ARCHIVES
VOL. 2, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pet owners toward animal welfare: A scoping review
Authors
Pham Van To Nhu Y, Bui Hai Phong, Nguyen Duc Dat, Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, Tran Xuan Minh
Abstract
Pet welfare has gained increasing attention in the context of the rapid
growth in companion animal ownership, along with the associated challenges
related to public health, caregiving practices, and owner responsibility. This
study aims to systematically synthesize existing evidence on pet owners’
knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding animal welfare, and to
identify research trends and knowledge gaps in this field. A scoping review
approach was adopted, with a comprehensive literature search conducted across
the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Following the application of
predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 38 eligible studies were included
in the analysis. The findings indicate that most pet owners demonstrate
relatively positive levels of knowledge and attitudes toward pet welfare,
particularly regarding basic care and preventive veterinary health. However, a
substantial gap persists between knowledge, attitudes, and actual practices,
especially in areas related to behavioral and psychological welfare,
reproductive management, and antibiotic use. Individual characteristics,
socio-economic conditions, cultural context, caregiving experience, and access
to veterinary services were identified as key factors influencing pet owners’
welfare-related practices. This review highlights the need for
behavior–change–oriented educational interventions that are tailored to
specific caregiving contexts and underscores the central role of veterinarians
in promoting sustainable pet welfare practices. Integrating pet welfare
considerations within the One Health and One Welfare frameworks is proposed as
an important direction for future research and policy development.
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Pages:82-90
How to cite this article:
Pham Van To Nhu Y, Bui Hai Phong, Nguyen Duc Dat, Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, Tran Xuan Minh "Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pet owners toward animal welfare: A scoping review". International Journal of Applied Review
, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 82-90
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