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Voluntary Rein Tension in Horses When Moving Unridden in a Dressage Frame Compared with Ridden Tests of the Same Horses—A Pilot Study
| Contributor(s):: Lara Piccolo, Kathrin Kienapfel
Too much rein tension while riding may compromise the welfare of the horse. But who generates the tension on the reins—the horse or the rider? The primary aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the maximum rein tension that horses voluntarily maintain without a rider compared to rein...
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Becoming the centaur : developing non-dominant human-horse relationships in Yorkshire
| Contributor(s):: Kirsty Roisin Cameron Ferrier
This project will add to and build upon the existing anthropological literature on human-animal relations by challenging how categories such as ‘nature’, ‘culture’, ‘ethics’, ‘domestication’, and ‘kinship’ are deployed in a...
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Coping Styles in the Domestic Cat (Felis silvestris catus) and Implications for Cat Welfare
| Contributor(s):: Judith Stella, Candace Croney
Identifying coping styles in cats may lead to improved health and welfare. The aims of this study were to (1) identify individual differences in response to acute confinement, and (2) to assess the predictability of guardian-rated personality traits on behavior. Adult cats (n = 55) were...
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The impact of COVID on cat guardians: veterinary issues
| Contributor(s):: Kogan, L. R., Erdman, P., Currin-McCulloch, J., Bussolari, C., Packman, W.
The onset of COVID has impacted the field of veterinary medicine and the lives of cat guardians in numerous ways, yet the subject remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to better understand cat guardians' fears and concerns pertaining to veterinary care and obtainment of...
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The cohabitation of humans and urban cats in the anthropocene: the clash of welfare concepts
| Contributor(s):: Jaros, F.
Urban environments are inhabited by several types of feline populations, which we can differentiate as feral cats, free-roaming pets, and confined pets. Due to a shift in the cultural representation of cats from pest controllers to companion animals, cats living semi-independently of humans are...
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"Don't bring me a dog...I'll just keep it": understanding unplanned dog acquisitions amongst a sample of dog owners attending canine health and welfare community events in the United Kingdom
| Contributor(s):: Holland, K. E., Mead, R., Casey, R. A., Upjohn, M. M., Christley, R. M.
Understanding the factors that result in people becoming dog owners is key to developing messaging around responsible acquisition and providing appropriate support for prospective owners to ensure a strong dog-owner bond and optimise dog welfare. This qualitative study investigated factors that...
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Locking down the impact of New Zealand's COVID-19 alert level changes on pets
| Contributor(s):: Esam, F., Forrest, R., Waran, N.
The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on human-pet interactions within New Zealand, particularly during lockdown, was investigated via two national surveys. In Survey 1, pet owners (n = 686) responded during the final week of the five-week Alert Level 4 lockdown (highest level of restrictions -...
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A conceptual model of the human-animal relationships dynamics during newborn handling on cow-calf operation farms
| Contributor(s):: Costa, F. de O., Valente, T. S., Toledo, L. M. de, Ambrosio, L. A., Campo, M. del, Costa, M. J. R. P. da
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Risk factors for aggression in adult cats that were fostered through a shelter program as kittens
| Contributor(s):: O'Hanley, K. A., Pearl, D. L., Niel, L.
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Keeping that Doggie in the (Car) Window Safe: Recommendations for Driving with Canine Companions
| Contributor(s):: Phyllis Coleman
Part I of this article uses the empirical research of experts (animal behaviorists, ethologists, and cynologists) to explain reasons canine companions and their humans love riding together. It also highlights the potential risks when dogs distract drivers. Acknowledging that only a few studies...
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Responding to Risk: Regulation or Prohibition? New Zealand Media Reporting of Thoroughbred Jumps Racing 2016–2018
| Contributor(s):: Kylie A. Legg, Mary Breheny, Erica K. Gee, Chris W. Rogers
Jumps racing involves a higher risk of accident and fatality than flat racing. The wide accessibility of media, combined with alternate views regarding the place of animals in society, raises the question of the acceptability of the continuation of jumps racing. Racing data and media articles...
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A Retrospective Analysis of Complaints to RSPCA Queensland, Australia, about Dog Welfare
| Contributor(s):: Hao Yu Shih, Mandy B. A. Paterson, Clive J. C. Phillips
Animal neglect and cruelty are important welfare and social issues. We conducted an epidemiological study of dog welfare complaints and identified risk factors. The retrospective study included 107,597 dog welfare complaints received by RSPCA Queensland from July 2008 to June 2018. The risk...
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A Survey of Italian Dairy Farmers' Propensity for Precision Livestock Farming Tools
| Contributor(s):: Fabio Abeni, Francesca Petrera, Andrea Galli
A targeted survey was designed with the aim of describing the diffusion of precision livestock farming (PLF) tools in one of the most intensive dairy farming provinces in Italy. Technicians at the Provincial Breeder Association of Cremona interviewed 490 dairy farmers and obtained data...
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Evaluating stress in riding horses: part one - behavior assessment and serum cortisol
| Contributor(s):: Hovey, M. R., Davis, A., Chen, S., Godwin, P., Porr, C. A. S.
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We Say "Tomato," They Say "Woof": The Argument for Abandoning "Provocation" in Dog Bite Statutes
| Contributor(s):: Phyllis Coleman
When a dog bites, state statutes impose liability on his owner for the resulting injuries and/or label the nonhuman animal "dangerous."
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Guiding Reins
Our goal is two-fold; we are rescuing horses and giving them a high noble purpose - rescuing loved ones and restoring meaning to their lives. Guiding Reins offers an alternative to improve mental/physical health for all ages. Horses once destined for disposal create a unique and powerful...
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Understanding Fear and Stranger-Directed Aggression in Companion Dogs
| Contributor(s):: Hannah Flint
Stranger-directed aggression is both a public safety and animal welfare concern. The objectives of this thesis were to identify risk factors for stranger-directed aggression in dogs, to assess the effect of targeted owner training on the accuracy of ratings of fear in dogs, and to identify...
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The Views of the UK Public Towards Routine Neutering of Dogs and Cats
| Contributor(s):: Chanakarn Wongsaengchan, Dorothy E.F. McKeegan
Despite being routinely recommended by veterinarians, neutering of dogs and cats has both positive and negative impacts on animal welfare and is ethically problematic. We examined attitudes of a sample of the UK public towards routine neutering of dogs and cats using a questionnaire....
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Health and Body Conditions of Riding School Horses Housed in Groups or Kept in Conventional Tie-Stall/Box Housing
| Contributor(s):: Jenny Yngvesson, Juan Carlos Rey Torres, Jasmine Lindholm, Annika Pättiniemi, Petra Andersson, Hanna Sassner
We compared welfare measures of horses among Swedish riding schools (RS) during winter where horses were kept either in group housing (n = 8) or in tie-stalls/boxes (n = 8), Health data for six previous months were obtained for all horses at each RS from their records. Ten horses per...
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Investigating the Impact of Indemnity Waivers on the Length of Stay of Cats at an Australian Shelter
| Contributor(s):: Jessica Pockett, Bronwyn Orr, Evelyn Hall, Wye Li Chong, Mark Westman
Due to resource limitations, animal shelters in Australia historically have focused on rehoming animals considered ‘highly adoptable’. Increasingly, animal shelters in Australia are rehoming animals with pre-existing medical and/or behavioural issues. These animals are often rehomed...
