Animal Studies Commons^™

Hsus Investigation Leads To Fifty Arrests In Cockfight Raid

Close Up Reports

Participants fined up to $500

Oil-Soaked Birds Saved: Hsus Participates In Historic Bird Rescue

Close Up Reports

As the world watched the black tide of crude oil from the Amoco Cadiz devastate bird life along the French coast, HSUS staffer Guy Hodge was reporting to Congress about efforts to save oil-soaked birds in a recent Chesapeake Bay oil spill. A barge (ATC- 133) carrying nearly 500,000 gallons of crude had run aground south of the Maryland-Virginia border. Some of its cargo spilled into this North American waterfowl wintering area.

Together with HSUS cruelty investigator Phil Steward, Hodge had assisted in the most successful on-site bird rescue operation in history. One out of every three rescued birds was …

Oil-Soaked Birds Saved

Close Up Reports

HSUS participates in historic bird rescue

Hsus Fights Cruelty In Pounds

Close Up Reports

The following report will tell you of some of the conditions HSUS investigators have found in dog pounds across the country, how HSUS is working to improve them, and how you can help.

Hsus Fights Cruelty In Pounds

Close Up Reports

Unlike privately owned animal shelters, the pound was not instituted for the benefit of the animals.

Quantitative Analyses Of The Ontogeny Of Predatory Behaviour In Coyotes, Canis Latrans, Louis E. Vincent, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

Four infant coyotes (Canis latrans) were studied in order to describe quantitatively the development of predatory behaviour. Our results indicated that prior play and agonistic experience had virtually no effect on later predatory success. Also, there was no relationship between an individual's social rank and its prey-killing ability. Latency to kill was shortened when animals were tested in, pair and hunger level was not related to latency to kill. The results are discussed with respect to current 'functionalist' theories of play behaviour and Leyhausen's concept of the relative hierarchy of moods. The practice theory of play should be reconsidered in …

Hsus Spotlights Circus Cruelty

Close Up Reports

Who can deny the sense of excitement the young and the young-at-heart feel when the circus comes to town? The sounds, smells, and attractions create a fantasy world where everything is fun.

But is it all good clean fun? Evidence in recent years suggests quite the contrary. The worst problems seem to be with the smaller circuses. In the past year, The HSUS has assisted several local societies investigating cruelty to animals in traveling circuses, rescued elephants and lions abandoned by a circus, and signed three complaints against one of the largest of today's small big tops.

According to Frantz …

Hsus Spotlights Circus Cruelty

Close Up Reports

Society has sideshow operator arrested in three states

Mammalian Dispersal And The Ontogeny Of Individual Behavioral Phenotypes, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

Explanations of dispersal mechanisms in mammals that have stressed the importance of aggression by dominant (?) individuals as the immediate cause of the dispersal of less aggressive (more subordinate?) individuals are insufficient for explaining recent data collected on a variety of mammals. In fact, avoidance of social interaction at the time of dispersal is more characteristic of some species in which individuals emigrate. Studies that have investigated genetic correlates of dispersal in rodent populations that undergo regular cycles are few and have not provided any "causative" explanations. In various canids and rodents, behavioral interactions at the time of dispersal do …

Struggle To Save Dolphins Continuing

Close Up Reports

The Humane Society of the United States has initiated a nationwide boycott of a tuna products until real progress is made in reducing the needless slaughter of porpoises in tuna nets.

In the Spring of 1976, HSUS first asked its members to refrain from buying tuna because of the high porpoise mortality and the tuna industry's unwillingness to adopt any research porpoise-saving procedures. Recently, HSUS Program Coordinator Patricia Forkan called for a nationwide boycott of tuna.

Struggle To Save Dolphins Continuing

Close Up Reports

New House Bill OKs Dolphin Deaths; HSUS Continuing Battle in Senate

Special Report: Hsus Is A Voice For Animals In Nation's Capital

Special Reports

Power is the name of the game in Washington, D.C. Powerful voices representing every shade of opinion on nearly every subject are seeking constant attention from our lawmakers and civil servants. The Humane Society of the United States is likewise working and speaking for the millions of Americans who care about animals. HSUS is investigating federal agency animal management programs; testifying on Capitol Hill; providing expert advice to legislative committees and congressmen; taking legal action in federal courts; serving on advisory committees; and monitoring legislative, regulatory, and legal affairs having to do with animals.

