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US Residents’ Perceptions of Dog Welfare Needs and Canine Welfare Information Sources
Contributor(s):: Bir, Courtney, Croney, Candace C., Widmar, Nicole J. Olynk
The extent to which welfare needs of breeding dogs are met in commercial dog-breeding kennels is a potential point of controversy. This analysis sought to understand US residents’ perceptions and priorities related to dog welfare : by investigating (a) perceptions of breeding-dog welfare needs...
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Unwanted Horse Population in Illinois: Perceptions of Horse Owners, Non-Horse Owners, and Equine Industry Stakeholders
Contributor(s):: Myers, Kelsey, Mohammed, Fatima, Rickard, Justin W., Meyer, Donald E., Spaulding, Aslihan D.
This paper presents the results of an investigation to determine perceptions, awareness, and knowledge of the unwanted horse population in Illinois from the viewpoint of horse owners, non-horse owners, and equine industry stakeholders. A questionnaire included items that pertained to knowledge of...
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Tailored Enrichment Strategies and Stereotypic Behavior in Captive Individually Housed Macaques (Macaca spp.)
Contributor(s):: Cannon, Tessa H., Heistermann, Michael, Hankison, Shala J., Hockings, Kimberley J., McLennan, Matthew R.
The welfare of nonhuman animals in captivity is widely dependent on the natural psychological, physical, and behavioral needs of the animals and how adequately these needs are met. Inability to engage in natural behaviors can lead to chronic stress and expression of stereotypic behavior. The...
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Social Behavior of Adult Male New Zealand White Rabbits Housed in Groups or Pairs in the Laboratory
Contributor(s):: Jr, Louis DiVincenti, Rehrig, Angelika
Rabbits are usually singly housed in laboratories, but a new emphasis on providing social housing for social species has prompted exploration of alternative housing for this species. However, a paucity of literature on the social behavior of rabbits in captivity has prevented scientific-based...
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Show Horse Welfare: The Viewpoints of Judges, Stewards, and Show Managers
Contributor(s):: Voigt, Melissa, Hiney, Kristina, Croney, Candace, Waite, Karen, Borron, Abigail, Brady, Colleen
The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the current state of stock-type show horse welfare based on the perceptions of show officials and to identify potential means of preventing and intervening in compromises to show horse welfare. Thirteen horse show officials,...
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Show Horse Welfare: Horse Show Competitors' Understanding, Awareness, and Perceptions of Equine Welfare
Contributor(s):: Voigt, Melissa A., Hiney, Kristina, Richardson, Jennifer C., Waite, Karen, Borron, Abigail, Brady, Colleen M.
The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of stock-type horse show competitors' understanding of welfare and level of concern for stock-type show horses' welfare. Data were collected through an online questionnaire that included questions relating to (a) interest and general...
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Residents’ Management of, and Attitudes Towards, the Dog Population on Two Mariana Islands
Contributor(s):: Schafer, Nicole P., Farnworth, Mark
This study reports the level of care dogs received from their caretakers and the attitudes of caretakers and non-caretakers toward dogs on the islands of Guam and Saipan. Surveys were collected from residents of Guam and Saipan (274 and 275, respectively) and analyzed using chi-squared tests....
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Physiological and Behavioral Responses of Horses to Wither Scratching and Patting the Neck When Under Saddle
Contributor(s):: Thorbergson, Zoë W., Nielsen, Sharon G., Beaulieu, Rodney J., Doyle, Rebecca E.
Riding is considered to be an arousing activity for horses. It has been suggested that wither scratching may be a more useful tool for relaxation compared with the common practice of neck patting. In the current study, 18 horses were exposed to 3 treatments, including control or no interaction,...
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Investigating Potential Effects of the Contraceptive Implanon on the Behavior of Free-Ranging Adult Female Barbary Macaques
Contributor(s):: Maijer, Amanda M., Semple, Stuart
In recent years, the use of hormonal contraception in captive, free-ranging, and wild mammal populations has increased, but the effects on these nonhuman animals' behavior and the associated welfare impacts remain poorly understood. This study of free-ranging adult female Barbary macaques (Macaca...
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Infrared Thermography as an Indicator of Heat Loss in Fur-Chewing Chinchillas (Chinchilla Lanigera)
Contributor(s):: Łapiński, Stanisław, Orel, Joanna, Niedbała, Piotr, Kucharska, Weronika, Jakubowska, Magdalena, Lisowska-Lis, Agnieszka, Tombarkiewicz, Barbara, Lis, Marcin W.
