Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Letter T Editor: A Role For The Clergy In Animal Welfare?, Charlotte B. Parks

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author asks what role the clergy in Judeo-Christian religions should play in advancing animal welfare.

Occlusion Of Vision In Old English Sheepdogs, Michael W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

It is common for owners of Old English Sheepdogs to allow the dog’s facial hair to cover the eyes. This practice is often justified by a claim that Old English Sheepdog eyes are very sensitive to light because, when the hair is cut away, the dog may blink its eyes, and the eyes may water. However, any animal whose eyes are not exposed to daylight will demonstrate photophobia when the eyes are exposed. The hair screen over the eyes may also lead to chronic conjunctivitis. Finally, the dog often shows a significant positive temperament change when the hair screen is …

Abundance And Distribution Of Large Mammals In The Upper Ogun Game Reserve, Oyo State, Nigeria, T. A. Afolayan, K. R. N. Milligan, S. O. Salami

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Three different methods for estimating wild animal populations were used to assess the density of different species in a game reserve in the Sahel region of Nigeria. Hunting for bushmeat by local communities living around the reserve was identified as one of the threats to wildlife populations. Bushmeat was an essential resource for communities around the reserve.

Feral Dogs Of The Galapagos Islands: Impact And Control, Bruce D. Barnett, Robert L. Rudd

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The history of feral dogs on the Galapagos Islands is described. The authors discuss feral dogs' prey of domestic animals and wildlife, such as marine iguanas, and the urgent need for effective dog control programs and the attempts to control the feral dog populations.

Letter To Editor: Exceptions To Vertebrate Pest Conference Report, Dale Kaukeinen

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author responds to a description of his owl mortality presentation. He notes that only one of the six owls that had died had any trace of the brodifacoum rodenticide in its tissues and that owl was electrocuted. The rodenticide was not the cause of its death. The author calls for more dialogue between humane organizations and those involved in pest control.

Achieving A Concensus On Dog Control Strategies: A Brief Primer, D. B. Wilkins

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author discusses challenges in developing effective policies for stray dog control. Stray dog symptoms vary from country to country. In Cyprus, the presence of echinococcus that stray dogs exacerbate is a problem across the Mediterranean. Rabies spread by stray dogs is a problem in many other countries, while anti-social dog behaviors (fouling, barking, biting) are an issue in large cities in developed countries. Considerable differences of opinion as to the best approaches to stray dog control exist among animal welfare organizations. One approach to developing effective and agreed stray dog control policies has been forming a national NGO umbrella …

Aquaculture- Now, Factory Fish Farming, M. W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author describes issues raised at a 1983 conference on Aquaculture held in Washington, DC. The intensive raising of fish and shellfish produces many of the same problems as the intensive rearing of chickens, pigs, and cattle. The fish experience high levels of stress and disease that must be addressed by treating the system with antibiotics and vaccines.

Stray-Dog Control In Cyprus: Primitive And Humane Methods, Kyriacos Polydorou

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

In Cyprus, a dog control scheme was started in 1971 within the context of an all-inclusive

anti-echinococcosis campaign. At the time, it was estimated there were more than 100,000 dogs on the island; most were strays (even many of those that were purportedly "owned"]. These had been identified as infectious agents of echinococcosis in Cyprus (the average surgical incidence in humans over the 30 years before 1970 was 12.9/100,000]. The destruction of stray dogs is accomplished by using guns that fire a syringe containing a euthanizing drug. In the past (before 1970), various inhumane methods used by animal control officers …

Historical Trends In American Animal Use And Perception, Stephen R. Kellert, Miriam O. Westervelt

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The authors analyze the stories on wildlife carried in four newspapers (two urban – LA Times and Hartford Courant, and two rural – Buffalo Bulletin in Wyoming and the Dawson News, Georgia) using randomly sampled issues from 1900 to 1976. The total sample amounted to 4,873 articles from 1,777 issues of the four newspapers covering 75 years. Three periods, 1921-1927, 1930-1936, and 1961-1967 averaged more than 200 articles a year. Coverage of wildlife issues was lowest during the two World War periods. The articles were coded using a standard typology, including utilitarian and humanistic attitudes. Over the 76 years …

The Question Of Atheism And Communism In The Animal Welfare/Rights Movement, Michael W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author comments on the interplay between religion and animal rights.

Genetic Adaptation And Welfare, J. Van Rooijen

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Van Rooijen comments on Beilharz’s suggestion (IJSAP 3(2), 117) that it may be possible to adapt domestic animals to existing husbandry systems rather than adapt the systems to the animals. For example, Beilharz cites Tschanz, who has written that the best measurement of adaptation to an environment is reproduction. Van Rooijen provides an example of two bulls – one living freely with a group of cows and one used as a sperm donor, where welfare and reproductive success are not necessarily in harmony. He concludes that the evolutionary fitness and welfare of farm animals do not necessarily coincide

Psychology And Its Animal Subjects, Kenneth J. Shapiro

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author introduces the organization, Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and comments on the use of animals in psychology experiments.

