Pet owners prioritize animal welfare over sustainability and trust vets for guidance
Mar 1st 2026
A US survey of 1,066 pet owners who use veterinary services found animal welfare matters more than environmental sustainability when choosing pet food, veterinarians are trusted advisors, and third-party certifications are underused but could influence buying decisions.
- 81.1% of surveyed veterinary clients rated animal welfare as very or extremely important in pet food choices, compared with 70.1% for environmental sustainability.
- Animal welfare was statistically more influential than environmental sustainability in driving purchase decisions.
- Veterinarians were the most trusted source on both topics, with 75.7% trust for animal welfare and 69.4% for sustainability.
- About 62% of respondents were unaware of third-party certifications, but 64.7% of those unfamiliar said they would be somewhat or very likely to use certifications when choosing pet food.
- Animal welfare importance was consistent across demographics and may serve as a universal entry point for sustainability conversations, while environmental sustainability ranked higher among younger and urban respondents.