Where does Hill’s stand on Animal Welfare?
As a veterinary nurse I choose the products I use carefully. I am a firm believer that product research and development should not cause harm to either humans or animals. I dont choose to buy products that are tested on animals or which cause them pain. Like many people, I proactively seek out products that are underpinned by strong animal welfare policies. I don’t want animal welfare issues on my conscience!
What about Hill’s research and the dogs and cats you keep at the nutrition research centre?
The Hill’s Pet Nutrition Centre (PNC) is a state of the art facility. It is home to approximately 500 dogs and 500 cats, each with their own individual and never repeated name. Dogs are happily housed in groups and have their own team of dedicated animal carers. Carers develop a strong bond with these animals, just the way you do with your pets, and provide them with clean living areas, enrichment, exercise, premium nutrition, and plenty of TLC.
On site at the PNC is an AAHA certified veterinary hospital a staff of veterinarians conduct annual health checks. Annually, blood is collected and analysed (biannually for seniors). All of the dogs receive regular dental care. The hospital has a suite of other diagnostic and therapeutic facilities. Pathology, endoscopy, ultrasound, radiography, surgery and a Dexa Scan machine for bone density, fat and muscle measurement are all covered.
Hill’s philosophy is that all animals, from your own pet to the companion animals we care for at the PNC – should be loved and cared for, for their entire lives.
The AAHA accredited hospital within the Hill’s PNC with the Dexa Scan machine used to measure bone density, fat and muscle.
What about Hill’s studies?
Hill’s does not conduct or participate in studies that jeopardise the health of dogs and cats.
All Hill’s-supported studies are designed to maintain and or improve animal health. These studies often result in breakthrough nutritional findings that help improve the lives of millions of dogs and cats.
- No study is performed that requires euthanasia
- Hill’s only use non-invasive, humane research methods
- No studies are conducted where surgical or non-surgical methods are used to create or simulate disease conditions
- Hill’s only use research methods that are the veterinary equivalent of human nutritional or medical studies
- Hill’s does not support or conduct studies that cause pain or hurt the dogs or cats
What about studies outside of the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Centre?
Hill’s continually strives to find ways to reduce dependence on animal research. Hill’s veterinarians and nutritionists are skilled at developing methods that simulate animal systems. For example, Hill’s have developed and published a mathematical formula, based on the nutrient profile of the food that accurately predicts the pH of feline or canine urine without animal testing.
All studies conducted or supported by Hill’s, either at the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Centre or externally (in consumers’ homes) veterinary schools or elsewhere must comply with the stringent Hill’s policies to ensure exceptional animal care.
- There is a substantial number of dogs and cats participating in our feeding studies who are involved in in-home tests.
- We support studies using pets with naturally occurring diseases or conditions.
- The Hill’s PNC and any external facility Hill’s supports must meet or exceed all industry regulatory standards for animal care.
- For studies conducted at external facilities, Hill’s appoint and fund pet advocates, responsible for ensuring each pet’s compassionate care, which has the key components of providing exercise and a socially-enriched environment.
You can learn more and read the full version of Hill’s Animal Welfare policy here
Meet Fifty Cent!
Fifty Cents is a 12 year old spayed female Beagle who was born at the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Centre. She and her siblings Misdemeanor, Flava Flav and Lil’ Kim are named after rap singers. For most of her life at the Hill’s PNC Fifty Cent has been a taste preference dog. At each meal Fifty Cents is offered two bowls of food and we measure the amount of food consumed from each bowl to determine which food she likes the best.
This is an ideal work assignment because Fifty Cent loves to eat! We have to watch her because she has a tendency to gain weight and she also tends to have a little bit of a bowl side bias when she selects her preferred food – so she gets calibrated for her suitability on this kind of feeding trial relatively often.
But animal welfare isnt just about getting quality nutrition., Fifty Cent likes to please other people and she takes direction and cues well from her care givers. Because of this, we have enjoyed training her with basic obedience tasks. Fifty Cent also gets along well with the other dogs in her room. One of our animal care givers, Heidi, started work here at about the same time Fifty Cent was born and so she is Heidi’s favourite dog.
Fifty Cents is pictured here with her lifetime care giver Heidi.
Fifty Cent’s exercise yard is accessible to her at any time during theday from inside her pen.
You can have a virtual tour of the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Centre from a dogs view here and gain more insights about how dogs like Fifty Cents are housed and how Hill’s are committed to animal welfare.
Meet Shere Kahn!
Shere Kahn is a 1 year old neutered male Domestic Short Hair cat. His siblings are also named after Jungle Book characters. Shere Kahn is a big and mellow cat who likes to greet us at the door as we enter his room. He loves to be held and carried around.
Because of his friendly and easy going personality, we frequently use him to mentor young, weaned kittens. We take him to their room and he models great adult cat behaviour.
Shere Khan lives in the cat housing facility – this is divided into units of 10 cats each. This photo shows two housing units where each group has access to their own individual porch area, sleeping areas and high walkways- It really is a cat’s paradise here with animal welfare at top of mind.
Check out a virtual tour of the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Centre from a cats perspective here.
Rae Schafer-Evans, Cert VN, Acc Delta Trainer, Cert IV Bus, Professional Engagement Executive, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Australia
Rae started her working life as a Veterinary Nurse and worked in Small Animal practice. She has had various roles whilst employed with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and has always had a passion for behaviour. Rae’s passion is not only pets but veterinary nurses, she has developed the Hill’s National Veterinary Nurse Programme and coordinates Hill’s Australia vet nurse CE programmes both online and offline with many being replicated throughout Hill’s globally. She is currently working with industry partners to encourage more nurses into the consult room to enhance client and patient care, vet nurse job satisfaction and to free up the veterinarian’s time.
Rae has been lucky to visit the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Centre and manufacturing plants in 2012 and again in 2017.