Fur-chewing is a common problem in chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). It may affect the welfare of animals due to heat loss, thereby possibly impacting food and water intake to maintain body temperature. In this context, infrared thermography seems to be a suitable method of measuring heat...
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Influence of Paddock Size on Social Relationships in Domestic Horses
Contributor(s):: Majecka, Katarzyna, Klawe, Aneta
The aim of this study was to explore whether the size of paddocks affected social interactions within a group of horses. Furthermore, the effects of the gender composition in groups on social behavior were investigated. The research was done in a horse-riding center. A total of 78 horses and...
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Guardians' Perceptions of Dogs' Welfare and Behaviors Related to Visiting the Veterinary Clinic
Contributor(s):: Mariti, Chiara, Pierantoni, Ludovica, Sighieri, Claudio, Gazzano, Angelo
A large survey of Italian dog guardians (n = 906) was conducted to assess dog behavior and welfare at the veterinary clinic and to investigate how guardians and veterinarians affect them. This study confirmed that the veterinary clinic is a source of stress for most dogs, who showed impaired...
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Guardians' Perceptions of Cats' Welfare and Behavior Regarding Visiting Veterinary Clinics
Contributor(s):: Mariti, Chiara, Bowen, Jonathan E., Campa, Sonia, Grebe, Gabriele, Sighieri, Claudio, Gazzano, Angelo
To assess the welfare of cats at the veterinary clinic and how caregivers and veterinarians affect it, a survey of Italian cat guardians (n = 1,111) was conducted using a 28-item multichoice questionnaire. Most cats showed impaired welfare during all stages of a clinic visit: before entering, in...
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Guardians' Knowledge and Husbandry Practices of Feline Environmental Enrichment
Contributor(s):: Alho, Ana Margarida, Pontes, Joana, Pomba, Constança
Feline environmental enrichment can prevent numerous disorders including anxiety, stress, obesity, and feline idiopathic cystitis. Despite its easy implementation and low cost, it has received little attention. The main goal of this study was to assess guardians' knowledge concerning feline...
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Elephant Tourism in Thailand: A Review of Animal Welfare Practices and Needs
Contributor(s):: Bansiddhi, Pakkanut, Brown, Janine L., Thitaram, Chatchote, Punyapornwithaya, Veerasak, Nganvongpanit, Korakot
Elephant tourism in Thailand has developed into an important socio-economic factor after a logging ban initiated in 1989 resulted in thousands of out-of-work elephants. However, the welfare of captive elephants has been a topic of intense debate among tourists, scientists and stakeholders because...
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Effects of Two CO2 Stunning Methods on the Efficacy of Stunning and Blood Stress Indicators of Turkeys under Commercial Processing Conditions
Contributor(s):: Guijarro, Angela, Mauri, Soledad, Aviles, Carmen, Peña, Francisco
The effect of CO2 gas-stunning methods (G1: 30% CO2 15 sec, 55% CO2 40 sec, 70% CO2 45 sec; G2: 30% CO2 15 sec, 80% CO2 85 sec) on the efficacy of stunning, blood stress indicators and meat quality of turkeys were assessed. A total of 375 turkeys (125 heavy males, 125 light males, and 125 light...
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Effects of Calf Horn as Chews on the Behavior of Laboratory Dogs
Contributor(s):: Ketter, Daphne A., Klima, André, Küchenhoff, Helmut, Dobenecker, Britta, Schmidt, Jörg, Erhard, Michael H., Döring, Dorothea
It is increasingly required that non-human animals in laboratories are provided with adequate enrichment to promote the welfare of the animals. In a previous publication we showed that laboratory dogs intensively used the horn of calf hooves as chewing objects. In this report, we describe the...
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Effect of simple and low-cost enrichment items on behavioral, clinical, and productive variables of caged laying hens
Contributor(s):: Frediani, Mayra H., Pizzutto, Cristiane S., Alves, Maíra B. R., Pereira, Ricardo J. G.
Housing layers in battery cages is a practice still used by many countries but it has been criticized because of its influence on behavioral repertoire of birds. We investigated whether simple and affordable enrichment devices alone impact behavior, foot condition and performance of laying hens...
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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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The Controversy on Fish Pain: A Veterinarian’s Perspective
Contributor(s):: Chatigny, Frederic
Fish welfare is still a relatively new field. As such, regulations and protocols to ensure fish welfare are currently limited and vary considerably in different jurisdictions. This is in part because of the ongoing controversy as to whether or not fish feel pain. This controversy has persisted...
