Education & Resources

Through various resources and educational materials, AWI equips learners of all types to improve the lives of animals. Through education, we aim to foster an understanding of the positive impact that compassionate attitudes and behaviors can have on animals, the environment, and ourselves.

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AWI Quarterly

The magazine of the Animal Welfare Institute. This full-color periodical examines issues regarding animals everywhere and has a circulation over 62,000.
Humane Education

Learn more about the teaching of compassion and empathy for all living beings and respect for their habitats.
For Educators and Students

Learn more about our lesson plans and additional teaching resources.

Resource Catalogue

AWI provides free, downloadable books, reports, lesson plans, and brochures on a variety of animal welfare issues. Many of our materials are also available printed and are provided free to those who can put them directly to use helping animals, and at cost for all others. Libraries, teachers, and research facilities may obtain one free copy of all publications. Place your order online through the order form or by calling us at (202) 337-2332.

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Report cover of Farmed Animals in Transport: The Twenty-Eight Hour Law

Farmed Animals in Transport: The Twenty-Eight Hour Law

Report Published 2025
Analysis of enforcement of the federal Twenty-Eight Hour Law from 2006–2023. Updates 2022 edition of report.
Report cover of Humane Slaughter Update

Humane Slaughter Update

Report Published 2025
Analysis of federal and state enforcement of humane slaughter laws, from 2019–2022; follow-up to AWI’s 2020 Humane Slaughter Update.
Report cover of Barn Fires: A Deadly Threat to Farm Animals

Barn Fires: A Deadly Threat to Farmed Animals

Report Published 2025
Examination of barn fires and associated farmed animal deaths in the United States. Presents findings from three years of compiled data on when, where, and why barn fires occur, and offers recommendations on how to prevent them. Updates 2022 edition...
Brochure cover of A Consumer’s Guide to Food Labels and Animal Welfare

A Consumer’s Guide to Food Labels and Animal Welfare

Brochure Published 2025
Interactive and mobile-friendly guide to help consumers understand the animal welfare implications of food label claims and certifications applied to dairy, egg, meat, and some seafood products. Includes information on the standards and reliability of some of the most common...
Brochure Cover of A Consumer’s Guide to Food Labels and Animal Welfare Pocket Version

A Consumer’s Guide to Food Labels and Animal Welfare (Pocket Version)

Brochure Published 2025
Concise guide to help consumers understand the animal welfare implications of food label claims and certifications applied to dairy, egg, and meat products. Includes information on the standards and reliability of some of the most common claims consumers see, including...
Report cover of Enforcement of State Farmed Animal Welfare Laws

Enforcement of State Farmed Animal Welfare Laws

Report Published 2024
In 2023, AWI requested records from every state with specific on-farm animal protection laws or regulations to determine whether and to what extent they were being enforced. This report describes what our survey revealed about these 10 states’ enforcement of...
Report cover of Custom-Exempt Slaughter

Custom-Exempt Slaughter: A License to Neglect and Abuse Farm Animals

Report Published 2023
An AWI review of the expanding practice of custom-exempt slaughter and its impact on the treatment of animals at slaughter; 2023; 8 pages.
Report cover of Deceptive Consumer Labels

Deceptive Consumer Labels

Report Published 2023
The third edition of AWI’s report on the USDA’s oversight of “humane” and “sustainable” claims on meat product labels. Includes a review of nearly 100 specific product labels.
Report cover of The Welfare of Birds at Slaughter in the United States

The Welfare of Birds at Slaughter in the United States

Report Published 2023
Examination of how the USDA has failed to prevent cruelty to birds during the slaughter process in the United States.
Report cover of The Critical Relationship Between Farm Animal Health and Welfare

The Critical Relationship Between Farm Animal Health and Welfare

Report Published 2018
Presents scientific evidence of the connection between the health and welfare of farm animals, and describes the recognition of this link by animal health authorities worldwide.
Brochure cover of Farm Animals

Farm Animals

Brochure Published 2018
Description of the inhumane conventional industry practices endured by animals raised for human consumption.
Report cover of USDA Gives Producers Free Rein Over “Free Range” Product Labels

USDA Gives Producers Free Rein Over “Free Range” Product Labels

Report Published 2015
Summary of an investigation by AWI that shows how USDA inadequately defines and approves “free range” (and equivalent) claims for chicken and turkey products.
Brochure cover of Five Ways You Can Help Farm Animals

Five Ways You Can Help Farm Animals

Brochure Published 2015
Description of actions people can take to improve the lives of farm animals, including how to shop for higher welfare foods and ways to fight the growth of factory farms.
Report cover of Humanewashed

Humanewashed

Report Published 2012
Examination of how the Process Verified Program allows conventional producers to imply that the USDA has verified their farm animal welfare marketing claims.
Book cover of Factory Farming

Factory Farming: The Experiment that Failed (Volume II)

Book Published 2008
Compilation of AWI Quarterly articles showing intensive rearing of calves, sows and hens and practical alternative methods, 2008, 158 pages.
Book cover of Factory Farming

Factory Farming: The Experiment that Failed (Volume I)

Book Published 1987
Compilation of AWI Quarterly articles showing intensive rearing of calves, sows and hens and practical alternative methods, 1987, 98 pages.
Accessibility Statement

AWI is in the process of migrating our vast library of resources and research to this new website. As we do, we are taking advantage of this opportunity to inspect our work and ensure every file meets our accessibility standards. We are fully committed to providing equal access for all people. As such, we are prioritizing upcoming and recent work before remediating older files in the library. If you need a special accommodation or need an older item made accessible sooner, please let us know what you need, by when, and any details about the kind of accommodation you need. We’ll work with you. This process will take time. We appreciate your patience. Thank you.