Editorial Team

Scientific Specialist at Royal Canin, Research & Development, Aimargues, France.

Dr. Franck Péron is a veterinarian and animal welfare scientist with more than 15 years of experience spanning academia, industry, and veterinary organisations. He is a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine (Welfare Science, Ethics and Law) and holds a PhD in Ethology from Université Paris Ouest.

Franck has worked internationally in animal welfare, behaviour, cognition, and ethics across a range of roles in research, education, and industry. His career has included research and academic appointments, during which he managed research projects, supervised students, and lectured on animal behaviour, cognition, and welfare, as well as leadership roles in animal research facilities and ethical review processes.

Since 2020, Franck has served as a Scientific Specialist with Royal Canin, supporting the development of evidence-based products and services while providing expertise in animal welfare and behaviour across the Mars Petcare ecosystem. His work brings together scientific research, innovation, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement to advance companion animal health and well-being.

Throughout his career, Franck has been actively involved in scientific communication, international collaborations, ethical review, and professional education. He has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, participated in the organisation of international scientific conferences, served on ethical and scientific advisory committees, and reviewed for leading journals in animal behaviour and welfare science.

Franck has been a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Animal Welfare Committee since 2023 and is the incoming Chair of the Committee, succeeding Professor Heather Bacon. He is also a member of the ASAB Ethical Committee. His professional interests focus on animal behaviour and cognition, human-animal interactions, companion animal welfare and wellbeing, evidence-based welfare assessment, and the impact of early-life experiences on lifelong health, behaviour, and welfare.

Main Research Areas

• Animal behaviour and cognition
• Companion animal welfare and wellbeing
• Evidence-based animal welfare assessment
• Early-life influences on lifelong health, behaviour, and welfare