Digital Commons Network^™

Bully Breeds And Leery Landlords

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

How breed discrimination affects your shelter

Food For Thought

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Modifying food guarding behavior in the shelter environment

Why Do Chicks Like Music? Why Does Any One?, Harold Herzog

Psychology Collection

Barry Manilow explained?

Why Do Chicks Like Music? Why Does Any One?, Harold Herzog

Herzog - Animal policy and attitudes

Why people, or chickens like music is an evolutionary mystery. The article examines some theories about our attraction to music and some research on how animals react to tonal and atonal compositions.

The Two Serial Killers In My Life, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

Why are serial killers quiet and shy?

Does Dolphin Therapy Work?, Harold Herzog

Therapeutic Use of Animals Collection

Can swimming with Flipper cure autism, depression and cancer?

Does Dolphin Therapy Work?, Harold Herzog

Herzog - Companion Animals and Health

Dolphinaria around the world offer opportunities to swim with captive dolphins and, in some cases, offer dolphin-therapy as a way to treat people with autism and other health issues. However, studies of dolphin therapy have been poorly designed and controlled and there is little hard evidence of positive health benefits from dolphin therapy.

Transgenesis In Animal Agriculture: Addressing Animal Health And Welfare Concerns, Michael Greger

Transgenesis Collection

The US Food and Drug Administration’s final Guidance for Industry on the regulation of transgenesis in animal agriculture has paved the way for the commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) farm animals. The production-related diseases associated with extant breeding technologies are reviewed, as well as the predictable welfare consequences of continued emphasis on prolificacy at the potential expense of physical fitness. Areas in which biotechnology could be used to improve the welfare of animals while maintaining profitability are explored along with regulatory schema to improve agency integration in GE animal oversight.

Returning To Meat, Harold Herzog

Dietary Choice and Foods of Animal Origin Collection

The ex-vegetarian story I could not put in my book.

Returning To Meat, Harold Herzog

Herzog - Dietary Issues

The article describes the challenges for a fire-fighter who was vegetarian and why those challenges led him back to meat-eating.

Towards A New Paradigm Of Non-Captive Research On Cetacean Cognition, Lori Marino, Toni Frohoff

Experimentation Collection

Contemporary knowledge of impressive neurophysiology and behavior in cetaceans, combined with increasing opportunities for studying free-ranging cetaceans who initiate sociable interaction with humans, are converging to highlight serious ethical considerations and emerging opportunities for a new era of progressive and less-invasive cetacean research. Most research on cetacean cognition has taken place in controlled captive settings, e.g., research labs, marine parks. While these environments afford a certain amount of experimental rigor and logistical control they are fraught with limitations in external validity, impose tremendous stress on the part of the captive animals, and place burdens on populations from which they are …

Ethical And Scientific Considerations Regarding Animal Testing And Research, Hope Ferdowsian, Nancy Beck

Experimentation Collection

In 1959, William Russell and Rex Burch published the seminal book, The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, which emphasized reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal use, principles which have since been referred to as the ‘‘3 Rs’’. These principles encouraged researchers to work to reduce the number of animals used in experiments to the minimum considered necessary, refine or limit the pain and distress to which animals are exposed, and replace the use of animals with non-animal alternatives when possible. Despite the attention brought to this issue by Russell and Burch and since, the number of animals used in research …

Why Are There So Few Vegetarians?, Harold Herzog

Dietary Choice and Foods of Animal Origin Collection

Most "vegetarians" eat meat. Huh?

Why Are There So Few Vegetarians?, Harold Herzog

Herzog - Dietary Issues

No abstract provided.

