Discipline: Sociology

Contemplating the Five Domains model of animal welfare assessment: UK horse owner perceptions of equine well-being

K.A. Fletcher, L.J. Cameron, M. Freeman

Published in 2021

Scientific paper demonstrating that a simple educational infographic based on the five domains model had a significant impact on riders' assessment of equine welfare, despite the fact that they still found it difficult to assess their horses' emotions objectively.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Dairy farmer, hoof trimmer, and veterinarian perceptions of barriers and roles in lameness management

E.M. Wynands, S.M. Roche, G. Cramer, B.A. Ventura

Published in 2021

Scientific paper reporting on the perceptions of farmers' hoof trimmers and vets concerning the management of lameness in dairy cows. Lameness is perceived as a complex, multi-factorial problem that is poorly understood and whose contributing factors are difficult to change. Those involved are resigned, believing that lameness is inevitable. Participants suggested that hoof trimmers and veterinarians should work together to send a consistent message to farmers.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Pain, Human-animal relationships

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Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment

Martine Hausberger, Clémence Lesimple, Séverine Henry

Published in 2021

A scientific review investigating the reasons why most domestic horses have unsatisfactory welfare levels despite being very close to humans. It identifies human subjectivity, human misinterpretation of signals sent by horses, and human desensitisation to welfare situations as the main contributing factors. It proposes the promotion of validated indicators to allow horse welfare to be assessed objectively. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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The Human Aspect of Horse Care: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted the Wellbeing of Equestrian Industry Stakeholders

Ashley Ward, Kate Stephen, Caroline Argo, Christine Watson, Patricia Harris, Madalina Neacsu, Wendy Russell, Dai Grove-White, Philippa Morrison

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting the results of a survey of equine stakeholders on their feelings about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It shows that the pandemic has affected veterinarians and horse owners due to restrictions on contact and human-horse interactions. However, the pandemic has also led to initiatives to maintain social links between owners as a remedy for isolation.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of animals to the environment, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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Strepsirrhine Primate Training Programs in North American Institutions: Status and Implications for Future Welfare Assessment

Gloria Fernández-Lázaro, Meg H. Dye, Christie Eddie, Gina M. Ferrie

Published in 2021

Scientific paper to evaluate the impact of strepsirrhinia education programmes in North American zoos. Respondents consider that these programmes increase positive human-animal interactions, psychological well-being and staff awareness of animal behaviour. The paper suggests that further work on their impact on the welfare of strepsirrhinia is required.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Primates

Keywords:Learning, training, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Public Views of Dairy Calf Welfare and Dairy Consumption Habits of American Youth and Adults

Rielle K. Perttu, Beth A. Ventura, Aaron K. Rendahl, Marcia I. Endres

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting the results of an opinion poll on the welfare of dairy calves and the consumption of dairy products by Americans. The most important requirement for the calves in the view of all participants concerned their physical welfare, with a 'natural' lifestyle, humane treatment and the emotional state of the animals coming a distant second. The majority (94%) of respondents were consumers of dairy products.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Human-Dog Relationship during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy

Danila d'Angelo, Andrea Chirico, Luigi Sacchettino, Federica Manunta, Maurizio Martucci, Anna Cestaro, Luigi Avallone, Antonio Giordano, Francesca Ciani

Published in 2021

Scientific paper investigating the human-dog relationship during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Italy. No difference was found in the human-dog relationship during and outside the lockdown period, but owners' perceptions of the costs of dog ownership were lower during the lockdown.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords : Human-animal relationships

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Companion Animal Type and Level of Engagement Matter: A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Links between Companion Animal Guardianship, Loneliness and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Heather Clements, Stephanie Valentin, Nicholas Jenkins, Jean Rankin, Nancy R. Gee, Donna Snellgrove, Katherine A. Sloman

Published in 2021

Scientific paper reporting on work to test whether pet ownership and interactions reduced owners' loneliness and unhappiness during the Covid-19 pandemic. Counter-intuitively, although owners expressed the view that their pet had a beneficial effect on their mental well-being, the data presented by the authors do not support this impression.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canines, Felines, Fish

Keywords : Human-animal relationships

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Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: Knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions

Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Carolina Gutierrez Rabadan, Sara I. Barrento, Rebecca Stringwell, Paul N. Howes, Ben A. Whittaker, Jessica F. Minett, Robert G. Smith, Craig L. Pooley, Ben J. Overland, Leigh Biddiscombe, Richard Lloyd, Sofia Consuegra, Jake K. Maddocks, Paul T. J. Deacon, Ben T. Jennings, Sonia Rey Planellas, Amanda Deakin, Amber I. Moore, Daniel. Phillips, Guillermo Bardera, Maria F. Castanheira, Maria Scolamacchia, Nancy Clarke, Ollie Parker, John Avizienius, Malcolm Johnstone, Michalis Pavlidis

Published in 2021

A scientific paper to identify the challenges and solutions involved in improving  lumpfish welfare in salmon farming using a Delphi method with stakeholders in the fish-farming sector. Respondents identified 5 behavioural and 12 physical indicators that were useful. However, lumpfish and salmon have very different behavioural and physiological needs, so the welfare standards of one species are not appropriate for the other.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Livestock farming system

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Is Animal Welfare an Internationally Understood Concept in the Zoo World? Thematic Analysis of Two Regional Groups of Zoo Staff

Heather Bacon, Belinda Vigors, Darren J. Shaw, Natalie Waran, Cathy M. Dwyer, Catriona Bell

Published in 2021

Scientific article comparing the perceptions and knowledge of zoo professionals in Europe and China, using telephone interviews on 3 Subjects: "what animal welfare is", "animal welfare frameworks" and "the human element in animal welfare". It shows that, although the concept of animal welfare is perceived in comparable ways by the two cultures,  its implementation in China would require action by management and staff motivation.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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