Digital Commons Network^™

Unforgettable

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Protecting his human from her abusive boyfriend? We’re sure “Hank” did it this way.

Better With Age

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Finding homes for adult and senior cats

Feeding Your Fire (Without Burning Out)

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Managing compassion fatigue and stress in animal welfare work

Haemato Biochemical Alterations In Goats Infected With Coccidiosis, J. Anumol, P. V. Tresamol, K. Vinodkumar, M. R. Saseendranath

Biochemistry Collection

Coccidiosis is an important disease which account for anaemia and associated problems like poor growth rate, suppressed resistance and high mortality in kids. While considering the various etiological factors resulting in anaemia among goats of Kerala, coccidiosis account for about 8 per cent, indicating the significance of adopting proper prevention and control measures against this disease. The present study reveals the severity and depth of anaemic changes induced by coccidia in goats. All the haematological parameters, serum biochemical parameters and serum levels of iron, copper and zinc of coccidiosis infected animals are evaluated statistically by comparing with healthy control animals.

Abolitionist Animal Rights: Critical Comparisons And Challenges Within The Animal Rights Movement, Corey Lee Wrenn

Animal Rights Movement Collection

The abolitionist movement is an emergent and radical approach to nonhuman animal rights. Calling for a complete cessation in nonhuman animal use through the abolishing of property status for nonhuman animals and an adoption of veganism and nonviolence, this approach stands in stark contrast to mainstream approaches such as humane production and welfare reform. This paper describes the goals and stances of abolitionism; the basic debate between abolitionism and other nonhuman animal rights movements; and the current state, challenges, and future prospects for abolitionism. It is argued that abolitionism, as developed by Francione, is the only morally consistent approach for …

The Problem With Incest, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

Evolution, morality, and the politics of abortion.

Interactions Between Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus Delphis) And The Winter Pelagic Pair-Trawl Fishery Ff Southwest England (Uk), Marijke N. De Boer, James T. Saulino, Mardik F. Leopold, Peter J.H. Reijnders, Mark P. Simmonds

Aquaculture Collection

During offshore and onshore studies (2004 to 2009), the interactions between pair-trawls and short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) were studied to better understand the impact of bycatch. A ‘hotspot’ area where pair-trawls overlapped with high dolphin abundance was identified. We made comparisons between boat-based data collected in absence and presence of pair-trawlers. The relative abundance and group-size of dolphins was significantly higher in the presence of pair-trawlers. Dolphins were observed associating with towing and hauling procedures. Significantly, more carcasses occurred in areas with hauling-activity than those without. Body-temperatures obtained from carcasses found near operating pair-trawlers indicated that bycatch mostly occurred …

Size And Shape Information Serve As Labels In The Alarm Calls Of Gunnison’S Prairie Dogs Cynomys Gunnisoni, C. N. Slobodchikoff, William R. Briggs, Patricia A. Dennis, Anne-Marie C. Hodge

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

Some animals have the capacity to produce different alarm calls for terrestrial and aerial predators. However, it is not clear what cognitive processes are involved in generating these calls. One possibility is the position of the predator: Anything on the ground receives a terrestrial predator call, and anything in the air receives an aerial predator call. Another possibility is that animals are able to recognize the physical features of predators and incorporate those into their calls. As a way of elucidating which of these mechanisms plays a primary role in generating the structure of different calls, we performed two field …

A ‘‘Practical’’ Ethic For Animals, David Fraser

Ethics and Animal Welfare Collection

Drawing on the features of ‘‘practical philosophy’’ described by Toulmin (1990), a ‘‘practical’’ ethic for animals would be rooted in knowledge of how people affect animals, and would provide guidance on the diverse ethical concerns that arise. Human activities affect animals in four broad ways: (1) keeping animals, for example, on farms and as companions, (2) causing intentional harm to animals, for example through slaughter and hunting, (3) causing direct but unintended harm to animals, for example by cropping practices and vehicle collisions, and (4) harming animals indirectly by disturbing life-sustaining processes and balances of nature, for example by habitat …

Association Between Stall Surface And Some Animal Welfare Measurements In Freestall Dairy Herds Using Recycled Manure Solids For Bedding, A. W. Husfeldt, M. I. Endres

Housing and Confinement of Farm Animals Collection

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between stall surface and some animal welfare measurements in upper Midwest US dairy operations using recycled manure solids as bedding material. The study included 34 dairy operations with herd sizes ranging from 130 to 3,700 lactating cows. Forty-five percent of the herds had mattresses and 55% had deep-bedded stalls. Farms were visited once between July and October 2009. At the time of visit, at least 50% of the cows in each lactating pen were scored for locomotion, hygiene, and hock lesions. On-farm herd records were collected for the …

Welfare Issues With Tail Docking Of Cows In The Dairy Industry

Agribusiness Reports

Banned in several European countries, as well as three US states, and opposed and criticized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, experts, scientists, and representatives of industry, tail docking of cows in the dairy industry—the partial amputation of up to two-thirds of the tail, typically performed without anesthetic—is still permitted in most of the United States. Scientific studies have shown the practice to cause serious welfare problems for animals, including distress, pain, and increased fly attacks.

