The Humane Trends study provides a diverse and comprehensive look at the status of animal protection in the United States and will assess changes in that status over time. The study was inspired by a similar research effort carried out in the United Kingdom by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The U.S.-oriented Humane Trends is a collaborative study designed and managed by the Humane Research Council, with funding assistance provided by animal protection organizations and foundations as well as input from experts on various animal issues.
For more information about Humane Trends, please contact the Humane Research Council.
This is the inaugural edition of the Humane Trends dataset, using the most up-to-date information available. The indicators will be updated at least bi-annually, as new data become available, with future updates published on HumaneTrends.com. Over time, the study will track gains and losses for each indicator. The Humane Research Council hopes that, by tracking changes in animal protection, the Humane Trends study will serve as a valuable resource for developing legislation, government policies, industry practices, and social attitudes that will improve the status of animals in the United States.
While it is unrealistic to expect long-lasting change for animals to occur over a single year or even over five years, it remains vitally important to measure those changes. This report and the included indicators are subject to some limitations, most importantly the lack of reliable data regarding animal use. Even with reliable data, the breadth of animal use and abuse in the United States cannot be fully represented by a set of 25 indicators. However, the Humane Trends study provides a useful and much needed snapshot of important and diverse issues facing nonhuman animals covering a range of ambitious and practical advocacy goals.
