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Leonardi RJ, Vick SJ, Buchanan-Smith HM. Participation in a Prison-Based Training Programme Is Beneficial for Rescue Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1530. [PMID: 38891576 PMCID: PMC11171100 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Dogs are often relinquished because of behavioural issues which may be exacerbated in rehoming centres. Prison-based dog training programmes (DTPs) may enhance outcomes for rescue dogs by providing socialisation and training opportunities to improve behaviour, welfare and likelihood of rehoming. We assessed whether dogs benefitted from participation, 1-3 times per week, in a prison-based DTP in which male young offenders learn how to train and care for dogs waiting to be rehomed. Within DTP sessions, there was significant improvement on a range of training tasks (n = 42 dogs). Analyses of videos (n = 17 dogs) in the kennels and a training barn pre- and post-DTP participation showed improvement in some positive behaviours, but no significant change in other behaviours. Subjective ratings by staff of the dogs' behaviour were made (n = 20 dogs). Desirable behaviours (e.g., playful/friendly) increased, and most undesirable behaviours (e.g., frustrated and noisy) decreased. Participation in the DTP did not mitigate all negative behaviours. However, improvements are consistent with enhanced welfare and likelihood of successful rehoming. Prison-based DTPs can be effective in supporting the work of animal rescue organisations to improve outcomes for dogs, while offering people in custody an opportunity to engage in purposeful activity and provide a community service.
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2
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Gunter LM, Blade EM, Gilchrist RJ, Nixon BJ, Reed JL, Platzer JM, Wurpts IC, Feuerbacher EN, Wynne CDL. The Influence of Brief Outing and Temporary Fostering Programs on Shelter Dog Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3528. [PMID: 38003145 PMCID: PMC10668817 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Human interaction is one of the most consistently effective interventions that can improve the welfare of shelter-living dogs. Time out of the kennel with a person has been shown to reduce physiological measures of stress as can leaving the shelter for a night or more in a foster home. In this study, we assessed the effects of brief outings and temporary fostering stays on dogs' length of stay and outcomes. In total, we analyzed data of 1955 dogs from 51 animal shelters that received these interventions as well as 25,946 dogs residing at these shelters that served as our controls. We found that brief outings and temporary fostering stays increased dogs' likelihood of adoption by 5.0 and 14.3 times, respectively. While their lengths of stay were longer in comparison to control dogs, this difference was present prior to the intervention. Additionally, we found that these programs were more successful when greater percentages of community members (as compared to volunteers and staff) were involved in caregiving as well as when programs were implemented by better-resourced shelters. As such, animal welfare organizations should consider implementing these fostering programs as evidence-based best practices that can positively impact the outcomes of shelter dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Gunter
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; (E.M.B.); (R.J.G.); (C.D.L.W.)
| | - Emily M. Blade
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; (E.M.B.); (R.J.G.); (C.D.L.W.)
| | - Rachel J. Gilchrist
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; (E.M.B.); (R.J.G.); (C.D.L.W.)
| | - Betsy J. Nixon
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; (E.M.B.); (R.J.G.); (C.D.L.W.)
| | - Jenifer L. Reed
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (J.L.R.); (J.M.P.); (E.N.F.)
| | - Joanna M. Platzer
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (J.L.R.); (J.M.P.); (E.N.F.)
| | | | - Erica N. Feuerbacher
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (J.L.R.); (J.M.P.); (E.N.F.)
| | - Clive D. L. Wynne
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; (E.M.B.); (R.J.G.); (C.D.L.W.)
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Cohen S, Ho C. Review of Rat ( Rattus norvegicus), Mouse ( Mus musculus), Guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus), and Rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) Indicators for Welfare Assessment. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2167. [PMID: 37443965 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The monitoring and assessment of animals is important for their health and welfare. The appropriate selection of multiple, validated, and feasible welfare assessment indicators is required to effectively identify compromises or improvements to animal welfare. Animal welfare indicators can be animal or resource based. Indicators can be collated to form assessment tools (e.g., grimace scales) or animal welfare assessment models (e.g., 5 Domains) and frameworks (e.g., 5 Freedoms). The literature contains a wide variety of indicators, with both types needed for effective animal welfare assessment; however, there is yet to be an ideal constellation of indicators for animal-based welfare assessment in small mammals such as guinea pigs (Cavia Porcellus), mice (Mus musculus), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and rats (Rattus norvegicus). A systematic review of grey and peer-reviewed literature was performed to determine the types of animal-based welfare indicators available to identify and assess animal health and welfare in these small mammals maintained across a wide variety of conditions. The available indicators were categorised and scored against a selection of criteria, including potential ease of use and costs. This review and analysis aim to provide the basis for further research into animal welfare indicators for these species. Future applications of this work may include improvements to animal welfare assessments or schemes, guiding better management, and implementing future strategies to enable better animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shari Cohen
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camden 2570, Australia
| | - Cindy Ho
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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4
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van der Laan JE, Vinke CM, Arndt SS. Sensor-supported measurement of adaptability of dogs (Canis familiaris) to a shelter environment: Nocturnal activity and behavior. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286429. [PMID: 37319231 PMCID: PMC10270336 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Every shelter dog is faced with the challenge to adapt to a kennel environment. To monitor the welfare of individual shelter dogs, evaluating behavioural and physiological parameters, potentially useful as indicators for adaptability of individual dogs is crucial. Nocturnal activity, i.e. resting patterns, has already been identified as a candidate indicator of adaptability and can be easily measured remotely with the help of sensors. We investigated the usefulness of a 3-axial accelerometer (Actigraph®) to monitor nocturnal activity in shelter dogs every night during the full first two weeks in-shelter starting directly at shelter intake, as a measure of welfare. Additionally, urinary cortisol/creatinine ratio (UCCR), body weight and behaviour data were collected to evaluate stress responses. A control group of pet dogs in homes, matched to the shelter dog group, was also monitored. Shelter dogs had higher nocturnal activity and UCCRs than pet dogs, especially during the first days in the shelter. Nocturnal activity, both accelerometer measures and activity behaviour, and UCCRs decreased over nights in the shelter. Smaller dogs had higher nocturnal activity and UCCRs than larger dogs and showed less autogrooming during the first nights. Dogs with no previous kennel experience had higher nocturnal activity and UCCRs, and showed less body shaking, than dogs with previous kennel experience. Overall, sheltered dogs also showed less body shaking during the first night. The number of dogs showing paw lifting decreased over days. Age class and sex effected only few activity behaviours. Shelter dogs significantly lost body weight after 12 days in the shelter compared to the moment of intake. Shelter dogs had disrupted nocturnal resting patterns and UCCRs compared to pet dogs and seem to partly adapt to the shelter environment after two weeks. Sensor-supported identification of nocturnal activity can be a useful additional tool for welfare assessments in animal shelters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janneke E. van der Laan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Division of Animals in Science and Society, Animal Behaviour Group, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia M. Vinke
