Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF)

The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) is BVA’s charity and is directed by veterinary and animal welfare professionals. We use veterinary knowledge to improve the welfare of animals through science, education and debate and we aim to support the veterinary profession to tackle the animal welfare challenges that they face.

Drawing on the knowledge and expertise of the veterinary and animal welfare professions and findings from robust research, we examine perceived wisdom whilst seeking to improve the understanding of animal welfare issues, their causes and possible solutions.

While the UK has relatively high standards of animal welfare (which we must protect), there is no room for complacency and still much to be done to achieve our vision, as many animals in the UK do not enjoy a good quality of life or have a life worth living. Research, including AWF’s Delphi project, has highlighted many welfare issues arising from the way that managed animals are bred and kept. 

It is clear that there is a great need to improve understanding and awareness of these welfare issues, so we focus on funding research to advance knowledge and we work to create a platform that stimulates debate and discussion. Our overarching objective is to be the catalyst for a chain reaction that will provoke change for the benefit of animal welfare.