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Temperament in Captivity, Environmental Enrichment, Flight Ability, and Response to Humans in an Endangered Parrot Species
Contributor(s):: Ramos, G. A. P., Azevedo, C. S., Jardim, T. H. A., Sant'Anna, A. C.
Temperament assessment is useful in reintroduction programs. Reactivity to humans and flight ability are also important behavioral aspects for captive parrots candidates to reintroduction. The study aimed: a) to evaluate if behavioral responses to environmental enrichment differ as a function of...
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A Survey of Rabbit Handling Methods Within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland
Contributor(s):: Oxley, James Andrew, Ellis, Clare Frances, McBride, E. Anne, McCormick, Wanda Denise
Rabbits are commonly kept in a variety of settings, including homes, laboratories, and veterinary clinics. Despite the popularity of keeping this prey species, little research has investigated current methods of handling. The aim of this study was to examine the experience of caregivers (owners...
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Positive Reinforcement Training for Blood Collection in Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) Results in Undetectable Elevations in Serum Cortisol Levels: A Preliminary Investigation
Contributor(s):: Joyce-Zuniga, Nicole M., Newberry, Ruth C., Robbins, Charles T., Ware, Jasmine V., Jansen, Heiko T., Nelson, O. Lynne
Training nonhuman animals in captivity for participation in routine husbandry procedures is believed to produce a lower stress environment compared with undergoing a general anesthetic event for the same procedure. This hypothesis rests largely on anecdotal evidence that the captive subjects...
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Extensive human presence and regular gentle handling improve growth, survival and immune competence in ostrich chicks
Contributor(s):: Muvhali, Pfunzo T., Bonato, Maud, Engelbrecht, Anel, Malecki, Irek A., Cloete, Schalk W. P.
A total of 416 day-old ostrich chicks were randomly allocated to one of the three different husbandry practices for 3 months after hatch; HP1 (extensive human presence with gentle human voice, visual and gentle physical stimuli), HP2 (similar to HP1 but without physical stimuli) and S (human...
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Does Enrichment Improve Well Being in Animals under Human Care? A Case Study of Two Harbor Seals (Phoca Vitulina)
Contributor(s):: Vaicekauskaite, Ruta, Schneider, Jennifer N., Delfour, Fabienne
Harbor seals in the wild live in a stimulating environment; therefore, nonhuman-animal caretakers have increasingly been using environmental enrichment to improve the well being of seals under human care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an object-based environmental enrichment program...
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Applying Behavioral Conditioning to Identify Anticipatory Behaviors
Contributor(s):: Krebs, Bethany L., Torres, Erika, Chesney, Charlie, Moon, Veronica Kantoniemi, Watters, Jason V.
The ability to predict regular events can be adaptive for nonhuman animals living in an otherwise unpredictable environment. Animals may exhibit behavioral changes preceding a predictable event; such changes reflect anticipatory behavior. Anticipatory behavior is broadly defined as a...
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Advances in Applied Zoo Animal Welfare Science
Contributor(s):: Ward, Samantha J., Sherwen, Sally, Clark, Fay E.
Nonhuman animal welfare science is the scientific study of the welfare state of animals that attempts to make inferences about how animals feel from their behavior, endocrine function, and/or signs of physical health. These welfare measurements are applicable within zoos yet inherently more...
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A Qualitative Analysis of Pets as Suicide Protection for Older People
Contributor(s):: Young, Janette, Bowen-Salter, Holly, O’Dwyer, Lisel, Stevens, Kristen, Nottle, Carmel, Baker, Amy
An unanticipated finding during research on the role that pets play in the health of older adults was that pets had protected some from suicide. Given that older people are more vulnerable to fatal first attempts, understanding protective factors in this population is vital. Twelve older adults...
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Why Did I Share My Life With Glucio? A Life Course Approach to Explaining Pet Ownership Motivations in Late Adulthood
Contributor(s):: Uribe, Ana Cecilia Reyes
The main purpose of this study was to gain insight into the motivations for pet ownership in late adulthood using a life course approach. A qualitative research methodology based on deductive thematic analysis was applied to examine the accounts given by 21 pet owners living in Mexico: 14 women...