The voice of The Humane Society …

Hsus Raids Save Suffering Dogs

Close Up Reports

In two raids separated by more than 1,000 miles, HSUS investigators seized several hundred suffering dogs, arranged for their care, and spurred legal action against the collector and breeder. Describing the two places as "cesspools", Frantz Dantzler, chief HSUS investigator, said "These two places were chosen for raids because they are typical of the many substandard puppy mills and kennels found in rural out-of-the-way America."

Both the Roseboom, New York Kennel and the Columbus, Kansas puppy mill had similar violations of humane standards and everyday common sense. Most of the seized animals had advanced cases of mange. Many animals had …

Social Communication In Canids: Evidence For The Evolution Of A Stereotyped Mammalian Display, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

The variability in the duration and form of the canid play bow was studied in infant coyotes, wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, beagles, and adult free-ranging dogs. Both duration and form showed marked stereotypy. It appears that the role of this context-specific social signal in the communication of play intention has been fostered by selection for "morphological" stereotypy.

The Nursing Posture Of Domestic Sows And Related Behaviour, D. Fraser

Rearing Behavior Collection

The nursing behaviour of the sow commonly involves upward rotation of the udder, movements of the head and legs, and rhythmic grunting. Aspects of this behaviour were studied in several experiments with pregnant females, juveniles males, and suckling piglets. Many pregnant females lay down and assumed the nursing posture when their udders were first rubbed by hand. Those which initially appeared agitated in the experimenter's presence often failed to do so until after some habituation to the procedure. When the upper and lower rows of teats were rubbed alternately, the udder was usually rotated toward the stimulation. This rotation, like …

Vocalizations Of Isolated Piglets. Ii. Some Environmental Factors, D. Fraser

Communication Skills Collection

The vocalizations of suckling piglets were studied during brief tests which involved social isolation, restriction of movement, and exposure to unfamiliar surroundings. Similar trends were shown in most cases by the three classes of call studied - closed mouth grunts, open mouth grunts, and squeals. The rate of calling was much lower when a piglet was in the home pen than when alone in an unfamiliar pen, and more calls were given in both situations when the animal’s movement was restricted by caging. The presence of the dam and four littermates in unfamiliar surroundings caused a large reduction in calling, …

Vocalizations Of Isolated Piglets. I. Sources Of Variation And Relationships Among Measures, D. Fraser

Communication Skills Collection

The vocalizations and activity of suckling piglets aged 4 to 25 days were studied during 5-min periods of social isolation in an unfamiliar enclosure. The animals became very active and vocalized repeatedly during the test, but the reaction was attenuated among older litters. Calls were predominantly closed mouth grunts at low rates of calling, and mainly squeals and open mouth grunts at high overall rates. Squealing correlated with open mouth grunting and with the activity measure both within and between litters. Even so, the measures appeared to be affected independently by the piglets’ behaviour in the home pen just before …

The Effect Of Straw On The Behaviour Of Sows In Tether Stalls, D. Fraser

Housing and Confinement of Farm Animals Collection

The behaviour of sows in tether stalls with and without straw was studied in two experiments. Sows lay down more when 1 kg of straw was provided daily, especially when it was chopped and mixed wet with the food (dietary effect). Sows without straw performed a variety of stereotyped oral and other activities which were greatly reduced by the provision of loose straw that could be chewed and manipulated throughout the day (recreational effect). Sows were frequently seen standing or sitting motionless with the head drooping, probably in a state of drowsiness. This behaviour was virtually eliminated by full straw …

Special Report On Zoo Reform

Special Reports

The Humane Society of the United States has taken the lead for the past 3 1/2 years in reforming American zoos. HSUS has awakened Americans to the fact that wild animals have been caged inhumanely for many decades in the nation's zoos and that major and drastic actions are necessary to correct these problems. While HSUS has continued to insist that no wild animal should be exploited simply to create an attraction or exhibit, such is not the state of the world as it exists today. Consequently, HSUS is determined to do everything in its power to alleviate the suffering …

