living conditions as well? Have certain features been selected because they look appealing to humans, even if they could make breathing, moving, or simply living comfortably harder for the animal? These questions matter, because being responsible regarding the decision to bring an animal into your family starts well before you bring them home.

Responsible pet ownership; giving your animal the best life possible

Experiences, cultural norms, and access to information can influence how people view responsible pet ownership. But at its core, it is about more than providing food, shelter, and exercise. It means understanding and meeting an individual animal’s physical, behavioural, and mental wellbeing needs. It’s about making proactive choices that prevent health and welfare issues before they arise, rather than only responding once they do, and respecting animals as an individual. For anyone caring for an animal, being a responsible owner is one of the most meaningful commitments they can make.

A useful way to think about this is through the Five Domains Model of animal welfare, which considers how different aspects of an animal’s life contribute to their overall welfare and mental experiences. The Five Domains encourage us to look beyond simply preventing negative experiences and instead consider how we can support positive welfare and help animals experience a good quality of life. This includes providing appropriate nutrition, a suitable environment, good health care, opportunities for positive interactions, and the ability to express rewarding behaviours and make choices where appropriate. Together, the Five Domains provide a practical framework for understanding and supporting animal welfare, helping owners meet their animal’s physical, behavioural, and mental needs throughout their lives.

Travelling with animal welfare in mind

For many people, travel is about discovering and embracing new places and cultures and experiencing the world in new ways. One of the most popular approaches is by appreciating the local wildlife. Animals can be a memorable and meaningful part of travel; however, many common animal tourist experiences can be truly harmful, and what may look like a special moment for the people taking part, may mean a lifetime of suffering for the animals involved.

A good number of venues and wildlife encounters marketed as ‘educational’, ‘once in a lifetime’ or even as ‘conservation’ can involve serious welfare harms, particularly when animals are kept in unsuitable conditions, handled frequently, trained using force or punishment, or prevented from expressing normal and important behaviours. This is made more challenging because the term ‘animal sanctuary’ is not legally protected in many parts of the world, allowing roadside zoos, wild animal breeders and profit-driven operators to use the label without meeting meaningful animal welfare standards.

Riding elephants, posing for photos with or holding wild animals, watching performances of wild animals performing tricks, and interactive encounters with wildlife can all involve serious welfare risks, and they all have the similar things in common - the animals involved are not there by choice, they have been bred intentionally or taken from the wild, and they are forced to behave in ways that are unnatural, aversive, or even distressing to them. Animals deserve our respect and to live and behave as nature intended. A truly ethical experience is observation only, putting animal welfare first by prioritising freedom of movement and natural behaviours over visitor entertainment.

A good general rule to follow is if a venue allows humans to touch, ride, bathe, or feed a wild animal, it is likely to rely on poor conditions and often cruel training to keep their animals ‘under control’ and ‘safe’ for humans. Instead choose venues and experiences that let wild living animals interact with their natural environment, and be observed respectfully from a distance.

Remember animal welfare at the checkout

Individual choices may feel small, but collectively they help influence what businesses offer, what consumers expect, and the standards animals are afforded. Choosing higher-welfare food where possible, non-mulesed wool products, avoiding products or experiences that rely on poor animal welfare practices such as cosmetic or cleaning products tested on animals, and supporting transparent business can all help encourage positive change for animals.

Not every choice is simple; people have different budgets, access to products and services, and other life pressures. But when we ask better questions, seek credible information and choose better welfare options where available and appropriate, we can help build demand for systems and practices that support better animal welfare outcomes and in turn impact animal’s lives for the better.

A trend worth growing

For animals, our choices can shape whether they are safe or at risk, have their needs met or neglected, recognised as individuals. This is the kind of trend worth championing: thoughtful, practical choices grounded in respect for animals as sentient beings. Prioritising animal welfare brings us closer to a community where compassion is reflected not only in what we feel for animals, but in the decisions we make on their behalf.

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