Indicators Of Age, Body Size And Sex In Goat Kid Calls Revealed Using The Source–Filter Theory, Elodie F. Briefer, Alan G. Mcelligott

Sentience Collection

The source–filter theory is an important framework recently applied to the study of animal vocalisations, which links the mode of vocal production to call parameters. Vocalisations can be good indicators of a sender’s characteristics, such as identity, body size, age, and even hormonal status and affective states. For these reasons, applied vocal communication research would greatly benefit from adopting the source–filter theory approach to identify key call parameters linked to physical and physiological characteristics of domestic animals. Here, we introduce the source–filter theory through a detailed analysis and interpretation of goat contact calls during development. In mammals, vocal development is …

The Effects Of Acute And Chronic Hypoxia On Cortisol, Glucose And Lactate Concentrations In Different Populations Of Three-Spined Stickleback, E. A. O'Connor, T. G. Pottinger, L. U. Sneddon

Aquaculture Collection

The response of individuals from three different populations of three-spined sticklebacks to acute and chronic periods of hypoxia (4.4 kPa DO, 2.2 mg l-1) were tested using measures of whole-body (WB) cortisol, glucose and lactate. Although there was no evidence of a neuroendocrine stress response to acute hypoxia, fish from the population least likely to experience hypoxia in their native habitat had the largest response to low oxygen, with significant evidence of anaerobic glycolysis after two hours of hypoxia. However, there was no measurable effect of a more prolonged period (seven days) of hypoxia on any of the fish in …

The Efficacy Of Three Types Of Analgesic Drugs In Reducing Pain In The Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Jessica J. Mettam, Lois J. Oulton, Catherine R. Mccrohan, Lynne U. Sneddon

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

Recent research has shown the possibility of pain perception in fish; therefore, the use of analgesia or “painkillers” should be considered for invasive procedures. However, there is relatively little information on the effectiveness of analgesic drugs nor on the appropriate dose for fish. This study assessed the efficacy of three types of drug: an opioid, buprenorphine, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), carprofen and a local anaesthetic, lidocaine. Each drug was tested at three doses on rainbow trout that were noxiously stimulated and the most effective dose was also given to fish experiencing no pain to investigate side-effects. Ventilation rate and …

Coffee Break

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

What’s the most successful collaboration you’ve been a part of?

For Goodness’ Snake

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Caring for the animal kingdom’s most misunderstood member

Start Spreading The News

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

New York-based surrender prevention program can make it anywhere

Scoop

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

• California shelter’s captain wins Animal Control Employee of the Year
• Volunteers, veterinarians pull together and hit the target to save badly wounded cat
• A motel-owning couple helps the cats of Florida’s Cedar Key
• Brewfest benefits Central Pennsylvania Humane Society
• Rising to the top

Clinical Trials

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Shelter-based veterinary practices expand access to care and help bring in more funds

Not Like Starting Over

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Look at existing models to avoid reinventing your volunteer program from scratch

Meow ... Cat Chow!

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Feeding kitties in the shelter

Not Just Toolin’ Around

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Online assessment helps shelters combat infectious disease

The Man Behind The Badge(S)

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Florida man amasses huge collection of historic humane officer shields

The “Cute Dog Effect” On Sex, Money, And Justice, Harold Herzog

Speciesism and Breed Discrimination Collection

The hidden sexual, economic, and legal impact of cute dogs.

The "Cute Dog Effect" On Sex, Money, And Justice, Harold Herzog

Herzog - Companion Animal Issues

The presence of a cute dog makes men more attractive (or less threatening) to women and increases the success of panhandlers. It may also help influence a jury in a trial.

Cerebral Lateralization Determines Hand Preferences In Australian Parrots, Culum Brown, Maria Magat

Sentience Collection

Individual preference for the use of one limb over the other to explore the environment or manipulate objects is common trait among vertebrates. Here, we explore the hypothesis that limb preference is determined by the engagement of a particular cerebral hemisphere to analyse certain stimuli. We recorded the eye and foot preferences of 322 individuals from 16 species of Australian parrots while investigating potential food items. Across all species, eye preferences explained 99 per cent of the variation in foot use in Australian parrots. The vast majority of species showed significant relationships between eye and foot preferences at the population …

Will Getting A Pet Make You Healthier?, Harold Herzog

'Animals and Us' Blog Posts

Are pets good for people? The evidence is surprisingly mixed.