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Division of Animals in Science and Society, Animal Behaviour Group, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia S. Arndt
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Division of Animals in Science and Society, Animal Behaviour Group, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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5
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Novack LI, Schnell-Peskin L, Feuerbacher E, Fernandez EJ. The Science and Social Validity of Companion Animal Welfare: Functionally Defined Parameters in a Multidisciplinary Field. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1850. [PMID: 37889767 PMCID: PMC10251938 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Social validity refers to the social significance and acceptability of intervention goals, procedures, and outcomes. Animal practitioners, who are often guided by the principles of ABA, lack the benefit of verbal participants (at least with respect to target animals) with which to assess a client's needs and preferences. The study of a learner's welfare is useful for determining areas where intervention is needed or how the learner feels about an intervention that is underway. Three tenets of animal welfare measurement include physiological function, naturalistic behavior, and affect, where affect refers to private events, including emotions, which are a function of the same variables and contingencies responsible for controlling public behavior. The development of new technologies allows us to look "under the skin" and account for subjective experiences that can now be observed objectively. We introduce the reader to tools available from the animal welfare sciences for the objective measurement of social validity from the learner's perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren I. Novack
- Department of Special Education, Hunter College, New York, NY 10022, USA;
| | | | - Erica Feuerbacher
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA;
| | - Eduardo J. Fernandez
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
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6
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Dare P, Strasser R. Ruff Morning? The Use of Environmental Enrichment during an Acute Stressor in Kenneled Shelter Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091506. [PMID: 37174543 PMCID: PMC10177596 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The length of stay for some animals has increased with the recent reduction of animals euthanized in US shelters and animal control facilities. Research examining the effectiveness of different types of enrichment on buffering the effects of acute daily stressors in the shelter environment, such as kennel cleaning, is lacking. In addition, daily known stressors can result in undesirable behaviors that could lead to a need for euthanasia. Ways to effectively reduce the effects of daily stressors while optimizing strained resources is currently a high priority. In this study, we presented shelter dogs with food, tactile, and scent enrichment items to increase (arousing) or decrease (calming) activity during the daily stressor of morning kennel cleaning. We found that calming, rather than arousing, enrichment items were associated with body position scores indicative of lower stress in dogs, with calming scent enrichment (lavender) producing the most significant benefit. In contrast, items that showed the greatest reduction in vocalization were arousing (ball) compared to other arousing conditions. Our findings suggest that different unwanted behaviors in the kennel environment often associated with stress can be reduced using specific types of enrichment during a daily stressful event. Further, the results illustrate that enrichment items other than food might be more effective at decreasing certain undesirable behaviors. Overall, this study provides insight into how shelter workers might effectively use enrichment items during an unavoidable acute stressor. With many shelters keeping dogs longer, addressing events that might cause repeated stress in this population may indirectly help with adopting and lowering euthanasia rates due to unwanted behavior that develops due to repeated exposure to this necessary but acute stressor of morning cleaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Dare
- Neuroscience and Behavior, Psychology Department, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Rosemary Strasser
- Neuroscience and Behavior, Psychology Department, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
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7
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Lamon TK, Slater MR, Moberly HK, Budke CM. Welfare and Quality of Life Assessments for Shelter Cats: A Scoping Review. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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8
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Berteselli GV, Messori S, Arena L, Smith L, Dalla Villa P, de Massis F. Using a Delphi method to estimate the relevance of indicators for the assessment of shelter dog welfare. Anim Welf 2022. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.31.3.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The European regulatory framework lacks standardisation as regards the minimum requirements for shelter facilities, making defining welfare standards for dogs challenging. Dog (Canis familiaris) welfare assessments should consist of a comprehensive set of measurements that allow
the calculation of an overall 'welfare score.' The Shelter Quality protocol was developed for the purpose of assessing shelter dog welfare. The study aims to establish a standardised system for evaluating shelter dog welfare by obtaining agreement from experts on the weighting of different
measures contributing to an overall welfare score. The Delphi technique is a widely used method for establishing consensus among experts. Two Delphi procedures were implemented and we compared their effectiveness in achieving expert consensus by evaluating rounds' numbers required to reach
consensus and the response and attrition rates. Expert consensus was achieved in Delphi 1 when the standard deviation in the expert weightings was ≤ 5. This was achieved easily for the welfare score weightings of the four principles: 'Good feeding', 'Good housing', 'Good Health', and 'Appropriate
behaviour.' Animal-based measures were found to reach consensus more quickly than resource-based measures. In Delphi 2, we used the coefficient of variation to determine consensus. No statistical differences were found between the two Delphi methods for attrition rate, response rate or number
of participants. Continuing rounds until a consensus is reached is recommended as this method balances time and participant fatigue. A standardised scoring system is provided, using a single overall score of welfare that can be used to compare welfare standards between shelters.
