15/07/2026
The Five Freedoms
The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, developed by Britain's Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1965, is a globally recognized standard for conceptualizing the minimum welfare requirements for housing and enrichment of all animals, including farm, zoo, and laboratory animals, as well as family pets. The Five Freedoms are as follows:
freedom from hunger and thirst
freedom from discomfort
freedom from pain, injury, or disease
freedom from fear and distress
freedom to express normal species behaviors
When these needs are not fully addressed, welfare is compromised, and problems with both physical health and behavior arise.