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Animals and Pastoral Groups in the Mountainous Ömerli District of Southeast Anatolia
Contributor(s):: Siddiq, Abu Bakar, Şanlı, Süleyman
Southeast Anatolia has been an ideal place for pastoralism since the Neolithic period. However, there is a lack of information on human–animal relationships from both archaeological settlements and contemporary societies in the region. Through ethnographic fieldwork and exploratory case studies...
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The Relationship Between Pet Attachment, Life Satisfaction, and Perceived Stress: Results from a South African Online Survey
Contributor(s):: Roux, Marieanna C. le, Wright, Simonne
Pets are an important part of many pet owners’ lives, yet very little is known about this complex relationship within a South African context. Most of the research on pet attachment and pet ownership stems from developed countries such as the USA. The present study used an online survey to...
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The Effectiveness of Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy in Adolescents with Serious Emotional Disturbances
Contributor(s):: Roberts, Hanna, Honzel, Nikki
Adolescents with serious emotional disturbances (SED) are a particularly difficult population to treat owing to high comorbidity rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and behavioral conduct disorders. The current study compared the effectiveness of equine-facilitated psychotherapy...
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The Effects of Dogs on Learning: A Meta-Analysis
Contributor(s):: Reilly, Katie M., Adesope, Olusola O., Erdman, Phyllis
Integrating dogs into learning environments is becoming more prevalent as growing evidence demonstrates positive benefits of dogs on human functioning. To date, there is no known quantitative review of research that specifically investigates the impacts of dogs within school/classroom...
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The Relationship Between Neuroticism Facets, Conscientiousness, and Human Attachment to Pet Cats
Contributor(s):: Reevy, Gretchen M., Delgado, Mikel M.
Gaining knowledge about the diverse correlates of human–pet attachment will help us better understand the nature of this bond. Previous research found that the personality dimensions of neuroticism and conscientiousness positively predicted human attachment to multiple types of pets. To address a...
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Attitudes to Animal Abuse in Veterinary Practice in Poland
Contributor(s):: Pręgowski, Michał Piotr, Cieślik, Sandra
Over the last two decades, animal abuse and neglect, as well as the relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence, have been the subject of numerous academic inquiries. Existing studies on this issue have primarily been conducted in Anglo-Saxon and Western European countries, and little...
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Effects of Human–Dog Interactions on Salivary Oxytocin Concentrations and Heart Rate Variability: A Four-Condition Cross-Over Trial
Contributor(s):: Powell, Lauren, Edwards, Kate M., Michael, Scott, McGreevy, Paul, Bauman, Adrian, Guastella, Adam J., Drayton, Bradley, Stamatakis, Emmanuel
Dog ownership is often advocated for its potential benefits to human health, with changes to oxytocin and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity proposed as possible underlying mechanisms. The aims of the current study were to a) examine the effect of two common types of human–dog interactions...
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Characteristics of Student– Dog Interaction during a Meet-and-Greet Activity in a University-Based Animal Visitation Program
Contributor(s):: Pendry, Patricia, Kuzara, Stephanie, Gee, Nancy R.
The use of university-based Animal Visitation Programs (AVPs)—programs aimed at reducing student stress through human–animal interaction (HAI)—has increased. Implementation has expanded despite our limited understanding about program effects on student and animal wellbeing. Moreover, little is...
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Belief in Pigs’ Capacity to Suffer: An Assessment of Pig Farmers, Veterinarians, Students, and Citizens
Contributor(s):: Peden, Rachel S. E., Camerlink, Irene, Boyle, Laura A., Loughnan, Steve, Akaichi, Faical, Turner, Simon P.
Intensive animal production practices lead to animal suffering worldwide. This study examined whether farmers cope with the negative impact of farming practices on their animals by ascribing them less capacity to suffer compared with other species. Most people like eating meat but find animal...
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Relationships Between People with Cancer and Their Companion Animals: What Helps and Hinders
Contributor(s):: Nitkin, Patricia, Buchanan, Marla J.
This qualitative research project examined the impact of the relationships between persons with cancer and their companion animals. The goal of this study was to explore the helpful and unhelpful aspects of having a companion animal for people with cancer dealing with the emotional challenges...
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The Impact of Owning a Guide Dog on Owners’ Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Study
Contributor(s):: McIver, Sara, Hall, Sophie, Mills, Daniel S.
Individuals with visual impairments often report low quality of life (QOL), increased depression, and reduced functionality. Trained assistance dogs have been shown to help improve QOL and daily functioning of individuals affected by chronic conditions, but these studies have been largely...