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Affiliation(s)
- GV Berteselli
- Departiment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milano, Italy
| | - S Messori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise 'G Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - L Arena
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise 'G Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - L Smith
- aculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - P Dalla Villa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise 'G Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - F de Massis
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Abruzzo e Molise 'G Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
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9
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The effect of atopic dermatitis on quality of life of affected dogs and their owners in Romania. J Vet Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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10
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Lamon TK, Slater MR, Moberly HK, Budke CM. Welfare and quality of life assessments for shelter dogs: A scoping review. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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11
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A Pilot Study to Develop an Assessment Tool for Dogs Undergoing Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) in Italy. An Overview on the National Implementation of TNR Programmes. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113107. [PMID: 34827842 PMCID: PMC8614265 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This paper describes the development of a tool to assess the welfare of dogs recruited in trap-neuter-release (TNR) programmes and the Italian situation involving the implementation of these programmes. The TNR approach has been proposed as an alternative to long-term sheltering to control the rising population of free-roaming dogs. The protocol was developed on the basis of a shelter quality protocol (SQP). The measures included in the protocol were integrated with other welfare indicators proposed in the scientific literature. Nine Italian regions out of 20 (all from central and southern Italy) prescribe by law the implementation of TNR programmes. A varied scenario and some critical issues related to the TNR approach for the management of the dog population emerged. The findings, although preliminary, suggest that the protocol could be a useful tool for the assessment of dog welfare. Abstract A descriptive analysis, inter-observer and test–retest reliability of the animal-based measures (ABMs) included in the protocol were performed. This study aimed at the development of a welfare assessment protocol for dogs recruited in the trap-neuter-release (TNR) programmes and the description of the implantation of these programmes in Italy. Nine Italian regions carried out TNR programmes. A varied scenario, along with some critical issues, emerged. Fifty dogs were recruited and assessed simultaneously by two assessors to determine the reliability of ABMs included in the protocol. A subsample of ten dogs were assessed three times to assess test–retest reliability. All females were neutered against 36% of males. Most dogs were adults (58%) and of a large size (68%). Vaccine prophylaxis and parasitic prevention were regular in 13% and 76% of dogs, respectively. Few dogs showed lameness, evidence of pain, other clinical problems, or thermal discomfort. Overall, 82% of dogs did not show fear or aggression to unfamiliar people. The level of agreement between the two assessors was quite high, ranging from substantial (0.61–0.80) to perfect (1) for the majority of measures. This study highlighted some critical issues in TNR implementation and the suitability of the protocol as a tool for animal welfare assessment.
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Amaya V, Descovich K, Paterson MBA, Phillips CJC. Effects of Music Pitch and Tempo on the Behaviour of Kennelled Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2020; 11:ani11010010. [PMID: 33374683 PMCID: PMC7822479 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Domestic dogs often live in confined environments for different reasons. These environments can be challenging for some dogs and this can lead to high levels of stress and arousal, which could affect welfare. Auditory enrichment has been shown to reduce arousal-related behaviours in dogs, and the aim of this study was to investigate if these effects are induced by particular characteristics of music such as tempo and pitch. The behaviour of 10 kennelled dogs was monitored in response to music tracks played with different characteristics (high pitch, low pitch, fast tempo and slow tempo), as well as white noise and a control. Low pitch tracks seemed to prompt behavioural changes by increasing the level of alertness of the dogs, potentially due to the association between low frequency vocalisations with agonistic contexts, making them more vigilant of their surroundings. Abstract Confinement can be stressful for some dogs and this can lead to behavioural issues and poor welfare. A key component of the stress response is behavioural arousal, characterised by increased alertness and sensory sensitivity. This makes behavioural observations a useful tool to assess stress, as they provide insight into an animal’s internal state. Auditory enrichment has been shown to reduce arousal-related behaviour in dogs, but it is not clear if specific characteristics of a music track, such as tempo and/or pitch, produce these effects. The aim of this study was to compare behavioural responses of dogs to music tracks played with different characteristics (high pitch, low pitch, fast tempo, and slow tempo), as well as white noise and a control. Pitch and tempo modifications were applied to ten piano music songs and the six treatments (four different treatment-song combinations, white noise, and control) were presented daily, for ten minutes each, to ten dogs over ten days. Behavioural changes seemed to be driven by low-pitch tracks, which increased the level of alertness of the dogs. These findings could be related to the Morton’s motivations-structural rules: harsh, low frequency vocalisations signal aggressive motivations in mammals. Dogs may have perceived low-pitch tracks as more unsettling and were therefore more active and alert when listening to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Amaya
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Queensland, White House Building (8134), Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; (K.D.); (M.B.A.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kris Descovich
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Queensland, White House Building (8134), Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; (K.D.); (M.B.A.P.)
| | - Mandy B. A. Paterson
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Queensland, White House Building (8134), Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia; (K.D.); (M.B.A.P.)