The Behaviour Of Swine, J. P. Signoret, B. A. Baldwin, D. Fraser, E. S. E. Hafez

Mammalogy Collection

The pig was a forest-dwelling animal from the beginning of its history. In some parts of the world it has been domesticated for at least 7000 years. The European breeds of domestic swine were derived from the local wild pig, Sus scrofa. Herds ranged in pastures and forests and kept indoors only for fattening. The breeds in the Far East were derived from another wild pig, Sus vittatus, a smaller animal with shorter legs and a higher reproductive ability (Mohr 1960; Zeuner 1963). The two types interbred readily. The modem breeds of pig evolved from different crossings between the two …

Social Stress And Welfare Problems In Agricultural Animals, D. G. M. Wood-Gush, I. J. H. Duncan, D. Fraser

Farm Animal Welfare Collection

Disruptions of an animal's social behaviour can, in some respects at least, mimic the effects of such classical stressors as infection and exposure to low temperatures. For example, Barnett (1958) found enlarged adrenals among wild rats which were subjected to attack by other rats in the laboratory. However, the experience of being attacked was not necessary for this physiological response, as the aggressors showed much the same changes as the victims. In fact Archer (1969) reported heightened adrenocortical activity among individually caged mice simply as a result of their being housed next to other mice, without actual physical contact. If …

Special Report On Controlling America's Pet Population

Special Reports

HSUS estimates that public and private animal control programs cost the nation as much as $500 million a year. Much of this expense is required for the feeding and care of unwanted animals during the 5 to 10 days they are held for adoption, killing the 80% that are not adopted or redeemed, and disposing of the carcasses. The result is both an unconscionable waste of life and a needless drain on public and private money.

A large part of the blame for people undertaking pet ownership without having made a total commitment to the animal lies with the pet …

The Communication Of Play Intention: Are Play Signals Functional?, Marc Bekoff

Sentience Collection

No abstract provided.

Social Play In Coyotes, Wolves, And Dogs, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

No abstract provided.

Special Report On Abuses In The Pet Industry

Special Reports

The pet industry is creating maximum danger for animals and minimal satisfaction for customers. The problem is not just the pet shop but the entire system that has been developed to supply it. None of.the major dog breeding states has laws governing breeding operations. There are even fewer laws governing pet shops.

Social Play And Play-Soliciting By Infant Canids, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

The development of social interaction was studied in infant coyotes, beagles, and wolves. In this paper, social play behavior is discussed. Social play may be characterized in a number of ways: (i) actions from various contexts are incorporated into labile (unpredictable) temporal sequences; (ii) the "play bout" is typically preceded by a metacommunicative signal which indicates "what follows is play"; these signals are also observed during the bout; (iii) certain actions may be repeated and performed in an exaggerated manner; (iv) the activity appears "pleasurable" to the players.

By comparing these three species, some insight into the dynamics of social …

Special Report On The Cruelties Involved In Wild Animal Trapping

Special Reports

Great numbers of Americans who buy and wear the furs of wild animals are unaware of the enormous cruelty and suffering that goes into producing them.

These animals are caught in a steel jaw trap which holds the leg in a crushing, painful grip. So intense is the pain and terror the animals feel that they often twist or gnaw off their own legs to free themselves from their nightmarish agony. After getting free at such a cost, many of the animals later die a slow death of gangrene, or in their weakness from shock, loss of blood and infection …

Special Report On Rodeo

Special Reports

As a national humane organization of prominence, The Humane Society of the United States felt compelled to launch an objective study of its own to gather facts about rodeo and the possible abuses to the animals involved during performances and behind the scenes. The president and board of H.S.U.S. felt that the facts should be gathered, as unprejudicially as possible, so the truth could have an unveiling and the public be informed of the realities of rodeo.

Robert C. Bay, D.V.M., then a member of the faculty of Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Colorado, was engaged to carry forward …

Special Report On Rodeos

Special Reports

A calf roped and busted even once suffers injury from the scientific point of view. HSUS investigators observed visible injuries to as many as 11-12°/o of the animals in some steer busting events. HSUS is determined to put an end to all cruelty at rodeos.

Special Report On Shipping Animals By Air

Special Reports

Animals are too often treated like just another piece of baggage, no more valuable than a suitcase or a mail sack. Missed or cancelled flights are seldom more than inconveniences to human passengers, but to animals they can mean death. The Humane Society has concluded that shippers and handlers will provide humane conditions and treatment only when forced to do so.