Working animals are animals that perform specific tasks or services that support humans in meaningful and often vital ways. While many working animals are also much-loved companions, what sets them apart is that they have a job to do — one that contributes to human safety, wellbeing, livelihood, or education.
What is a Working Animal?
Understanding the distinction between companion animals and working animals is key. A companion animal is a pet whose primary role is to provide affection, comfort, and friendship. A working animal, on the other hand, has been trained or naturally adapted to carry out practical duties. They may also provide companionship, but their primary role is functional — to work.
In Australia, working animals are for the most part covered under the same laws as companion animals, because there is no separate legal category for “working animals”. These laws are state and territory-based due to the structure of the Australian Constitution, which assigns responsibility for domestic animal welfare and management to the states. This means that definitions, protections, and regulations affecting working animals — including assistance animals — can vary depending on where you live.
Laws governing public access rights for assistance animals, are created and enforced at the state or territory level in Australia. This means there is no single, nationally consistent legal framework — and the degree of regulation varies widely depending on the animal’s role. Very few areas, such as the use of animals in scientific research, are subject to relatively strict regulation and oversight. In contrast, other uses such as emotional support animals, entertainment animals, or pest control animals often operate in legal grey areas with fewer safeguards or formal protections.
This fragmented approach can create significant challenges for people who rely on working animals, particularly when travelling or relocating interstate. It can also lead to inconsistent animal welfare outcomes, access rights, and recognition. One of the main reasons the Working Animals Federation of Australia was founded was to advocate for nationally consistent protections, standards, and recognition for working animals across all jurisdictions.
As you’ll see from the categories listed below, some animals can fit into multiple roles. And while some working animal roles are highly regulated and professionally managed, others remain ethically complex — especially where the welfare, training, or living conditions of the animals may be compromised.
It’s important to note that the following list is not exhaustive. Working animals are incredibly diverse and their roles continue to evolve across cultures, industries, and time. Some animals may fit into more than one category, and new uses are emerging in areas such as health, conservation, and technology. We also want to be clear that the inclusion of a particular role or practice in this list does not imply our endorsement. Some historical or current uses raise serious ethical concerns, particularly where animal welfare may be compromised.
Our goal is to increase welfare standards, community safety, and legal protections by recognising the diverse ways animals have contributed — and continue to contribute — to Australian society.
Contemporary Working Animals
Working animals are found in cities and in the bush, in homes, hospitals, paddocks, government departments, and on movie sets. They come in all shapes, sizes and species.
Assistance Animals
If a valid federal law conflicts with a state law, Section 109 of the Australian Constitution says the federal law takes precedence, and the state law is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.
However, because animal law is not a federal power, it remains under state and territory jurisdiction. The federal government cannot override these laws unless the Constitution is amended or all states and territories voluntarily agree to adopt uniform legislation—such as in areas like consumer law and workplace health and safety (WHS), where laws remain state-based but are harmonised nationally.
These are specially trained animals (usually dogs) that support people with disabilities by performing tasks to increase their independence.
Examples:
- Dog guides for people who are blind or have low vision
- Hearing dogs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Mobility assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities
- Medical alert dogs for people with seizures, diabetes or other medical conditions
- Psychiatric assistance dogs for people with psychosocial disabilities such as PTSD
Therapy Animals
These animals provide emotional support, comfort, or motivation in therapeutic settings. These animals are not trained for specific tasks like assistance animals but are selected for their calm and friendly temperaments.
Examples:
- Personal therapy animals, such as a dog, providing support to a disabled person inside their own home
- Therapy visitation teams comprising of an animal, such as a rabbit, and handler visiting palliative care units, mental health facilities, universities, courtrooms, schools or disaster zones
- Facility therapy animals, such as a cat or chickens, frequently visiting or residing at a nursing home
- Professionals offering animal-assisted therapy sessions, such as a psychologist working with a dog
- Hippotherapy where disabled individuals benefit from riding horses
- Equine assisted learning where disabled individuals benefit from groundwork exercises with horses
- Crisis response animals which are trained to support first responders and survivors of traumatic events who are deployed in emergency contexts
Detection Animals
These animals are highly trained to detect substances, diseases, or even environmental threats.
