Characteristics of Cats Admitted to Czech Shelters
The aim of this study was to describe the numbers and characteristics of cats entering Czech shelters. Records of sheltered cats were collected from three cat shelters situated in different regions of the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2015. A total of 2170 cat admissions were analyzed in this study. Significantly (p < .001) greater numbers of […]
Interobserver agreement and sensitivity to climatic conditions in sheltered dogs’ welfare evaluation performed with welfare assessment protocol (Shelter Quality protocol)
The Shelter Quality protocol (SQP) is a concise and easily implemented tool for assessing dog welfare and to identify critical aspects of the shelter environment. A first version of the protocol has been modified to improve its performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the measures included in the second […]
An investigation using different data gathering methods into the prevalence of behavioral problems in shelter dogs—A pilot study
Behavioral problems in shelter dogs, especially stereotypies, may be an indication of poor management practices within the shelters. To facilitate the inclusion of behavioral problems in an official standardized protocol for shelter assessment, it is necessary to identify a method to gather prevalence data. The method must be both valid and feasible in terms of […]
Behavior and spatial use of enclosures by does and fawns of farmed fallow deer in postnatal period
The aim of this study was to determine the hiding preferences of farmed European fallow deer does and fawns in natural sites and artificial shelters during the postnatal period. A total of 270 hours of video surveillance footage showing the behavior of fallow deer fawns in the first 18 days of life were analyzed. The […]
Application of a welfare assessment tool (Shelter Quality Protocol) in 64 Italian long-term dogs’ shelters: welfare hazard analysis
The confined environment of the dog shelter, particularly over extensive time-periods can impact severely on welfare. Surveillance and assessment are therefore essential components of the welfare protocol. The aim of this study was to generate a descriptive analysis of a sample of Italian long-term shelters and identify potential hazards regarding the welfare of shelter dogs. […]
Social spacing of crayfish in natural habitats: what role does dominance play?
We examined the impact of dominance on crayfish social spacing and resource control. Spatial distributions of individual crayfish, Orconectes propinquus, were recorded from five sample sites in Douglas Lake, MI, USA. Crayfish populations from each site were collected and then immediately transferred to artificial ponds in order to reproduce potential dominance hierarchies. After 15 h […]
The behaviour of domestic cats in a shelter: Residence time, density and sex ratio
Many cats that are rendered to a shelter fail to find a new home. Older and other less desirable cats may face a significant amount of time in the shelter prior to adoption. Therefore, the present study compared the behaviour of domestic cats subjected to different lengths of time, room density (RD) and sex ratio […]
Preference of Syrian hamsters to nest in old versus new bedding
This study tested whether Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) have an aversion to old bedding (up to 14 days) by offering them the option to nest in a new cage. A secondary goal was to assess the relative value of shelters by testing whether the tendency to nest in the new cage was reduced when a […]
Introducing Dogs into Kennels: Prediction of Social Tendencies to Facilitate Integration
Ethological observations of the introduction of new charges into a large mixed-sex group in a dog shelter, and the later behaviour of the dogs in the run, were used to investigate a method of early assessment of the dogs’ reactions to the new situation. Subjects were divided qualitatively into four categories according to their interactional […]
The effect of the kennel environment on canine welfare- a critical review of experimental studies
Dogs can be held temporarily or permanently in kennels for a number of reasons, not necessarily for their own benefit. Although restrictive environments have been associated with poor welfare, priorities for research and change cannot be understood unless the various aspects of the kennel environment are appreciated separately. This review critically evaluates the experimental research […]