We often talk about giving pets a good life but, what does that actually mean? Is it enough to feed them, walk them, keep them safe? Or can we do more?
Welfare science has evolved from asking whether an animal is surviving to asking if the animal is thriving.
Welfare Isn’t Just About Avoiding Harm
Early animal welfare frameworks, like the Five Freedoms (1), focused on avoiding negative states such as pain, hunger and distress. While still foundational, modern welfare science now recognises that a good life also includes positive experiences, not just the absence of bad ones (2).
A Life Worth Living: From Minimum Standards to Positive Welfare
The concept of “a life worth living” was introduced by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee (3). It suggests that animals must experience a balance of positive states like comfort, curiosity, playfulness, and social connection, not just the avoidance of harm. Positive welfare includes opportunities to have pleasurable experiences and engage in motivated behaviours (4).
In short: Not suffering isn’t the same as living well.
So What Does That Mean for Our Pets?
For our dogs, cats, horses, and other companions, a life worth living includes:
- Comfort and Security – A safe environment, free from fear or unpredictability.
- Social Companionship – Animals are social species. Relationships matter, whether with humans or their conspecifics.
- Freedom of Choice and Autonomy – Choice in interactions, rest, movement, and activities supports emotional wellbeing.
- Mental Stimulation – Sniffing, solving, playing, exploring: boredom is a welfare issue.
- Purpose and Agency – Dogs and horses especially thrive when they feel useful or engaged in cooperative tasks.
- Recognition of Emotional Needs – Just like us, animals need to feel heard and respected, even if they can’t speak our language.
How Do We Know They’re Thriving?
Behaviour is our biggest clue. Animals express emotional states through their body language, routines, and interactions.
Look for:
- Engagement – Are they curious? Interested in their surroundings?
- Relaxation – Do they sleep peacefully? Show loose body language?
- Playfulness – Play is a sign of emotional safety and comfort.
- Voluntary Interaction – Do they choose to be near you? Consent is a welfare indicator, too.
Conclusion: More Than Survival
As guardians, carers, and professionals, we have a responsibility to offer more than just care. We have the opportunity to offer joy, agency, and understanding.
A life worth living isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about recognising that our pets are feeling beings with emotional worlds. And when we meet those needs, we don’t just improve their welfare, we deepen the bond we share with them.
I am part of an amazing group of pet professionals and we are all passionate about improving animal welfare.
To find out about how to ensure your dogs collar fits comfortably, check out this link:
https://urbantails.pet/blog/news/
-5-signs-your-dog-s-collar-isn-t-comfortable-and-how-to-fix-it
References
(1) Mellor, D.J. (2016), ‘Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms’ by Updating the “Fie Provisions” and introducing Aligned “Animal Welfare Aims”, DOI: 10.3390/ani6100059
(2) Mellor, D.J. and Beausoleil, N.J. (2015), ‘Extending the ‘Five Domains’ model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states’, DOI: https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.3.241
(4) Yeates, J. and Main, D. (2008), ‘Assessment of positive welfare: A review’, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.05.009