Examples:
- Assistance animals used to detect changes in blood sugar, migraines or seizure activity
- Dogs detecting drugs, explosives, or contraband in prisons, security checkpoints, airports, state borders, or public events like music festivals
- Dogs trained to detect COVID-19 or tuberculosis infected individuals at airport security
- Dogs trained to detect cancer in medical settings
- Conservation dogs detecting endangered, invasive or diseased species for monitoring or rescue purposes
- Agricultural dogs detecting diseased or infected produce or crops
- Dogs used to detect oil or gas leaks, or mould spores
- Rats or bees trained to detect unexploded ordnance and landmines in post-conflict zones
- Pigs or dogs used to detect truffles
- Sniffer dogs in airports used to detect vaping devices
- Biosecurity, border security or customs dogs trained to detect illegal wildlife products such as ivory or pangolin scales
- Dogs used to detect bedbugs in hotels or transport systems
- Sea lions or dolphins used for underwater security, such as detecting underwater mines or retrieving equipment
- Fish and other marine species used to monitor environmental pollutants, toxicity levels, or ocean health in controlled ecosystems
Search and Rescue (SAR) Animals
These animals are trained to assist in locating missing people in natural disasters, wilderness settings, or urban emergencies.
Examples:
- Dogs trained to locate people buried under rubble following an earthquake, avalanche or terrorist attack
- Cadaver dogs used in forensic investigations to locate human or animal remains
- Water rescue dogs trained to rescue drowning victims in lakes, rivers or at sea
- Wilderness dogs that track missing hikers or children
- Mounted search horses used to cover difficult terrain
- Paratrooper dogs trained to jump with soldiers from aircraft
Tracking and Trailing Animals
These animals are trained to follow a specific scent trail left by a person or animal.
Examples:
- Dogs used by police to find missing persons, escaped prisoners or lost hikers
- Dogs used by law enforcement to locate drugs, weapons or other illegal items
- Hunting dogs used to track down game animals, such as deer or wild pigs
- Cadaver dogs used to locate human or animal remains
- Wildlife dogs used to track endangered species to monitor their movements for research or conservation purposes, track invasive species or locate injured animals
- Border security dogs used to track individuals entering a country illegally
- Stock dogs used to track lost or runaway livestock to prevent them straying into dangerous areas
Security Animals
These animals are trained to guard people or property, or livestock from threats such as intruders, predators, or hostile environments.
Examples:
- Guard dogs trained to patrol commercial businesses, construction sites or homes
- Dogs working with police and military units to apprehend suspects, secure premises or items, or control crowds
- Dogs used by private security companies to guard large events such as sporting events, or VIPs
- Llamas and donkeys used to guard sheep or goats against predators
- Geese or roosters used as a natural alarm signal in prisons, military bases, farms or security-sensitive areas to notify if the perimeter is breached
- Horses used in mounted patrols for guarding military bases
Education & Research Animals
Animals that help students reach educational, developmental, or therapeutic goals across a wide range of settings — from early childhood to tertiary education. Animals are also used to advance scientific knowledge, medical treatment, technology, or perform functional utility tasks.
Examples:
- Reading dogs in schools helping children develop literacy skills such as fluency and confidence
- Phasmids used in classrooms to support emotional regulation and scientific observation
- Chickens or rabbits in early learning centres supporting lessons about empathy and responsibility
- Animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs in agricultural, animal science, animal behaviour, veterinary or biology programs
- Animals used to fulfil other educational goals such as teaching ecosystems or lifecycles, explore pollination, food systems, biology, body systems or environmental sustainability
- Captive animals brought into schools by wildlife educators to support curriculum units on conservation, adaptation, or biodiversity
- Laboratory animals used in medical or scientific research, such as mice, rats, primates, beagles
- Primates used in advanced biomedical or behavioural studies
Animal Actors
Animals trained to perform in film, television, theatre, advertising, and live entertainment. These animals are taught specific behaviours to perform on cue and are often part of highly choreographed scenes.
Examples:
- Dogs and cats in commercials, television shows and movies such as Lassie, Air Bud, Secret Life of Pets, Braveheart, Gladiator, Babe, Charlotte’s Web, the Indiana Jones franchise and the Harry Potter franchise
- Dogs, birds and exotic animals in live stage or theatrical performances
- Tigers or lions used in circuses or other travelling shows
- Captive animals such as elephants, dolphins and birds of prey used in educational shows or displays
- Animals such as elephants, doves, oxen and camels used in military, cultural or religious festivals
- Animal stunt doubles which perform high-risk scenes on behalf of more famous animals
Production & Support Animals
Animals purposefully bred, managed, or trained to produce materials, food, or fibres — often with artisanal, commercial, or subsistence value. Animals are also used to manage land, vegetation, ecosystems, or terrain, often for conservation, agriculture, or land rehabilitation purposes.