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Queensland, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia
| | - Clive J. C. Phillips
- Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia;
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Ask K, Rhodin M, Tamminen LM, Hernlund E, Haubro Andersen P. Identification of Body Behaviors and Facial Expressions Associated with Induced Orthopedic Pain in Four Equine Pain Scales. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10112155. [PMID: 33228117 PMCID: PMC7699379 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pain scales are tools developed to improve pain assessment in horses. They are based on behaviors and/or facial expressions, and the observer allocates a score based on the character of the behavior or facial expression. Little is known about behaviors and facial expressions at rest in horses with orthopedic pain since pain is mainly assessed by lameness evaluation during movement. The aim of this study was to describe how closely equine behaviors and facial expressions are associated with movement asymmetry and to identify combinations of behavior and expressions present in horses with induced orthopedic pain. Orthopedic pain was induced in eight horses and assessed in two ways; using four existing equine pain scales at rest, and by measuring movement asymmetry during movement. The association of behavior and facial expression items in the pain scales with actual lameness was analyzed. Posture-related behavior showed the strongest association, while facial expressions varied between horses. These results show that pain scales for orthopedic pain assessment would benefit from including posture, head position, location in the box stall, focus, interactive behavior, and facial expressions. This could improve orthopedic pain detection in horses during rest with mild lameness. Abstract Equine orthopedic pain scales are targeted towards horses with moderate to severe orthopedic pain. Improved assessment of pain behavior and pain-related facial expressions at rest may refine orthopedic pain detection for mild lameness grades. Therefore, this study explored pain-related behaviors and facial expressions and sought to identify frequently occurring combinations. Orthopedic pain was induced by intra-articular LPS in eight horses, and objective movement asymmetry analyses were performed before and after induction together with pain assessments at rest. Three observers independently assessed horses in their box stalls, using four equine pain scales simultaneously. Increase in movement asymmetry after induction was used as a proxy for pain. Behaviors and facial expressions commonly co-occurred and were strongly associated with movement asymmetry. Posture-related scale items were the strongest predictors of movement asymmetry. Display of facial expressions at rest varied between horses but, when present, were strongly associated with movement asymmetry. Reliability of facial expression items was lower than reliability of behavioral items. These findings suggest that five body behaviors (posture, head position, location in the box stall, focus, and interactive behavior) should be included in a scale for live assessment of mild orthopedic pain. We also recommend inclusion of facial expressions in pain assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Ask
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.R.); (E.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-725-384-820
| | - Marie Rhodin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.R.); (E.H.)
| | - Lena-Mari Tamminen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden; (L.-M.T.); (P.H.A.)
| | - Elin Hernlund
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden; (M.R.); (E.H.)
| | - Pia Haubro Andersen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden; (L.-M.T.); (P.H.A.)
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14
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Stubsjøen SM, Moe RO, Bruland K, Lien T, Muri K. Reliability of observer ratings: Qualitative behaviour assessments of shelter dogs using a fixed list of descriptors. Vet Anim Sci 2020; 10:100145. [PMID: 33204895 PMCID: PMC7648176 DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2020.100145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is a whole-animal approach used to quantify the expressive style of animals’ behaviour. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-observer reliability of QBA of shelter dogs using a fixed list of descriptors. The fixed list of 20 terms was generated using a group of experts and literature reviews. In the pilot study, seven veterinary students scored 12 two-minute video clips, and in the main study, 22 final year veterinary nurse students and third-year veterinary students scored the same videos. The two datasets were analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the level of agreement for the main components and individual terms was assessed using Kendall's coefficient of concordance (W). In the pilot study, the observer agreement was 0.89 for PC1 and 0.78 for PC2, indicating high inter-observer agreement. The reliability was similarly high for both components in the main study (0.88 and 0.79, respectively). Results also demonstrated high or moderate agreement for most of the terms included in the fixed list. We propose that this approach can be a useful learning tool for students. Our results support further exploration of this method for the assessment of shelter dog welfare by direct observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solveig Marie Stubsjøen
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Food Safety, Section for Terrestial Animal Health, Wildlife and Welfare, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, N-0106 Oslo, Norway
| | - Randi Oppermann Moe
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, N-0102 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin Bruland
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, N-0102 Oslo, Norway
| | - Tuva Lien
- Hegdehaugsveien 3a, N-0352 Oslo, Norway
| | - Karianne Muri
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, N-0102 Oslo, Norway
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Vojtkovská V, Voslářová E, Večerek V. Methods of Assessment of the Welfare of Shelter Cats: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091527. [PMID: 32872242 PMCID: PMC7552334 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
At any moment, there are millions of cats housed in foster care facilities for abandoned and stray animals for various reasons worldwide. Care, management and regulation among these facilities differ. Moreover, shelters can never substitute the full comfort of a good home for the animal, and the welfare of cats in shelters is a subject of discussion in many respects. Cats are animals sensitive to changes; for most of them, placement in a shelter is a stressful experience because of changes in routine, environment and the presence of other animals. Stress is reflected in changes in behaviour, causes fluctuations in physiological values and disrupts the immune system, which is a predisposition to the development or reactivation of disease. Evaluation of the presence and intensity of negative impacts is possible through the use of evaluation tools based on indicators that help set the environment and management of keeping so as to disrupt the quality of life as little as possible. Although a comprehensive and valid welfare tool that would evaluate animal-based and at the same time resource-based (or management-based) indicators of cats in shelters is not currently available, it is possible to use partial evaluation of individual welfare indicators to assess welfare. This review aims to provide the readers with an insight into current options of assessment of the welfare of cats in shelters with an emphasis on behavioural, physiological and health indicators with an application in both practical and scientific contexts.
