Position Statements

Animals in Sport and Competition

October 27, 2025

Position

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) accepts the use of animals in sport and competition when that use is ethical and humane. The CVMA strongly supports the implementation of strategies that promote the sound physical, social and psychological health and welfare of the animal(s).

Summary

Those using animals in sport or competition must respect the following:

  • animal health and welfare promotion is paramount when engaging with animals in sport and competition,
  • only animals suitable for the sport or competitive purpose should be selected,
  • lifetime welfare must be considered not only before an animal is bred or obtained but must extend beyond the end of the sporting or competitive career,
  • euthanasia may be an end-of-career option but only after careful consideration,
  • optimal management, husbandry and veterinary care need to be provided for performance animals throughout their lives,
  • sport and competition governing bodies develop or regularly revise policies and standards and ensure compliance,
  • research on implications of sport and competition in animals is promoted to optimize welfare,
  • national and international legal standards on the cross-boundary movement of animals are complied with.

Background

  1. A broad range of animal species are used in sport and competition. These activities include both performance and aesthetic competitions. As the welfare of animals may be impacted in these activities, proper animal care and handling are essential for health, welfare and longevity. The CVMA strongly supports practices that promote and meet species-specific and individual needs of the animals.
  2. Animals are exposed to potential welfare challenges unique to each sport or competitive activity. These can arise in training, during actual events and management between events (1,2). Events that:
    • require physical tasks involving agility and speed,
    • take place in extreme environmental conditions,
    • involve the transport of animals to and from events.
    can predispose animals to risk of injury, illness and distress (e.g., physical stress such as heat, dehydration, musculoskeletal damage, as well as emotional stress from prolonged caging/confinement, overexposure to stimuli, etc) (3-15). The co- mingling of animals at events increases the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, including zoonoses (16-18).
  3. Animal health and welfare promotion for animals in sport and competition is paramount in all life stages. The CVMA recommends that:
    • an animal’s lifetime welfare be considered before selection for sport or competition,
    • best practice management, husbandry and veterinary care be provided for animals throughout their lives,
    • persons providing care are competent and receive on-going training to recognize, intervene and address health and welfare issues as they arise.
  4. Animal suitability for an intended sporting or competitive activity is determined by multiple criteria including but not limited to: species, breed, pedigree, age, conformation, innate ability or limitations and temperament. Suitable animals should be trained and habituated for the intended sport or competitive activity to decrease stress (19).
    • Training methods should be based on positive reinforcement to promote a positive experience for the animal and its willing cooperation. Aversive training techniques are strongly discouraged (20-25).
    • Acclimation, habituation and training should include, where species- appropriate, systematic desensitization by exposure to novel situations in a controlled manner (26).
    • Periods of training and performance at sporting or competitive events should be limited to time frames that support good health and psychological well-being (27).
    • Animals must be given the opportunity for adequate rest to ensure optimal recovery from physically and psychologically demanding events (28-31).
  5. An animal determined to be unsuitable for sport and competition because of performance, health, age or temperament but otherwise in good physical and behavioural health should be repurposed, re-homed or retired when circumstances permit (32). When this is not possible, euthanasia may be considered (33-34). Owners and managers are responsible for euthanasia decisions and such decisions should never be made without careful consideration, preferably in consultation with a veterinarian (34). The welfare of the animal is paramount in all decision-making (35).
  6. The use of supplements, procedures or equipment/devices intended solely to improve competitiveness and enhance performance is unacceptable when they may harm animals or people:
    • Aversive devices such as tight nosebands for horses and electric shock collars for dogs can cause fear, pain and distress and should not be used (22-24),
    • the use of medications, nutritional, or non-nutritive supplements must comply with governing body requirements (36-41),
  7. The use of animal equipment/devices that does no harm to animals (14), is in good working order, is suitable for the intended use, conforms to animal species, breed and individual conformation and is compliant with governing body requirements is permissible (44).
    • animal interventions otherwise contrary to animal health policies of sport or competition governing bodies may be permissible for therapeutic purposes under veterinary care and supervision (42–44).
  8. Sport and competition governing bodies are encouraged to:
    • develop or regularly revise policies and standards to improve safety, animal welfare and protect public health. The collection of records of adverse events (e.g., health issues, injuries, deaths, euthanasia’s) may be helpful in standards revision.
    • ensure compliance with policies and standards including disqualification or removal of animals unfit to participate in an activity; the halting of an event due to external circumstances (3);
    • work with veterinary and allied professionals to identify and mitigate welfare issues that arise (24, 32-35, 45)
  9. The CVMA strongly supports and advocates for the continued development and adoption of animal welfare standards for sport and competition extending to:
    • research on the welfare implications and welfare refinements related to the use of animals in sport and competition,
    • selection, training, management, husbandry, and transport of animals (32, 37, 42, 46),
    • criteria designed to mitigate risks to animals,
    • periodic external third-party review and compliance assurance with policies, standards and regulatory requirements,
    • compliance with national and international legal standards on the cross- boundary movement of animals (17).

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