WSPA approves of the keeping of companion animals only when there is full personal commitment to the welfare of the animals. The animals must always be provided with shelter, exercise, care, food and water appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs.

The regulations governing companion animals must include the licensing and control of breeders to ensure humane breeding and rearing conditions. There must also be compulsory registration and identification of dogs (and any other animals needing similar control according to local conditions).

WSPA is opposed in principle to all mutilations on companion animals carried out for non-therapeutic reasons. It also condemns selective breeding, in a search for certain external features, which affects the health and welfare of the animals.

However, WSPA believes that the de-sexing of cats and dogs by a veterinarian represents a vital component of population control measures and advocates the de-sexing of domestic cats and dogs as early as possible, unless there are veterinary or other valid reasons to the contrary.

WSPA reluctantly accepts that the humane destruction of healthy animals may sometimes be unavoidable. WSPA therefore advocates that these animals be killed by a method which has been determined to be both painless and effective and which is administered by responsible and properly trained individuals.