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Clay L, Paterson M, Bennett P, Perry G, Rohlf V, Phillips CJ. In defense of canine behavioral assessments in shelters: Outlining their positive applications. J Vet Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Freeman LM, Rush JE, Clark MA, Bulmer BJ. Validation and preliminary data from a health-related quality of life questionnaire for owners of dogs with cardiac disease. J Vet Intern Med 2020; 34:1119-1126. [PMID: 32396234 PMCID: PMC7255686 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiac disease in dogs impacts the quality of life (QoL) of their owners, but owners' QoL has not been comprehensively assessed in this population. OBJECTIVES To develop, validate, and provide preliminary data from a health-related QoL (hrQoL) questionnaire for owners of dogs with cardiac disease. SUBJECTS A total of 141 owners of dogs with cardiac disease were studied. METHODS An owner hrQoL (O-hrQoL) questionnaire containing 20 items related to areas of a person's life that could be impacted by caring for a dog with cardiac disease was developed and administered to owners of dogs with cardiac disease. The highest possible total score was 100, with higher scores indicating a worse hrQoL. Readability, internal consistency, face and construct validity, and item-total correlations were assessed. RESULTS Median O-hrQoL score was 35 (range, 0-87). The questionnaire had good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.933), construct validity (Spearman's r = 0.38-0.53; Kendall's τ = 0.30-0.43; P < .001), and item-total correlation (Spearman's r = 0.44-0.79; Kendall's τ = 0.34-0.66; all P < .001). Fifty percent of owners indicated a negative effect of dogs' cardiac disease on their own QoL, but all owners responded that caring for their dogs either had strengthened (n = 76; 53.9%) or had no effect on their relationship with their dog (n = 65; 46.1%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The O-hrQoL questionnaire had good validity, and results suggest that owners' QoL is significantly impacted by caring for dogs with cardiac disease. Additional research on effective approaches to minimizing the negative effects of a dog's cardiac disease on the owner is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Freeman
- Department of Clinical Science, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John E Rush
- Department of Clinical Science, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Melissa A Clark
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Barret J Bulmer
- Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties, Walpole, Massachusetts, USA
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18
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Amaya V, Paterson MBA, Phillips CJC. Effects of Olfactory and Auditory Enrichment on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E581. [PMID: 32235593 PMCID: PMC7222336 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Shelter environments are stressful for dogs, as they must cope with many stimuli over which they have little control. This can lead to behavioural changes, negatively affect their welfare and downgrade the human-animal bond, affecting re-homing success. Arousal is evident in their behaviour, particularly increased activity and frequent vocalisation. Environmental enrichment plays an important role in reducing arousal behaviour, either through direct physiological effects or by masking stressful stimuli. The present study focused on sensory environmental enrichment, using olfactory and auditory stimuli under shelter conditions. Sixty dogs were allocated to one of four treatments: three types of enrichment, Lavender, Dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) and Music, and a Control group. Stimuli were applied for 3 h/d on five consecutive days. Dogs exposed to DAP lay down more, and those exposed to Music lay down more with their head down, compared to the Control. Those in the Control stood more on their hind legs with their front legs on the exit door, compared to those exposed to Music and DAP, particularly if they had only been in the shelter for a short time. They also panted and vocalised much more than dogs in the three enrichment treatments, which tended to persist during the 4 h period post treatment, and in the case of vocalisation into the subsequent night. The study suggests that all three enrichments had some positive benefits for dogs in shelters, as well as being non-invasive and easy to apply in the shelter environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Amaya
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Queensland, White House Building (8134), Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
| | - Mandy B. A. Paterson
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4076, Australia;
| | - Clive J. C. Phillips
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Queensland, White House Building (8134), Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
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19
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Murtagh K, Farnworth MJ, Brilot BO. The scent of enrichment: Exploring the effect of odour and biological salience on behaviour during enrichment of kennelled dogs. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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20
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Mugenda L, Shreyer T, Croney C. Refining canine welfare assessment in kennels: Evaluating the reliability of Field Instantaneous Dog Observation (FIDO) scoring. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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21
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Arena L, Wemelsfelder F, Messori S, Ferri N, Barnard S. Development of a fixed list of terms for the Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of shelter dogs. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212652. [PMID: 31584954 PMCID: PMC6777901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The shelter environment may have a severe impact on the dogs’ quality of life, and there is thus a need to develop valid tools to assess their welfare. These tools should be sensitive not only to the animals’ physical health but also to their mental health, including the assessment of positive and negative emotions. Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is a ‘whole animal’ measure that captures the expressive quality of an animal’s demeanour, using descriptive terms such as ‘relaxed’, ‘anxious’, and ‘playful’. In this study, for the first time, we developed and tested a fixed-list of qualitative QBA terms for application to kennelled dogs. A list of 20 QBA terms was developed based on literature search and an expert opinion survey. Inter-observer reliability was investigated by asking 11 observers to use these terms to score 13 video clips of kennelled dogs. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to extract four main dimensions explaining 70.9% of the total variation between clips. PC1 characterised curious/playful/excitable/sociable demeanour, PC2 ranged from comfortable/relaxed to anxious/nervous/stressed expression, PC3 described fearful demeanour, and PC4 characterised bored/depressed demeanour. Observers’ agreement on the ranking of video clips on these four expressive dimensions was good (Kendall’s W: 0.60–0.80). ANOVA showed a significant effect of observer on mean clip score on all PCs (p<0.05), due to few observers scoring differently from the rest of the group. Results indicate the potential of the proposed list of QBA terms for sheltered dogs to serve, in alignment with other measures, as a non-invasive assessment tool. However, the observer effect on mean PC scores points towards the need for adequate observer training, particularly in live scoring conditions. The QBA scoring tool can be integrated with existing welfare assessment protocols for shelter dogs and strengthen the power of those protocols to evaluate the animals’ experience in shelters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Arena
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
- Università di Teramo, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Piano d'Accio, Teramo, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Franҫoise Wemelsfelder
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, Scotland’s Rural College, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Scotalnd, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Messori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Teramo, Italy
| | - Shanis Barnard
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
