With this edition, Animal Welfare enters its ninth year. The journal's circulation continues to increase. Currently, it is taken up in 36 countries and subscribers include 147 university and college departments and libraries. The growth is a reflection of the increasing interest in, and appreciation of the importance of, the scientific approach to animal welfare around the world. There are many important problems but a thorough understanding of animals’ needs, and how these can be met in practice, is required if progress is to be made.