Effect of Visitor Perspective on Adoption Decisions at One Animal Shelter
This study investigated the visitor experience at one urban animal shelter. While several previous studies have examined the reasons particular nonhuman animals are chosen by adopters, few have investigated the possible reasons one would visit a shelter and leave without adopting. Over a two-month period, 158 visitors were surveyed after they were finished touring the […]
US Residents’ Perceptions of Dog Welfare Needs and Canine Welfare Information Sources
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 and (b) perceptions of various nonhuman animal welfare information sources. Using […]
Pilot study evaluating surface temperature in dogs with or without fear-based aggression
The use of a standardized physiological measure in veterinary behavior evaluations would improve both accuracy of the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment response. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a noninvasive, remote assessment tool used primarily in research to evaluate changes in surface body temperature resulting from underlying physiological processes. IRT has not been examined widely […]
The potential beneficial effect of classical music on heart rate variability in dogs used in veterinary training
Heart rate variability (HRV), the variability between subsequent heart beats, is a measure of autonomic tone, influenced by psychophysiological factors, neurohormonal mechanisms and cardiac disease. Auditory stimulation, specifically classical music, has been documented to benefit well-being in a number of animal species. The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure to classical music […]
Attitudes of veterinarians and veterinary students to recommendations on how to improve dog and cat welfare in veterinary practice
The veterinary profession is an ambassador for the welfare of animals, but the visit to a veterinary practice is in itself stressful for many animals. A multitude of recommendations how to reduce stress during a visit to the veterinarian is available, but they are often not implemented in practice. Therefore, the aim of this study […]
The effect of feeding enrichment toys on the behaviour of kennelled dogs (Canis familiaris)
In general, an animal’s inability to perform specific behaviours (for example, due to a lack of suitable stimuli or physical restraint) is often viewed as a cause of reduced welfare of animals kept in captivity. There is increasing evidence that the opportunity to display more species-specific appetitive behaviours is beneficial to captive animals. The present […]
An Audit of Behavioral Indicators of Poor Welfare in Kenneled Dogs in the United Kingdom
This survey-based study describes the prevalence and onset of behavioral indicators of poor welfare in dogs kenneled at United Kingdom rescue shelters. It describes key factors contributing to individual variation in behaviors. At 8 rescue shelters, staff trained in the care of nonhuman animals recorded daily whether dogs in their care displayed each of 15 […]
Prediction of the behaviour of puppies using tests with regard to their humane treatment and welfare
Eight puppies were submitted to the Open-Field test, with regard to typization of their nervous system type and formation of their future behaviour. The purpose of the study was to avoid unexpected and stressful situations during their education that is a demonstration of humane attitude towards this animal species. It is shown that the tests […]
The behaviour of dogs in a rescue shelter
Every year sees an increase in the number of dogs admitted to rescue shelters. However well these dogs are cared for in the shelter it cannot be ignored that being in such a situation is stressful and the time spent in the shelter may change the dogs’ behaviour which may in turn influence their chances […]
Cortisol determination in hair and faeces from domestic cats and dogs
The present study explored the feasibility of a hair cortisol assay in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris) as a valid and reliable alternative to existing non invasive techniques for monitoring the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity. To this aim, 56 new hair growth samples and 870 faecal samples from 27 domestic cats […]