Enduring strengths and a critical gap, the Ottawa Charter and animal rescue fostering in Aotearoa-New Zealand

Bibliographic Data

ID22944218
AuthorsChristine Roseveare (0000-0002-9118-8082, Massey University, corresponding author), Linda Murray (0000-0001-7066-656X, Massey University), Mary Breheny (0000-0002-1603-8033, Massey University), Juliana Mansvelt (0000-0002-2709-6167, Massey University), Marg Wilkie (Massey University)
Year2026
Volume41
Issue3
Publication date2026-05-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daag078
PMID42262064
OpenAlexW7163992372
LanguageEN
References cited50

According to the Ottawa Charter, both care for others and a supportive environment promote health. Although the Ottawa charter focuses on the human context, animal rescue organizations can be conceptualized as providing supportive environments as part of their work to rehome animals. Animal fosterers also build care relationships with the animals they foster. Therefore, the Ottawa Charter provides a foundation for viewing animal fostering as health promotion. This mixed-methods study analysed animal rescue cat fostering programmes in Aotearoa-New Zealand from the perspective of the Ottawa Charter. Data was collected using a quantitative survey of 40 cat rescue organizations with foster programmes, and semistructured interviews (n = 14) with foster programme co-ordinators across Aotearoa-New Zealand. Template analysis was used to apply principles from the Ottawa Charter to the interview data, revealing (i) fostering as care to create health, and (ii) Ottawa charter strategies in action. Key findings were that fostering involved multiple, sometimes challenging aspects of care for others. Some co-ordinators described using strategies aligned with Ottawa Charter action areas to structure their service (strengthening community action, creating supportive environments, developing skills, and reorienting from institutional to community-based services). These strategies supported their ability to care for themselves, and animals. We argue the Ottawa Charter's framing of care for others can be expanded to include human–animal relationships and that cat fostering programmes demonstrate health promotion in action. This case study demonstrates the Ottawa Charter's enduring contribution while highlighting the need for public health to evolve to maintain relevance in our multispecies world.

Best practice · Charter · Framing (construction) · Health care · Promotion (chess) · Public health · Service delivery framework · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Veterinary Practice and Education Studies

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