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Hall SS, Brown BJ, Mills DS. Developing and Assessing the Validity of a Scale to Assess Pet Dog Quality of Life: Lincoln P-QoL. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:326. [PMID: 31616681 PMCID: PMC6775215 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been little investment in exploring the impact of the child-dog relationship on the dog. Since child-dog interactions can pose potentially serious threats to a dog's physical and psychological health, as well as the wider satisfaction of the owner with their dog, we describe the development and validation of an owner-completed pet dog quality of life scale (Lincoln P-QOL), to enable professionals and families to monitor dog well-being and employ suitable interventions as required. Four-hundred and two dog-owners (194 lived with a neuro-typically developing child; 208 lived with a child with a neuro-developmental disorder) responded to an online survey. Respondents recorded whether they had observed their dog displaying any of the 22 behavioral responses which have been identified as being common in 11 child-dog interactions. These behavioral responses appeared to group into three categories of behaviors (i.e., behavioral constructs), representing Excitability, Calmness, and Fearfulness in the dog. To assess convergent validity of the quality of life scale respondents completed additional measures including, dog body condition score, health issues (incorporating psychological factors such as anxiety and physical proxies of well-being, such as skin irritations) and dog-owner relationship satisfaction. Excitability and Fearfulness constructs were associated with a negative impact on dog health and the owner-dog relationship. Calmness was associated with a positive impact on the dog-owner relationship. A range of interactions, including carefully expressed child-dog physical affection and spending quiet time together appear to had a beneficial impact on dog quality of life, whereas rough contact, child meltdowns, and grooming/bathing had a negative effect. We found little evidence to support a difference in the overall quality of life of dogs living with neuro-typically developing children compared to those with a neuro-developmental disorder. However, parents and practitioners need to be aware of the potential increased risk to dog well-being when meltdowns, grooming/bathing, and quiet time involve a child with a neuro-developmental disorder. This is the first validated scale for the assessment of dog well-being around children, additionally, the behavioral constructs identified may form the rational basis of a more general dog behavior/stress assessment tool in social situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie S. Hall
- Animal Behaviour Cognition and Welfare Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Beverley J. Brown
- Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel S. Mills
- Animal Behaviour Cognition and Welfare Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
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McLennan KM, Miller AL, Dalla Costa E, Stucke D, Corke MJ, Broom DM, Leach MC. Conceptual and methodological issues relating to pain assessment in mammals: The development and utilisation of pain facial expression scales. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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24
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Righi C, Menchetti L, Orlandi R, Moscati L, Mancini S, Diverio S. Welfare Assessment in Shelter Dogs by Using Physiological and Immunological Parameters. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9060340. [PMID: 31212652 PMCID: PMC6616394 DOI: 10.3390/ani9060340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In “no-kill policy” countries, many dogs live in shelters. Several social, environmental, and management challenges can put the welfare of shelter dogs at risk. More knowledge is still needed on how to assess shelter dog welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the state of welfare of a group of dogs entering a shelter using physiological and immunological parameters by exploring the value of some biological indicators obtained by non-invasive methods. Considering that early welfare assessment could improve the management of subjects more prone to developing distress, measurements were taken at the time of admission and four weeks after the dogs entered the shelter. A multivariate statistical approach was used to comprehensively evaluate the relationship between the variables investigated. A reduction in the values of the measured physiological and immune parameters over time suggested an improvement in the dogs’ welfare after four weeks of being in the shelter compared to the initial capture and admission time. Findings also highlighted that some of the parameters investigated, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, and fecal cortisol and lysozyme could be used for the welfare assessment of dogs entering a shelter. Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the state of welfare of a group of dogs during the first month after entering the shelter by using different stress parameters. Blood and fecal samples were collected from a group of 71 dogs at the time of admission to the shelter. In 46 of these dogs, sampling was repeated after four weeks. Well-recognized welfare biomarkers, such as fecal cortisol and leukocytes, as well as some innovative parameters (β-endorphin and lysozyme) were determined. Uni- and multivariate statistical analyses were used to evaluate their interactions and changes over time. Neutrophils (p < 0.01), lysozyme (p < 0.05), and fecal cortisol (p < 0.05) decreased, while lymphocytes (p < 0.05) increased after four weeks compared to the first days of being in the shelter, suggesting an improvement in the dogs’ welfare over time. A principal component analysis extracted three bipolar components (PCs), explaining 75% of the variance and indicating negative associations between neutrophil and lymphocyte (PC1), lysozyme and β-endorphin (PC2), cortisol and lysozyme (PC3). The associations between these variables within each PC also confirmed the intricate relationships between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the immune system as well as the importance of a multiparametric approach in evaluating welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Righi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", via Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Laura Menchetti
- Laboratory of Ethology and Animal Welfare (LEBA), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia University, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
| | | | - Livia Moscati
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", via Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Stefania Mancini
- Public Veterinary Services for Urban Hygiene and Prevention of Stray Dogs, USL Umbria 1, Municipal Rescue Dog Shelter, Strada per Brufa snc, Collestrada, 06148 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Silvana Diverio
- Laboratory of Ethology and Animal Welfare (LEBA), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia University, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
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25
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A modified combined C-BARQ and QoL for both the companion dog and its owner. An embryo to a companion dog welfare assessment? Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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26
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Menchetti L, Righi C, Guelfi G, Enas C, Moscati L, Mancini S, Diverio S. Multi-Operator Qualitative Behavioural Assessment for dogs entering the shelter. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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27
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Polgár Z, Blackwell EJ, Rooney NJ. Assessing the welfare of kennelled dogs-A review of animal-based measures. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019; 213:1-13. [PMID: 32287573 PMCID: PMC7126575 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Hundreds of thousands of dogs are housed in kennels worldwide, yet there are no standard protocols for assessing the welfare of dogs in these environments. Animal science is focusing increasingly on the importance of animal-based measures for determining welfare states, and those measures that have been used with kennelled dogs are reviewed in this paper with particular focus on their validity and practicality. From a physiological standpoint, studies using cortisol, heart rate and heart rate variability, temperature changes, and immune function are discussed. Behavioural measures are also of great relevance when addressing canine welfare, thus studies on fear and anxiety behaviours, abnormal behaviours like stereotypies, as well as responses to strangers and novel objects are reviewed. Finally, a limited number of studies attempting to use cognitive bias and learning ability are also mentioned as cognitive measures. The literature to date provides a strong background for which measures may be useful in determining the welfare of kennelled canines, however more research is needed to further assess the value of using these methods, particularly in regard to the large degree of individual differences that exist between dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zita Polgár
- Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, University of Bristol, Langford, United Kingdom
| | - Emily J Blackwell
- Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, University of Bristol, Langford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Rooney
- Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, University of Bristol, Langford, United Kingdom
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28
