The Impact of Human Bias on Animal Welfare

The Impact of Human Bias on Animal Welfare

Author: maryvy September 8, 2025 Duration: 53:57
Welcome to the next episode of The Animal Welfare Conversation.  This week we meet Dr Rowena Packer, of the RVC. Rowena is the Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the Royal Veterinary College, London, where she leads a research group exploring diverse topics in this area, including the impact of chronic and inherited disorders on dog behaviour and welfare, the impact of owner knowledge, attitudes and behaviour on canine welfare, and caregiver burden. In this episode we delve into the controversial world of dog breeding, where human preferences for "cute" features often override concerns about animal health – particularly in brachycephalic breeds like pugs and French Bulldogs. The podcast reveals how human biases in pet ownership directly impact animal welfare, challenging listeners to rethink their motivations behind breeding choices. The discussion on brachycephalic breeds uncovers the often-overlooked health implications of emotional attachment in pet ownership, urging a shift toward prioritizing animal well-being over aesthetic preferences. Dr Rowena Packer, BSc (Hons) PhD PGCert(VetEd) FHEA Rowena is the Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the Royal Veterinary College, London. Rowena leads a research group exploring diverse topics in this area, including the impact of chronic and inherited disorders on dog behaviour and welfare, the impact of owner knowledge, attitudes and behaviour on canine welfare, and caregiver burden. She has received >£2 million of research funding from diverse sources, with ~£1 million held as Principal Investigator.  Rowena is a frequent flyer on the conference circuit and has presented her research internationally, including in the USA, Australia, Canda, and across much of Europe.  Rowena has co-authored >100 peer reviewed papers and book chapters and co-edited the textbook ‘Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-faced) Companion Animals’ (2021). Rowena holds a PhD from the Royal Veterinary College (2013) which explored the impact of extreme conformation on canine health, and has continued to research and drive initiatives on this topic for 16 years.  Rowena is a founding member of Brachycephalic Working Group and the Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs. Find out more about Rowena’s research at https://www.rvc.ac.uk/about/our-people/rowena-packer NOMINATE YOUR ANIMAL WELFARE HERE NOW: If you haven't already done so, please nominate your animal welfare hero for our new award HERE

What does it truly mean to care for an animal, whether it's a beloved pet at home or a species on the brink in the wild? Animal Welfare Conversations digs into that question through candid, often surprising discussions with the people on the front lines. Hosted by maryvy, each episode brings you directly into dialogue with veterinary surgeons and nurses making critical medical decisions, conservationists designing field interventions, and animal owners navigating daily ethical choices. The scope is deliberately broad, covering pets, domestic animals, farm residents, zoo inhabitants, and wildlife, because the principles of compassionate care connect them all. You'll hear concrete stories about decision-making and the realities of providing a good life, not just abstract theory. This is a podcast built on curiosity and a willingness to re-examine what we think we know, challenging assumptions about standard practices and long-held beliefs in the pursuit of tangible improvement. It’s for anyone-families, science enthusiasts, or nature lovers-who believes animal welfare is a complex, evolving conversation worth having. Tune in for perspectives that are both deeply personal and rigorously practical, reminding us of our shared responsibility toward the creatures in our care.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 41

Animal Welfare Conversations
Podcast Episodes
Making room for small ethical breeders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:43
With Crufts taking place this weekend, we explore the future of dog breeding. Recent media attention has focused on breeding practices, conformation, the Innate Health Assessment Tool, and the Royal Kennel Club’s new nos…
Assessing Pain, Improving Welfare: Insights from Dr Beatriz Monteiro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:15
In this episode we are joined by Dr Beatriz Monteiro, to discuss in more depth the impact of pain on animal welfare. We consider the differences between acute and chronic pain, how pain impacts on all aspects of animal w…
2026: New Animal welfare conversations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:13
Welcome to 2026, and new episodes of the Animal Welfare Conversation. In this introductory episode we have a sneak preview of the new interviews, covering a broad range of topics including animal welfare science, climate…
Veterinary Controversies & Ethical Dilemmas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:19
This week, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Eddie Clutton and Dr Polly Taylor, both distinguished anaesthetists and two of the co-editors of Veterinary Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas. Their book, now h…
Epilepsy in Veterinary and Human Healthcare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:10
This week we catch up with Dr Jos Bongers, a veterinary neurologist from Glasgow Vet School, and Professor Sameer Zuberi, a paediatric neurologist at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. They discuss their career…
Clinical Biases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:13
Decision making mini-series - episode 3 - Bias In this episode we discuss the complexities of decision-making in veterinary medicine, focusing on biases that can impact clinical reasoning and client communication. We loo…
Clinical Reasoning and Animal Welfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:45
In the second episode focussing on Clinical Decision Making, this week we look at clinical reasoning. Last week we discussed the way in which vets make decisions and all of the things that they are juggling at the one ti…
Animal Welfare and Decision Making [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:23
In this episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation podcast, we take a break from the interviews, and will spend the next few weeks looking at the complexities of decision-making in veterinary medicine and how this relate…