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
Dr Dan O'Neill - What makes a good life - part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:38
What makes a good life? Part 2 In this episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation, we continue the conversation with Dr Dan O’Neill of the RVC. Dan is well known in the veterinary profession for his work with VetCompass…
Dr Dan O'Neill - What makes a good life? Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
What makes a good life? Part 1 In this episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation, we meet Dr Dan O’Neill of the RVC. Dan is well known in the veterinary profession for his work with VetCompass and animal welfare. Dan is…
Education and Animal Welfare with Dr Toby Trimble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:41
Welcome back! In this episode we catch up with Dr Toby Trimble, the founder of Trimble Group, a film production company, reinventing education for animal health. Listeners to the podcast will know that education features…
2025 - Looking Forward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:35
After a slightly longer break than we had anticipated, I'm really happy to let everyone know that we're back! With so much happening in the world of animal welfare it's difficult to know where to start, but we're going t…
2024 - Reviewing the Animal Welfare Conversation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:51
It’s the end of the year, so we took the chance to review the podcast. I still can’t believe that we’ve being doing this for a year now and had the chance to talk to so many people, about the great work they’re doing in…
Prof Simon Girling - Reintroducing native species [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:32
Welcome to the next episode of The Animal Welfare Conversation. This week we are joined by Prof Simon Girling. Simon has worked with zoological collections for the past 15 years, and has been involved with many different…
Mike Flynn MBE - A career in animal welfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:53
In this episode we were lucky enough to catch up, earlier this year, with Mike Flynn MBE, Chief Superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, and we caught up just before he retired, to find out more about his 37-year career prot…
Dr Paula Boyden - The Links Group and Freedom Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Trigger warning This is part 2 of an episode that we recorded with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust. This extra episode focusses on domestic abuse, and how the work of the Dogs Trust and The Links Group…
Episode 20 - Dr Paula Boyden - Dogs Trust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:22
In this episode we catch up with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, to find out more about their work. Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare organisation in the UK, rehoming 14,000 dogs a year and many o…