Advancing Global Animal Welfare Through Accessible Technology
Guest Blogger, David Kleven, President of AnimalCare Software.
Introduction
In the ever-evolving conversation around animal welfare—particularly for wild animals in human care—technology has the power to be a unifying force: bringing clarity, continuity, and collaboration to the people on the front lines of animal care. That’s the foundation behind AnimalCare Software (ACS), a platform designed to support better welfare by giving care staff the tools they need to observe, document, and communicate what they know.
We are excited to announce that AnimalCare Software is now available in 16 languages—a major step forward in supporting animal care professionals across the globe, especially in regions where language barriers have limited access to effective record-keeping tools.
This expansion is more than just translation—it’s about accessibility and inclusion. By removing language as a barrier, we empower zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and rescue centres worldwide to track and improve welfare using tools that are intuitive, flexible, and built with caregivers in mind.
A Shared Mission
Wild Welfare’s commitment to raising global standards of animal care resonates deeply with our own. Like Wild Welfare, we believe that long-term change depends on collaboration and capacity-building. That’s why AnimalCare Software was developed not in isolation, but through partnerships with welfare scientists, veterinarians, zoo professionals, and front-line caregivers.
Our built-in Welfare Management Tool, developed with input from global partners and with key contributions from Dr. Isabella Clegg, supports assessments based on the Five Domains. Care teams can track health, behavioural indicators, mental state, and environmental conditions—over time, across individuals or groups—using custom scoring systems and real-time reporting. Whether for a neonate’s growth, a recovery plan, or a quality-of-life assessment, the tool enables meaningful and measurable welfare tracking.
Communication Is Key
One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is that good welfare starts with great communication. AnimalCare Software functions as a centralised platform where animal care teams, veterinarians, supervisors, and administrators can all stay informed. By recording and reviewing notes in real time, facilities can ensure that nothing is lost in translation between shifts, departments, or roles.
To enhance communication even further, users can embed photos, videos, and documents directly into notes—allowing visual updates, medical files, or enrichment plans to be shared with just a few clicks. This kind of context-rich documentation deepens understanding, supports continuity of care, and creates a stronger foundation for decision-making.
Designed by Animal People, for Animal People
My journey into software started the way it does for many animal professionals—out of necessity. My wife Susan and I began with paper records for the outreach animals in our care, and like many others, we quickly realised that wasn’t enough. Over time, with the help of skilled collaborators, our needs grew into a solution: a secure, cloud-based platform that could work for teams of any size, on any device, anywhere in the world.
What sets ACS apart is that we built it with animal care staff at the centre of the design process. It’s intuitive enough for daily use without extensive training, but powerful enough to support data tracking at a high level. We listened to what facilities needed: quick data entry, easy search-ability, strong permissions, and a platform that adapts to each team’s workflow.
Data That Makes a Difference
The results speak for themselves. A caregiver at one facility used our welfare tools to document subtle indicators in a pregnant three-banded armadillo—developing a hands-off tracking method that relied on visual swelling and behavioural cues instead of invasive procedures. Over time, that caregiver could predict key reproductive stages with minimal stress to the animal. That’s the power of giving staff the right tools to measure what matters.
We’re constantly inspired by how facilities are using ACS to support welfare—from reducing stress in sensitive species to capturing enrichment participation, tracking social dynamics, or sharing medical updates. More importantly, this information is not just being stored—it’s being shared across teams, and across the world.
A Call to Collaborate
We believe animal welfare is a global responsibility—and we’re proud to support that mission through tools that help animal caregivers do what they do best. With multilingual support now available, we invite any facility—no matter where they are or what language they speak—to explore how AnimalCare Software can support their welfare goals.
Visit www.animalcaresoftware.com, or contact me directly at dave@animalcaresoftware.com for a demonstration. Together, we can keep learning, keep improving, and give every animal in human care the life they deserve.
A guest blog in collaboration with Wild Welfare
The views, opinions and positions expressed by guest bloggers are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wild Welfare or any employee thereof. Wild Welfare is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the guest bloggers. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content (including images) belongs to the author and any liability with regard to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
