Let’s make change
We do everything we can to give animals a better life, here in Canada and around the world
Our investigations team and scientific experts from around the world help us build a strong evidence base for the changes we make for animals. Learn more about the roles that animal sentience and science play in giving animals better lives.
What is animal sentience?
Science shows that animals are sentient beings meaning they think and feel, have personalities and needs of their own. This means that very large numbers of sentient animals routinely experience pain and deprivation at human hands.
Our evidence irrefutably proves that animals are sentient beings. Our views are rooted in our extensive research and our opinions are published in reports such as 'Wild at Heart: The hidden cruelty behind the exotic pet trade of african grey parrots' and 'Pork and the Superbug Crisis: How higher welfare farming is better for pigs and people'. We carry out ground breaking investigations, which drive real change.
Through research, reporting and campaigns we show the true personalities of every animal. We help people see animals for the individuals they are. In this knowledge, people consider and change their behaviour to improve the lives of animals and ultimately their own.
For example our undercover investigation into the Elephant Crush, resulted in media, governments and institutions realizing in horror the abuse that goes on behind the scenes to tame wild animals and helped propel our campaign forward to end this cruelty. Our Animal Protection Index (API) ranks how well 50 countries protect animals, which helps us to press for better legislation.
We are the only Animal Welfare NGO to be awarded the UN’s general consultative status, cementing our standing as the leading authority on animal welfare. This gives us the credibility and influence to bring about solutions that change opinions and actions of the world’s most influential entities.
World Animal Protection has revealed that Canadians own millions of wild animals, also referred to as exotic animals, despite these animals being entirely unsuitable as pets.
Read the full report: Risky business: The unregulated exotic pet trade in Canada
Altogether, an estimated 1.4 million wild animals are kept as pets in Canada!
These shocking figures reveal that Canada’s lax pet ownership laws are enabling a cruel and inhumane wildlife pet trade. Many of these wild animals are poached from their natural habitats and imported directly from the wild. Others come from captive breeding operations, which have their own set of serious problems.
Canada’s wild animal ownership laws need to change. Tell your provincial representative you want more protection for wildlife.
