Preventing the pandemic of tomorrow, together

COVID-19 has taught us many things, and one of these hard-hitting truths is that we must improve the way that humans treat animals. As three-fourths of emerging human infectious diseases come from animals, the world’s leading scientists and experts have shown us the link between animal welfare and increasing pandemic risk. But the political will to curtail that risk is absent. We cannot let this happen – again!

Around the globe, 2020 stretched us all to our limits and we have now reached a pivotal point in society. But, these hard times have now given us a huge opportunity to change how we live and change the way animals are treated around the world.

We cannot do this alone, our Government holds the key and has the opportunity to now make these changes. They have an opportunity to take bold action now to prevent future pandemics. Help us to tell the decision-makers this cannot wait any longer – they must use this pandemic as a turning point.

#LiveKinder and call for a world of
higher animal welfare!

Creating a #LiveKinder World for a Better Future

Note: Any advertisements that may appear during the viewing of this video are unrelated to FOUR PAWS. We assume no liability for this content.

The world needs a reset of our relationship with animals. international institutions and national governments need to tackle the root causes of zoonotic disease emergence in a holistic approach which recognizes animal welfare as one major aspect in the prevention of pandemics and must take action to improve animal welfare. The One Welfare Framework could serve as a guiding framework towards treating our planet and all its inhabitants with more respect, care and compassion – for their sake and ours. The political response to prevent future pandemics must focus on making our farming and agricultural systems more resilient and banning practices that increase the risk of zoonotic disease emergence and spread, like the commercial wildlife trade, the dog and cat meat trade and fur farming.

Closing all fur farms

to end the cruel and deadly fur industry. The battery cage systems with cramped conditions cause immense animal suffering, creating ideal conditions for viruses and presenting a serious public-health risk.
Read more: COVID-19 in fur farms!

Banning the commercial trade of wild animals

for human consumption, for traditional medicine and private keeping. We need to immediately close all markets that sell live wild animals to protect animals, ecosystems and humans. Find out more about the commercial wildlife trade!

Ending factory farming

to stop the unnecessary suffering! We need to end cage keeping of farmed animals, long-distance live animal transports and all cruel practices that make animals sick and help to spread diseases.
Learn more here!

Reducing the global production and consumption of animal products

The global production and consumption of animal products

needs to be reduced by 50% by 2050. Choosing plant-based alternatives or making sure any animal products you use originate from higher welfare production systems will help.
Find out more!

Ending the trade and consumption of dog and cat meat

#ProtectMillions

We're working to end the dog and cat meat trade to stop the immense cruelty, help eradicate current zoonoses such as rabies and cholera and prevent the real risk of future zoonoses emerging.
Learn more!

One Welfare

Creating a new relationship

The rise of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, reminds us how interconnected animal welfare, human wellbeing and the environment are!

Our relationship needs to change.
Find out more!

When animals suffer and endure cruelty, they are weakened and vulnerable, creating the perfect conditions for disease to spread between animals. Because there is so much exchange of disease between these animals, some pathogens develop the ability to jump to humans – and have deadly consequences, just like we are seeing with COVID-19. We can prevent the next pandemic if we choose to #LiveKinder.