Featured Institutional Transformation in Animal Welfare: An Action Research Approach

Innovation Case Studies
Olea Roy  

This paper explores the institutional transformation in stray animal welfare management at a well-reputed, autonomous Indian educational institution situated in a semi-forested landscape. Employing an action research approach within an interpretivist paradigm, the author, a resident student from 2018 to 2022, documents the chronological evolution of this transformation. Through two cycles of intervention involving stakeholder engagement, internal and external advocacy, and policy adaptation, the institution shifted from an informal, uneven approach to a formalized welfare framework. This framework integrated feeding stations, shelters, and medical care for stray animals, reflecting both systemic and structural changes at the organizational level and a broader shift in resident values and beliefs regarding animal rights. This study demonstrates how structured interventions can overcome institutional resistance, create sustainable human-animal coexistence, and offers insights into policy adaptation and the role of participatory action research in institutional change. By fostering dialogue on the integration of structured welfare policies in educational institutions, this research aims to contribute to the broader discourse on ethical human-animal coexistence in urban environments.