Animal Welfare Leaders Adopt AI Charter

Nearly 60 leaders met in Cedar City, Utah, to set shared guidelines for using artificial intelligence in animal welfare work.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

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Best Friends Animal Society convened nearly 60 leaders at the AI in Animal Welfare Summit at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. Attendees drafted the Charter for Responsible AI in Animal Welfare, a shared set of principles for the field.

Why it matters

Animal welfare organizations were already using AI for data analysis, marketing, operations and stakeholder communications, but no shared standards existed for that work. The Charter gives organizations in Utah and beyond a common framework for responsible use.

The Charter's eight core commitments are animal lifesaving and welfare, humanity, integrity, oversight, accountability, intentionality, adaptability and sustainability. Nearly 60 leaders contributed to drafting it, though the source does not describe how the principles will be implemented.

The players

Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is a national animal welfare organization that convened the Summit and led the effort to establish AI guidelines for the sector.

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is one of the oldest and largest animal welfare organizations in the United States, and its leaders took part in the Summit.

Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University is a public university in Cedar City, Utah, that hosted the Summit and contributed AI ethics experts to the Charter's development.

The details

The invitation-only Summit was held at Southern Utah University and included leaders from the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals, PetSmart Charities and Petco Love, along with representatives from Amazon Web Services and PetWise. SUU AI ethics experts provided guidance to ensure the Charter reflects best practices.

The First AI in Animal Welfare Summit was held recently at Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
The article about the Summit was published on November 9, 2026.

Roadmap

Animal welfare organizations have increasingly used AI for data analysis, marketing and operations without shared guidelines. The Charter marks a shift toward coordinated, sector-wide standards for that work.

Pet owners and adopters may see AI-assisted adoption matching, data reporting and donor communications change as organizations apply the Charter's commitments. The source does not specify timelines or specific local services affected.

The takeaway

Organizations that use AI in animal welfare can use the Charter's eight commitments as a checklist for their own policies, especially around oversight and accountability. Shared principles give smaller groups a starting point without building standards from scratch.