Pet Care Standards Around the World: How Different Countries Protect Our Pets

No country on Earth has earned a perfect score for animal welfare. Not one.

World Animal Protection assessed 50 countries for their Animal Protection Index, and even the best performers—Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, the UK—topped out at a "B" grade. Some nations don't have basic legal frameworks to protect animals at all.

Ever wondered why something perfectly legal in one country would land you in prison elsewhere? Or how your country actually compares? The differences are bigger than most people realise, and with over half the world now owning pets, it's worth knowing where things stand.

The Quick Version

Animal welfare varies wildly by country. Europe leads the pack, with Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, and the UK receiving top marks for recognising animal sentience and enforcing strong protections. The US has weak federal oversight, leaving pet welfare largely to inconsistent state laws. New Zealand ranks highly with progressive legislation recognising animals as sentient beings. Countries like Iran, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Algeria sit at the bottom, with minimal or no legal protections for animals.

How Countries Get Ranked

Two main systems measure animal welfare globally.

The Animal Protection Index (API) grades countries A through G based on legislation and enforcement. It looks at everything—farm animals, pets, animals in research, wildlife, working animals.

The Voiceless Animal Cruelty Index (VACI) measures something different: how many animals get slaughtered per capita, how much meat and dairy people consume, and what legal protections exist. Both systems cover countries representing about 80% of the world's farmed animals.

Nobody's gotten an A. A handful manage a B. Most sit somewhere in the middle.

Europe: A Different League

Europe operates on a completely different level when it comes to animal welfare.

The Legal Backbone

The 1987 Council of Europe Convention set minimum standards that most European countries have adopted. The 2007 Lisbon Treaty went further, requiring all EU policies to consider animal welfare requirements.

In practice, this means things like tail docking, ear cropping, and debarking dogs are banned across most of Europe. Not discouraged—banned.

Sweden

The Swedish Animal Welfare Act 2018 goes beyond preventing cruelty. It requires that animals be "treated well," "protected from unnecessary suffering," and "allowed to perform natural behaviour."

Here's the part that caught my attention: Chapter 1, Section 1 says animals must be "respected." That word—respected—written into law.

Sweden's been at this since 1988, when they first required natural behaviour provisions. According to the Swedish Centre for Animal Welfare, they even mandate summer pasture for dairy cows.

One more thing: Sweden has essentially no stray dogs. Lost or abandoned animals get picked up quickly enough that feral packs never form. That's what enforcement actually looks like.

Switzerland

Switzerland banned fur farming entirely. Standards are high enough across all species that the industry simply can't operate there.

United Kingdom

The UK passed the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act in 2021, formally recognising animals as sentient beings. Serious animal cruelty now carries up to five years in prison—up from six months before.

They also banned cosmetic testing on animals back in 1998, well ahead of most countries.

The United States: State by State

The US doesn't have a federal law regulating pet animal treatment. At all.

The Animal Welfare Act covers commercial breeding and research animals, but it explicitly excludes pet retailers, hobby breeders, shelters, and kennels. Companion animals? Largely unprotected at the federal level.

Everything falls to state anti-cruelty laws, and the variation is staggering. According to Figo Pet Insurance:

• Only 27 states have laws governing care of animals in retail establishments
• Just 21 states require retailers to provide sanitary conditions
• Only 17 states require pet stores to provide vet care for sick animals

Read those numbers again. More than half of US states don't require pet stores to keep animals in sanitary conditions.

It's Getting Better (Slowly)

2024 saw some progress:

• Indiana now requires pet stores, care facilities, and rescues to register with the Board of Animal Health
• Utah made animal care violations a crime for facilities and breeders
• Pennsylvania strengthened puppy mill enforcement
• New York banned pet store sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits (as of December 2024)

The AVMA has solid guidelines for staff training, cleaning standards, and enrichment—but guidelines aren't laws. Nobody has to follow them.

Asia: Changing Fast

Japan

Japan's cruelty penalties went up to five years in prison in 2019. Pet shops face stricter living condition requirements, and breeding is tightly regulated.

The culture around pets here is strong—pet cafes, specialised services, welcoming public spaces. Cats and smaller breeds especially.

China

China's pet industry grew 2,000% in the past decade. In 2019, their pet population briefly topped the US—remarkable given that pet ownership was heavily restricted not that long ago.

Falling birth rates and relaxed regulations are driving the growth.

The Philippines

Different approach here: household limits. Four pets maximum per home, mandatory rabies vaccination, strict welfare measures. It's about preventing overcrowding as much as animal welfare.

Australia: Going After Puppy Farms

Victoria and Queensland have cracked down on commercial breeders. Limits on how many dogs you can breed. Mandated living standards.

The language in these laws matters: dogs are "living creatures with needs and emotions," not products. That framing shapes how courts handle violations.

New Zealand: Punching Above Its Weight

NZ ranks among the world's best for animal protection.

The Animal Welfare Act 1999

SPCA New Zealand describes the Act as internationally progressive for recognising animals as sentient beings. It's built on the "Five Freedoms"—freedom from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, fear, distress, and freedom to express normal behaviour.

