PAWsitive News: Pet Food Brands Are Committing to Help Farm Animals
The ASPCA article “Pet Food Brands Are Committing to Help Farm Animals” highlights how pet food companies are beginning to take responsibility for the welfare of farm animals used in their supply chains.
The piece explains that a significant share of meat produced in the U.S. is used in pet food, meaning dogs and cats indirectly drive a large part of industrial animal agriculture. Because of this, the ASPCA is encouraging brands to source ingredients from farms with higher animal welfare standards, such as cage-free or more humane systems rather than intensive factory farming.
A key point is that consumer demand is strongly driving this shift. Surveys cited in the article show that most pet owners would switch brands—and are often willing to pay more—if they knew a company used more humane sourcing practices. This has led several pet food brands to partner with the ASPCA’s “Pet Food Progress” initiative, committing to improve conditions for animals like chickens, pigs, and cows used in their products.
The article also describes how participating companies are working toward recognized animal welfare certifications and adopting standards that reduce confinement and improve living conditions for farm animals. The ASPCA frames this as part of a broader effort to reduce cruelty in industrial farming while giving consumers more ethical purchasing options.
Overall, the message is that pet food brands are increasingly being pushed—and supported by the ASPCA—to make supply chains more humane, reflecting growing consumer concern for animal welfare beyond just pets themselves.
