Meeting animal needs

• When considering animal welfare models, we are considering what needs an animal has and how they can or should be met.
• A need is a physical or behavioral requirement of an animal.
• If that need is met, it can create a positive emotional state to the animal. Needs are often species specific and are dependent on evolutionary, biological and individual experiences.
• Needs include basic needs (fundamental) such as food and water, and specific needs such as social interaction and intellectual stimulation.
• Different needs may be required at different times of our lives. For example, children need play for healthy development. The same is true for animals
• Good animal welfare means providing for an animal’s physical needs and their behavioral needs.

An animal’s Five Essential Needs include:

1. Nutritional needs – Provision of suitable and enjoyable food and water.
2. Environmental needs – Provision of a suitable living environment that allows for good physical comfort.
3. Behavioral needs – Provision of a suitable physical and social environment that provides opportunity to express natural behaviors.
4. Health needs – Provision of suitable pro-active and reactive husbandry and veterinary care.
5. Mental needs – Provision of appropriate choices and control that offers suitable stimulation and independent behavioral choice.