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Normando S, Di Raimondo G, Bellaio E. An investigation using different data gathering methods into the prevalence of behavioral problems in shelter dogs—A pilot study. J Vet Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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29
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Yon L, Williams E, Harvey ND, Asher L. Development of a behavioural welfare assessment tool for routine use with captive elephants. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210783. [PMID: 30726232 PMCID: PMC6364905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been much concern in recent years about the welfare of elephants in zoos across North America and Europe. While some previous studies have assessed captive elephant welfare at a particular point in time, there has been little work to develop methods which could be used for regular, routine welfare assessment. Such assessment is important in order to track changes in welfare over time. A welfare assessment tool should be rapid, reliable, and simple to complete, without requiring specialist training and facilities; welfare assessments based on behavioural observations are well suited to this purpose. This report describes the development of a new elephant behavioural welfare assessment tool designed for routine use by elephant keepers. Tool development involved: (i) identification of behavioural indicators of welfare from the literature and from focus groups with relevant stakeholders; (ii) development of a prototype tool; (iii) testing of the tool at five UK zoological institutions, involving 29 elephants (representing 46% of the total UK captive elephant population of 63 animals); (iv) assessment of feasibility and reliability of aspects of the prototype tool; (v) assessment of the validity of each element of the tool to reflect the relevant behaviour by comparing detailed behavioural observations with data from the prototype tool; (vi) assessment of known-groups criterion validity by comparing prototype tool scores in individuals with demographics associated with better or worse welfare; (vii) development of a finalised tool which incorporated all elements of the tool which met the criteria set for validity and reliability. Elements of the tool requiring further consideration are discussed, as are considerations for appropriate application and interpretation of scores. This novel behavioural welfare assessment tool can be used by elephant-holding facilities for routine behavioural welfare monitoring, which can inform adjustments to individual welfare plans for each elephant in their collection, to help facilities further assess and improve captive elephant welfare. This study provides an example of how an evidence-based behavioural welfare assessment tool for use by animal caretakers can be developed within the constraints of zoo-based research, which could be applied to a range of captive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Yon
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Ellen Williams
- School of Animal Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi D. Harvey
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Asher
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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30
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Interobserver agreement and sensitivity to climatic conditions in sheltered dogs' welfare evaluation performed with welfare assessment protocol (Shelter Quality protocol). J Vet Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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31
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Application of Free Choice Profiling to assess the emotional state of dogs housed in shelter environments. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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32
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Hall SS, Wright HF, Mills DS. Parent perceptions of the quality of life of pet dogs living with neuro-typically developing and neuro-atypically developing children: An exploratory study. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185300. [PMID: 28953961 PMCID: PMC5617192 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing scientific and societal recognition of the role that pet dogs can play in healthy development of children; both those who are neuro-typically developing and those who live with a neuro-developmental disorder, such as autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, little attention has been paid to how living with children positively and negatively affects quality of life of a pet dog. In this exploratory study we conducted semi-structured interviews with parents of neuro-typically developing children (n = 18) and those with a neuro-developmental disorder (n = 18) who owned a pet dog, until no new factors were identified. Living with children brought potentially positive benefits to the dog's life including: imposition of a routine, participation in recreational activities and the development of a strong bond between the child and the dog. The importance of maintaining a routine was particularly prevalent in families with children with neuro-developmental disorders. Potential negative factors included having to cope with child meltdowns and tantrums, over stimulation from child visitors, harsh contact and rough and tumble play with the child. The regularity and intensity of meltdowns and tantrums was particularly evident in responses from parents with children with a neuro-developmental disorder. However, child visitors and rough play and contact were mentioned similarly across the groups. Protective factors included having a safe haven for the dog to escape to, parent's awareness of stress signs and child education in dog-interaction. Parents were also asked to complete a stress response scale to provide an initial quantitative comparison of stress responses between dogs living with the two family-types. Parents with neuro-typically developing children more frequently observed their dog rapidly running away from a situation and less frequently observed their dog widening their eyes, than parents with children with a neuro-developmental disorder. We propose the development of a stress audit based on the findings reported here, to prevent potential dangerous situations, which may lead to dog bites and dog relinquishment and allow owners to maximise the benefits of dog ownership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie S. Hall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah F. Wright
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel S. Mills
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, United Kingdom
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33
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Assessment of Clicker Training for Shelter Cats. Animals (Basel) 2017; 7:ani7100073. [PMID: 28937608 PMCID: PMC5664032 DOI: 10.3390/ani7100073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Living conditions in animal shelters can be stressful for cats. Clicker training might be able to alleviate this stress, by giving cats an opportunity to learn new behaviors and interact with humans. In this study, we assessed the initial ability of 100 shelter cats to perform four cued behaviors: touching a target, sitting, spinning, and giving a high-five. Each cat completed 15, five-min training sessions over a two-week span. At the end of the program, we assessed the cats’ ability to perform the same behaviors. On average, the cats performed better on all four behaviors after clicker training, suggesting that the cats could learn to perform specific behaviors on cue. Individual cats with a higher level of interest in food showed greater gains in learning for two of the behaviors (high-five and touching a target). Cats with a bolder temperament at post-assessment demonstrated greater gains in learning than those classified as shy. We suggest that clicker training can be used to enhance cats’ well-being while they are housed in shelters, and that the learned behaviors might make them more desirable to adopters. Abstract Clicker training has the potential to mitigate stress among shelter cats by providing environmental enrichment and human interaction. This study assessed the ability of cats housed in a shelter-like setting to learn new behaviors via clicker training in a limited amount of time. One hundred shelter cats were enrolled in the study. Their baseline ability to perform four specific behaviors touching a target, sitting, spinning, and giving a high-five was assessed, before exposing them to 15, five-min clicker training sessions, followed by a post-training assessment. Significant gains in performance scores were found for all four cued behaviors after training (p = 0.001). A cat’s age and sex did not have any effect on successful learning, but increased food motivation was correlated with greater gains in learning for two of the cued behaviors: high-five and targeting. Temperament also correlated with learning, as bolder cats at post assessment demonstrated greater gains in performance scores than shyer ones. Over the course of this study, 79% of cats mastered the ability to touch a target, 27% mastered sitting, 60% mastered spinning, and 31% mastered high-fiving. Aside from the ability to influence the cats’ well-being, clicker training also has the potential to make cats more desirable to adopters.