Owners must meet their animals' physical, health, and behavioural needs. Fall below minimum standards and it can be used as evidence in court.

What's New

As of September 2025, new regulations ban tethering dogs for extended periods. The thinking has shifted beyond physical needs to psychological wellbeing.

Actual Enforcement

MPI, SPCA, and NZ Police all have enforcement powers. There are actual inspectors who investigate and prosecute. Laws only matter if someone enforces them, and here they do.

The Bottom of the List

World Animal Protection gave Iran and Azerbaijan failing "G" grades—the worst possible. Belarus, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Myanmar, and Vietnam got "F" ratings.

What's missing in these places:

• Basic legal frameworks
• Recognition that animals can feel pain
• Anyone to enforce what laws do exist
• Penalties that actually deter

World Population Review flags 11 countries as particular concerns: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cambodia, China, DR Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Madagascar, and Mongolia.

What the Leaders Have in Common

They Recognise Sentience

32 countries have formally written animal sentience into law. It sounds symbolic, but it changes how courts interpret welfare cases.

Austria put animal welfare in their constitution. First country to do that.

They Actually Enforce

Laws without enforcement are just words. Sweden has the Board of Agriculture coordinating nationally, County Boards handling local inspections. There's a system.

Animals Are Part of Society

In Germany, you can take your dog to restaurants, shops, public transport. That cultural acceptance reinforces legal protections. Animals aren't hidden property.

The Laws Cover Everyone

The best frameworks don't just protect pets. Switzerland's fur farming ban applies to all species. Sweden's natural behaviour requirements extend to farm animals. Consistency matters.

The Numbers

Over half the world's population now owns at least one pet. That's roughly 1 billion animals—900 million dogs, 370 million cats.

In the US alone, 94 million households (71%) have pets as of 2025, up from 82 million (66%) in 2023. Americans spent $152 billion on their pets in 2024.

The global pet care market hit $273 billion in 2025. With that much money and that many animals, welfare standards aren't abstract policy debates. They're the difference between well-treated pets and suffering ones.

Moving Countries with Pets

If you're relocating internationally, brace yourself.

Australia and Japan have strict quarantine. Some countries need vaccinations months ahead. Microchipping, health certificates, breed documentation—requirements vary wildly.

74 countries restrict "dangerous" breeds. All 74 target pit bulls. 91% include mastiffs and fighting breeds. 41% restrict rottweilers.

The EU pet passport simplifies travel between member states, but entering from outside? Standard health certificates required.

Why This Matters (Even If You're Staying Put)

Know what to expect. Strong legal protections mean you can expect more from breeders, pet shops, and boarding facilities. Weak protections? You need to do more homework yourself.

Advocacy works. NZ didn't always have these laws. People pushed for them. Knowing what's possible elsewhere gives you a target.

Adoption context. Adopting internationally? The standards where that animal came from tell you something about what they've been through.

Sourcing matters. A puppy from a regulated European breeder had a very different start than one from an unregulated market. Origins count.

FAQ

Which country has the best animal welfare laws?

Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, and the UK all got "B" grades—the highest anyone's achieved. Austria put welfare in their constitution. Sweden requires animals be "respected" in law.

Does the US have good pet protection laws?

Significant gaps. No federal law covers pet animal treatment. Only 27 states regulate retail animal care. Just 17 require vet care for sick pets in stores.

How does New Zealand compare?

Top tier. The Animal Welfare Act 1999 recognises sentience, requires owners to meet physical and behavioural needs, and gets actively enforced.

What's the difference between Europe and the US?

Europe has unified standards through treaties. The US leaves it to states, so protections vary wildly. Ear cropping is legal in parts of the US. Banned across most of Europe.

Why do some countries have no laws?

Economics, cultural attitudes, lack of advocacy infrastructure, limited government capacity. Some are developing frameworks now. Progress is slow.

Are things getting better globally?

Generally yes. More sentience recognition, stronger penalties, tighter breeding regulations. But progress varies hugely by region.

The Takeaway

The range is enormous. Constitutional protections in some countries. Nothing at all in others.

Europe leads—Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, UK. New Zealand's up there with active enforcement. The US is a patchwork, state by state. Asia's changing fast.

The trend is encouraging. More countries recognising sentience. Stronger penalties. Better enforcement. The conversation has shifted.

Where your country stands affects what you can expect from breeders, pet shops, vets, boarding facilities—and what recourse you have when things go wrong. Worth knowing.

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• Cattery vs Pet Sitter: Which Is Best? – The honest comparison based on your cat's personality, not marketing speak.

Sources

• World Animal Protection – Animal Protection Index
• Sentient Media – Best and Worst Countries for Animal Rights
• PMC – Regulating Companion Dog Welfare: A Comparative Study
• SPCA New Zealand – Animal Welfare Act
• MPI – Animal Welfare Legislation
• AVMA – Companion Animal Care Guidelines
• American Pet Products Association – Regulatory Updates
• Wikipedia – Animal welfare and rights in Sweden
• Dogster – Global Pet Ownership Statistics
• Health for Animals – Global Trends in the Pet Population