Abstract

The nature of working in animal welfare necessitates that practitioners must frequently connect with members of the public. This relationship occurs in part as an effort to bridge the gap between identifying best management practices and ensuring implementation by targeting and changing the behaviour of people who directly use and impact animals. Often, this connection takes the form of knowledge translation from animal expert to lay person; for example, to address false assumptions about husbandry practices on farms or correct potentially harmful pet–owner interactions. While knowledge translation remains an important goal, this chapter will examine the challenges that arise when attempts to engage the public rest on one-way education alone. Rather, animal practitioners may benefit from a reimagining of what effective
public engagement to improve animal welfare may look like.