Applying Social Movement Theory To Nonhuman Rights Mobilization And The Importance Of Faction Hierarchies, Corey Lee Wrenn

Animal Rights Movement Collection

This paper offers an exploratory analysis of social movement theory as it relates to the nonhuman animal rights movement. Individual participant motivations and experiences, movement resource mobilization, and movement relationships with the public, the political environment, historical context, countermovements, and the media are discussed. In particular, the hierarchical relationships between factions are highlighted as an important area for further research in regards to social movement success. Specifically, the role of counterframing in subduing radical mobilization and the potential aggravating factor of status contamination is explored.

Mother Goats Do Not Forget Their Kids’ Calls, Elodie F. Briefer, Mónica Padilla De La Torre, Alan G. Mcelligott

Sentience Collection

Parent–offspring recognition is crucial for offspring survival. At long distances, this recognition is mainly based on vocalizations. Because of maturation-related changes to the structure of vocalizations, parents have to learn successive call versions produced by their offspring throughout ontogeny in order to maintain recognition. However, because of the difficulties involved in following the same individuals over years, it is not clear how long this vocal memory persists. Here, we investigated long-term vocal recognition in goats. We tested responses of mothers to their kids’ calls 7–13 months after weaning. We then compared mothers’ responses to calls of their previous kids with …

Are You An Animal Person? It Could Be In Your Genes, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

Twin study shows how heredity effects our relationships with pets.

Vocal Expression Of Emotions In Mammals: Mechanisms Of Production And Evidence, Elodie Briefer

Communication Skills Collection

Emotions play a crucial role in an animal’s life because they facilitate responses to external or internal events of significance for the organism. In social species, one of the main functions of emotional expression is to regulate social interactions. There has recently been a surge of interest in animal emotions in several disciplines, ranging from neuroscience to evolutionary zoology. Because measurements of subjective emotional experiences are not possible in animals, researchers use neurophysiological, behavioural and cognitive indicators. However, good indicators, particularly of positive emotions, are still lacking. Vocalizations are linked to the inner state of the caller. The emotional state …

President's Note

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Building a brighter future, one shelter at a time

Coffee Break

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

For this issue’s Coffee Break, we asked you what the animal protection movement needs more of—whether it’s money, innovative thinking, adopters, or something else. We also asked you about the things you think we could do without, things that you’d subtract from our field.

What Now?

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Answering clients' questions about the fate of surrendered animals

Scoop

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

• Outside groups partner with tribal members to bring veterinary care to underserved community
• Getting black (and mostly black) cats adopted
• Minding their manners
• A trip to Hamsterdam
• Catnip Acres serves as a way station—and a spay station— for homeless kitties
• Dreamy in Dedham
• You got me what?
• Stylish shelter
• Longtime animal welfare official stays cool as cases heat up
• You’re helping us. We’re helping you. We’re all helping animals. Carry on!
• At this Jazz Age-themed event, hepcats raised funds for real cats
• Two Massachusetts shelters partner to rescue, rehab, and rehome herd of miniature equines
• Auction action
• Hey, look me …

Safe And Sound

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

The ASV Guidelines In Real Life, Part Six

In Virginia, Challenging The Status Quo

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

The Richmond SPCA engages its community as a partner in the quest to get to zero euthanasia

When Size Matters

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Nothing creates excitement—or smashes adoption records—quite like the ‘mega’ event

Seeking Truth In Advertising

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

San Francisco SPCA confronts puppy mills’ deceptive websites

Unforgettable

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Sometimes all it takes to get adopted is a shiny, red convertible—and some Doggles.

Medical Sops: Lifesaving, Step By Step

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Defining standard veterinary procedures can ensure consistency and help you save more lives

Establishing Your Bona Fidos

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

For rescue groups, strutting your stuff to local shelters can help you save more animals

Why Are Rape Victims More—Not Less—Likely To Become Pregnant?, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

Unlike chickens, human females do not have a defense against rapists' sperm.

Puppies, Kittens, And Human Health: Science Versus Wishful Thinking, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

What do scientists really know about "the pet effect?"

Do Pets Prevent Sudden Death In Children With Epilepsy?, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

The amazing results of a new study on pets and seizure disorders

Individual Prey Choices Of Octopuses: Are They Generalist Or Specialist?, Jennifer A. Mather, Tatiana S. Leite, Allan T. Batista

Sentience Collection

Prey choice is often evaluated at the species or population level. Here, we analyzed the diet of octopuses of different populations with the aim to assess the importance of individual feeding habits as a factor affecting prey choice. Two methods were used, an assessment of the extent to which an individual octopus made choices of species representative of those population (PSi and IS) and 25% cutoff values for number of choices and percentage intake of individual on their prey. In one population of Octopus cf vulgaris in Bermuda individuals were generalist by IS=0.77, but most chose many prey of the …