Examples:
- Goats, sheep, or cattle used for targeted grazing to reduce fire risk, manage invasive species, or promote native vegetation regeneration
- Pigs used to dig or aerate soil in regenerative farming
- Reindeer used in forestry for transportation or hauling timber
- Ferrets and terriers used in pest management, such as rodent or fox control on farms or in state forests
- Horses or oxen used for ploughing or pulling carts in low-impact farming systems
- Agricultural dogs detecting diseased or infected produce or crops
- Pigs or dogs used to detect truffles
- Dogs used to hunt feral pigs
- Chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle are used for meat, milk, and eggs
- Bees are used for honey, wax and pollination services
- Goats, alpacas, llamas, and sheep for cashmere, wool, and fibre production
- Silkworms and spiders for silk production
- Livestock guardians such as alpacas, donkeys or Maremma dogs living with flocks of sheep to protect them from predators
- Dogs herding sheep or cattle
- Cats used on farms, pet stores or warehouses or breweries to control rodent populations
- Stock horses mustering livestock over long distances
Event Animals
Animals trained and used in organised sports, competitions, or recreational athletic activities. These animals may compete independently, in teams, or alongside humans.
Examples:
- Horses in equestrian sports (dressage, show jumping, eventing), racing (thoroughbred, harness, endurance) and polo and rodeo events (barrel racing, bronc riding)
- Dogs in agility competitions, flyball, canine freestyle, dock diving, and obedience trials
- Greyhound and sled dog racing
- Pigeons in homing and hobby racing competitions
- Camel racing
- Falconry as both a traditional practice and competitive sport
- Fish in competitive angling (e.g. catch-and-release sport fishing)
- Oxen or water buffalo in traditional racing or ploughing contests (e.g. in Southeast Asia or India)
- Rabbits or ferrets in agility events and novelty competitions
Other Working Animals
Animals can be trained and used in various other ways.
Examples:
- Ferrets used to run wires through pipes
- Pythons used to flush rodents from tight or inaccessible areas
- Tourist rides using elephants or camels
- Animal cafes with cats, tortoises or owls designed for stress relief
Historic and Traditional Uses of Working Animals
Throughout history, humans have relied on animals for an extraordinary range of tasks. Some of these roles have faded away with the rise of modern technology, changes in ethical standards, or the mechanisation of labour. While many of these animals played essential roles in their time — helping to drive economies, power infrastructure, or maintain vital communication — their use today is either highly limited, ceremonial, or has ceased altogether.
Understanding these past uses is important. It highlights how deeply integrated animals have been in human civilisation, how concepts of “work” evolve over time, and how shifting societal values and technological progress can change how we view animal roles and welfare.
Examples:
- Ship’s Cats – Cats were once common crew members on naval and merchant ships, valued for controlling rodent populations and providing companionship during long voyages. Their presence was believed to bring good luck and protect food stores.
- Messenger or Homing Pigeons – Pigeons were used to carry messages across long distances in wartime, particularly during the World Wars, when communication infrastructure was limited or compromised.
- Logging – In parts of Asia, elephants were traditionally used in the logging industry to haul massive logs through forests and rivers.
- Tethered for Mills and Tanneries
- Pigeon Post – Before radios and mobile networks, homing pigeons were sometimes used in remote settlements, mining camps, and even during expeditions for emergency communication.
- Animal-Powered Machines – Horses (and occasionally oxen or donkeys) were used to power leather tanning operations, grind grain, draw water from wells or operate mechanical mills or other mechanical devices by walking in circles. These manual systems have been replaced by engines and industrial-scale production.
- Desert Mail – In desert regions, camels were historically used to deliver mail and transport documents across vast distances. The advent of road vehicles, satellite communication, and aircraft has rendered this largely obsolete.
- Sled Dogs – In Arctic regions, sled dogs were once a vital part of postal systems, particularly in Alaska and northern Canada. While still used for sport and tradition, mail delivery now relies on aviation and snow vehicles.
- Mounted Cavalry – Elephants and horses were heavily used in historic military campaigns — from Hannibal’s army crossing the Alps to cavalry charges in colonial battles. Modern warfare no longer requires these roles, and they survive only in ceremonial or re-enactment contexts.
- Mining – Canaries and horses were once commonly used in coal mines — canaries as early warning systems for toxic gases like carbon monoxide, and horses (often ponies) to haul carts of coal through narrow underground tunnels before mechanised transport replaced them.