Thrive Welfare Standards
Why Welfare Standards Matter
At Thrive Raw Food For Dogs, we believe true health begins with true compassion. Our dog food welfare standards set a new benchmark in South Africa for how pet food ingredients should be sourced, handled, and respected. Every meal we create reflects our unwavering commitment to ethical sourcing, animal welfare, and sustainability.
Many pet foods—raw or kibble—cut corners with cheap, factory-farmed ingredients, routine antibiotics, and practices that separate young animals from their mothers. At Thrive, we take a stand for higher welfare, because we know what’s good for animals is good for your dog, your conscience, and the planet.
Our 7-Point Thrive Welfare Standard
We do not support animals held in confined captivity. We will not support an industry where sows are kept in farrowing crates, and hens are confined in inhumane cages in order to lay eggs only.
We only work with farms and producers who allow young animals to remain with their mothers for natural nursing and rearing. We strongly reject the practice of separating calves, lambs, or other young animals from their mothers at birth or shortly after.
Animals must be raised in environments that allow natural behaviors — including access to pasture, shelter, space to move freely, and companionship within their species.
All handling practices must be gentle and respectful. We do not support any systems that use confinement, overcrowding, electric prods, forced weaning, or routine mutilations (e.g., tail docking, dehorning) without medical necessity and pain management.
Where slaughter is part of the process, we require that it be done humanely — minimizing stress, using quick and painless methods, and eliminating fear as far as possible.
Animals must not be given growth hormones. Antibiotics may only be used when medically necessary, never as a routine growth aid.
Minimal waste and environmental impact.
See Our Ingredient List
Every product page lists the source and welfare status of each main ingredient. Learn more on our Product Details page.