Does Wildlife Have Legal Standing? - The Penguin Case In Patagonia, Pedro Tarak

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Murphy notes that IJSAP is motivated by the importance of science in understanding human-animal relationships. She examines two studies that examine gender differences in attitudes to and interactions with companion animals. Both studies reported no differences between females and males, even though other studies report that females have more positive attitudes to animals.

A Survey Of Animal Behavior- Related Research And Teaching Activities In North American Agricultural And Veterinary Medical Colleges, W. R. Stricklin

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

A letter questionnaire was used to survey animal behavior-related research and teaching efforts in the U.S.A. and Canadian university animal sciences departments (agriculture) and veterinary medical colleges. The objectives of the eleven questions of the survey were to identify behavior workers and to determine the current and planned levels of emphasis on research and teaching activities in domestic animal behavior. In 1981, questionnaires were mailed to 162 deans and chairs, and 102 were answered and returned. Twenty-three persons were identified as having appointments specifically or primarily in animal behavior, and 99 were identified as having appointments with some animal behavior …

Humane Ethics And Animal Rights, M. W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Animal suffering, therefore, is only one aspect of animal exploitation and abuse. Recognizing this, and the fact that the elimination of animal suffering is a limited horizon, the humane movement has dramatically expanded its vision and goals by incorporating animal rights philosophy and ecological principles into its educational, legislative, and political activities.

Environmental Psychology And Great Ape Reproduction, Terry L. Maple

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author introduces the organization, Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and comments on the use of animals in psychology experiments.

The Care Of Pets Within Child Abusing Families, Elizabeth Deviney, Jeffery Dickert, Randall Lockwood

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The treatment of animals was surveyed in 53 families where child abuse occurred. Patterns of pet ownership, attitudes towards pets, and quality of veterinary care did not differ significantly from comparable data from the general public. However, abuse of pets by a family member had taken place in 60 percent of the families. The families in which animal abuse was indicated tended to have younger pets, lower levels of veterinary care, and more conflicts over care than non-abusive families in the study. There were several parallels between the treatment of pets and animals within child-abusing families, suggesting that animal abuse …

Book Reviews

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Fox reviews two books. The first is a collection of papers from the First Conference on Scientific Perspectives in Animal Welfare organized by the Scientists Center for Animal Welfare. The second book is All that Dwell Therein. Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics by Tom Regan.

Some Rights For Animal Therapists: Better Science And Better Welfare, Dana H. Murphy

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

"Animal-facilitated therapy" is a phrase with a friendly, solid ring to it. It also sounds like an idea that nearly everyone could agree to endorse, like democracy and vacations. However, there are some real problems in two areas: the low level of scientific rigor in some of the reports on animal-facilitated therapy, and the scant consideration is given to the animal therapists' welfare.

Thoughtful Use Of Animals, Hyram Kitchen

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The Dean of the Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine responds to a question regarding the need for more animal protection legislation to address the use of animals in higher education. He notes that there has been considerable evolution in attitudes toward the proper treatment of animals since he was a veterinary student. While legislation may change how animals are used, legislation is less successful in changing attitudes. He argues that there are strong arguments supporting the use of animals in veterinary training but that such use comes with a moral responsibility toward animals.

Letter To Editor: The Limits Of Science, Rosemary Deblois

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author comments on the results of the Reader Survey (IJSAP 3_4, 265-266).

The Canadian Harp Seal Hunt: A Moral Assessment, L. W. Sumner

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Sumner is a philosopher who attempts to unpick the various issues in the debate over the Harp Seal hunt in Canada. An objective treatment of the issues underlying the harp seal hunt is complex because of the high level of emotion on both sides, but it is also necessary to attempt it if uncommitted and reasonable persons are to be provided with some guidance about what to think concerning the morality of the hunt.

Sex Roles, Companion Animals And Something More, D. H. Murphy

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Murphy notes that IJSAP is motivated by the importance of science in understanding human-animal relationships. She examines two studies that examine gender differences in attitudes to and interactions with companion animals. Both studies reported no differences between females and males, even though other studies report that females have more positive attitudes to animals.

The State Of The Economy And Animal Welfare, Michael W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author discusses the impact of recessions on animal welfare and animal care.

Attitudes Toward Animals In Greco-Roman Antiquity, Liliane Bodson

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Both wild and domesticated animals had a direct and wide-ranging role in the life of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The bond between humans and animals which first originated in the economic needs went far beyond strictly practical matters. It did influence and enrich the Classical culture in its major aspects from literature and arts to philosophy and ethics. It also induced people to analyze the main implications of their relationship with "subhuman" creatures. The present paper aims to survey the range of the attitudes they developed about animals. It also examines to what extent they were concerned with the …