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Arhant C, Troxler J. Is there a relationship between attitudes of shelter staff to cats and the cats’ approach behaviour? Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Qualitative Behaviour Assessment of dogs in the shelter and home environment and relationship with quantitative behaviour assessment and physiological responses. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Freeman LM, Rodenberg C, Narayanan A, Olding J, Gooding MA, Koochaki PE. Development and initial validation of the Cat HEalth and Wellbeing (CHEW) Questionnaire: a generic health-related quality of life instrument for cats. J Feline Med Surg 2016; 18:689-701. [PMID: 27562979 PMCID: PMC11148897 DOI: 10.1177/1098612x16657386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aims of the study were to define factors that owners consider relevant to the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of cats, to develop an instrument based on this information, and to evaluate the validity and reliability of the final instrument (the Cat HEalth and Wellbeing [CHEW] Questionnaire). METHODS Psychometric research techniques and guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration on outcome measures were used to develop a valid and reliable instrument. Fifty-four cat owners and caregivers participated in the qualitative research, while 1303 cat owners were included in the quantitative validation phase (development dataset, n = 648; validation dataset, n = 655). A random subset of cat owners (n = 391) also participated in test-retest evaluation. Qualitative research was used to generate a draft instrument, which was then subjected to quantitative validation techniques. These included item reduction, domain identification, data quality assessment, and exploratory and confirmatory analysis to develop a final instrument, which underwent confirmatory reliability and validity assessment. RESULTS A draft instrument with 11 domains and 100 items based on qualitative research underwent online quantitative validation testing which refined the instrument to eight domains and 33 items. Confirmatory reliability and validity assessment showed that the final instrument had good validity, was able to discriminate between cats by age and overall health status, and demonstrated good internal and test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The CHEW Questionnaire was developed and validated. Additional research is needed to verify its ability to differentiate cats with and without disease, and to assess its potential as a screening tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Freeman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Cindy Rodenberg
- Global Statistics and Data Management, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, OH 45040, USA
| | - A Narayanan
- Global Statistics and Data Management, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, OH 45040, USA
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Barnard S, Calderara S, Pistocchi S, Cucchiara R, Podaliri-Vulpiani M, Messori S, Ferri N. Quick, Accurate, Smart: 3D Computer Vision Technology Helps Assessing Confined Animals' Behaviour. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158748. [PMID: 27415814 PMCID: PMC4944961 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mankind directly controls the environment and lifestyles of several domestic species for purposes ranging from production and research to conservation and companionship. These environments and lifestyles may not offer these animals the best quality of life. Behaviour is a direct reflection of how the animal is coping with its environment. Behavioural indicators are thus among the preferred parameters to assess welfare. However, behavioural recording (usually from video) can be very time consuming and the accuracy and reliability of the output rely on the experience and background of the observers. The outburst of new video technology and computer image processing gives the basis for promising solutions. In this pilot study, we present a new prototype software able to automatically infer the behaviour of dogs housed in kennels from 3D visual data and through structured machine learning frameworks. Depth information acquired through 3D features, body part detection and training are the key elements that allow the machine to recognise postures, trajectories inside the kennel and patterns of movement that can be later labelled at convenience. The main innovation of the software is its ability to automatically cluster frequently observed temporal patterns of movement without any pre-set ethogram. Conversely, when common patterns are defined through training, a deviation from normal behaviour in time or between individuals could be assessed. The software accuracy in correctly detecting the dogs’ behaviour was checked through a validation process. An automatic behaviour recognition system, independent from human subjectivity, could add scientific knowledge on animals’ quality of life in confinement as well as saving time and resources. This 3D framework was designed to be invariant to the dog’s shape and size and could be extended to farm, laboratory and zoo quadrupeds in artificial housing. The computer vision technique applied to this software is innovative in non-human animal behaviour science. Further improvements and validation are needed, and future applications and limitations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanis Barnard
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Simone Calderara
- Engineering Department “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Simone Pistocchi
- Engineering Department “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Rita Cucchiara
- Engineering Department “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Messori
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo, Italy
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Barnard S, Pedernera C, Candeloro L, Ferri N, Velarde A, Dalla Villa P. Development of a new welfare assessment protocol for practical application in long-term dog shelters. Vet Rec 2015; 178:18. [PMID: 26612859 DOI: 10.1136/vr.103336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
In many European shelters, dogs may spend many years confined. A poor environment and inappropriate management may lead to a low quality of life. The absence of harmonised European regulatory frameworks defining the minimum requirements for shelter facilities makes the definition of welfare standards for kennelled dogs challenging. Here, a new protocol was developed and tested to help identify the main welfare issues for shelter dogs. Twenty-six indicators were identified including management, resource and animal based measures. Accuracy and interobserver reliability were checked between four assessors. The protocol was applied in 29 shelters (n=1308 dogs) in six European countries. Overall prevalence of poor health conditions was below 10%. Test-retest reliability and validity of the protocol were investigated with encouraging results. A logistic regression was carried out to assess the potential of the protocol as a tool to identify welfare hazards in shelter environments. Inappropriate space allowance, for example, was found to be a risk factor potentially affecting the animal's cleanliness, skin condition and body condition. The protocol was designed to be concise and easy to implement. Systematic data collection could help identify welfare problems that are likely to arise in certain shelter designs and thus determine improvement in animal care standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Barnard
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - C Pedernera
- Animal Welfare Subprogram, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries, Veïnat de Sies s/n, Monells, Girona E17121, Spain
| | - L Candeloro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - N Ferri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - A Velarde
- Animal Welfare Subprogram, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries, Veïnat de Sies s/n, Monells, Girona E17121, Spain
| | - P Dalla Villa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, Teramo 64100, Italy
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Arhant C, Wogritsch R, Troxler J. Assessment of behavior and physical condition of shelter cats as animal-based indicators of welfare. J Vet Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2015.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Kiddie J, Collins L. Identifying environmental and management factors that may be associated with the quality of life of kennelled dogs (Canis familiaris). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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