Animal Studies Commons^™

Letter To Editor: Animals As A Minority, Edward G. Ludwig

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The author presents arguments that animals should be treated as a minority group.

Animals In Film And Television, D. B. Wilkins

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Animals are entertaining. Human beings have exploited this undoubted fact for centuries and to the commercial advantage of many people. How we have exploited animals' natural and unnatural behavior has varied. These variations include the straightforward exhibition of an animal in a zoo to the perversity of dogfighting, in which animals are allowed to fight until one or another is killed or badly injured. Entertainment implies both amusement and enjoyment, and it is incredible to realize that even within our so-called advanced Western civilization, there are still people who can gain enjoyment from either directly torturing and killing animals or …

Getting Educated At The Zoo, Nancy Heneson

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

In the search for and debate over objective indices of farm animal welfare, productivity Is regarded by many animal scientists and others in the livestock industry as the most reliable measure of an animal's overall well-being and adaptability. On the surface, this would seem so, as productivity, in terms of growth rate, milk yield, feed conversion, and egg production, can be easily quantified. However, there are flaws in this assumption.

An Overview Of Zoo Goals And Exhibition Principles, Randall L. Eaton

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The term recreation is best considered as re-creation or re-juvenation of the individual owing to a certain quality of experience. For many reasons, humans are attracted to nonhuman animals. Yearly, more than 100 million Americans visit zoos, a level surpassing visitation to professional athletic events or participation in fishing. Perhaps the most astonishing thing about human fascination for wildlife in captivity is that it is so rampant despite the poor conditions of most zoos. More than anything, this indicates an overwhelming affection for animal life.

The Role And Responsibility Of Zoos: An Animal Protection Viewpoint, John E. Cooper

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The paper examines zoological collections from the viewpoint of the animal and, in particular, draws attention to areas where welfare considerations should be paramount. The article does not cover the capture and transportation of zoo animals. However, this is obviously of great importance and must be included in overall considerations of the welfare of zoo animals. The author views zoos as providing value in terms of both scientific and educational goals. The welfare of animals in zoos may be compromised by willful cruelty, neglect, or suboptimal management, but it is not always easy to distinguish between them. The author also …

A Response To Dr. Ian Dunbar, Graham Henderson

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Henderson, the Executive Director of the Toronto Humane Society, presents some comments on Dr. Ian Dunbar’s proposed strategy for dog-owner education (IJSAP 2(1):13-15, 1981). He notes that Dunbar dislikes the “irresponsible owner” descriptor, but Henderson argues that the description is appropriate. He notes that the Toronto Humane Society serves as the animal control agent for the city of Toronto, and hence they are regarded as “the law” by city residents. This perception creates a challenging dynamic between society and dog owners, and Henderson doubts that Dubars proposed strategy for dog owner education would be practical in Toronto.

Injuries To Birds Of Prey Caught In Leghold Traps, Katherine Durham

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

One hundred and seventy-three raptors, including 32 Bald Eagles, have been treated for trapping injuries at the University of Minnesota Raptor Research and Rehabilitation Program since 1972. These birds were primarily caught in "open" bait leghold sets incidental to furbearer trapping in the Minnesota region. The differential outcome of the injuries concerning crippling or mortality is presented for large versus small raptors, toe versus leg injuries, and leg fracture versus soft tissue damage only. There is only limited potential for mitigating the effects of trapping injuries.

Equine Behavior Problems In Relation To Humane Management, Katherine A. Houpt

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The behavior problems of horses are frequently related to management practices. Behaviors termed stall vices appear to be either stereotyped behaviors that occur in reaction to stress or patterns that emerge when natural behaviors such as grazing are prevented. The behavior cases presented to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, were tabulated: 27% were stall vices, and 27% were some form of aggression. The stall vices were circling, digging, kicking the stall, chewing wood, swallowing air, or self-mutilation. Management of horses on

pasture rather than in stalls prevents the development of many of these stall vices. …

People At Zoos: A Sociological Approach, Edward G. Ludwig

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

This article is a participant observation study of animal/human relationships at zoos. Both zoo personnel and visitors were observed intensively over four months and less intensively for two years. Young zoo employees tended to be naturalistic, ecologistic, and scientistic in their value orientation toward animals. These attitudes were often frustrated by the day-to-day routines of the job involving hosing and feeding and the realities of limitations placed upon zoos by strained budgets and antiquated buildings. The public tended to be an additional source of frustration due to their apparent lack of sensitivity and desire to be amused rather than educated.

Amputation Of Vibrissae In Show Dogs, Thomas E. Mcgill

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

No abstract provided.

Ethology And Laboratory Animal Welfare, James A. Cohen

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

No abstract provided.

Stress: What Is It And How Can It Be Quantified?, T. H. Friend

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

An animal may be considered to be in a state of stress if abnormal behavior or extreme adjustments in its behavior or physiology are necessary in order to cope with adverse aspects of its environment. Methods used to determine if an animal is stressed can be either behavioral or physiological. Behavioral methods may be highly erroneous due to their subjective nature since alterations in behavior do not necessarily prove that an animal is stressed. There is no single measure of stress that can be used in all situations at this time. Every measure must be critically evaluated to ensure that …

Problems With Kosher Slaughter, Temple Grandin

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Ritual slaughter to produce kosher meat is rooted in the teachings and writings of the Talmud. However, the preslaughter handling features of modern systems, particularly the shackling and hoisting of large steers, contravene the basic message of humaneness included in the teachings. The throat-cutting of a live, conscious animal is relatively pain-free, provided that certain precautions are followed, but U.S. kosher plants need to install newly developed conveyor-restrainer systems to eliminate the abuses of shackling and hoisting. Conveyor-restrainer systems for large and small animals are discussed.

History And Development Of Federal Animal Welfare Regulations, Pierre A. Chaloux, Max B. Heppner

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

In recent years, Congress has passed a number of laws that direct various government agencies to safeguard animal welfare. Our own agency has been involved principally in enforcing the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, and therefore we will limit this discussion to these two laws.

The Animal Welfare Act was passed in 1966 and amended in 1970 and 1976. The Act uses a system of licensing and registration to regulate a number of non-farm businesses and organizations. These groups are required to provide humane care and treatment to regulated animals, which include hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, …

Attitudes Of Secondary School Students In Israel Toward The Use Of Living Organisms In The Study Of Biology, Pinchas Tamir, Aliza Hamo

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The study deals with attitudes and views of 456 Israeli students in grades 7, 9, and 11 regarding the use of living animals in research and biology instruction. It was found that most students are interested in studying live animals through direct observation and experiment and feel that this kind of learning is superior to learning from secondary sources. At the same time, however, most students exhibit concern for and affection toward living organisms in general and higher animals, especially pets and "beneficial" animals, in particular. The need to consider both sides of the issue is highlighted, and practical implications …

The Psychological Relations Hip Between Dairy Cows And Dairy Cowmen And Its Implications For Animal Welfare, Martin F. Seabrook

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Stress On Livestock And Meat Quality Prior To And During Slaughter, Temple Grandin

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The effects of stress on cattle, pigs and sheep prior to slaughter are reviewed. Long-term preslaughter stress, such as fighting, cold weather, fasting and transit, which occurs 12 to 48 hours prior to slaughter depletes muscle glycogen, resulting in meat which has a higher pH, darker color, and is drier. Short-term acute stress, such as excitement or fighting immediately prior to slaughter, produced lactic acid from the breakdown of glycogen. This results in meat which has a lower pH, lighter color, reduced water binding capacity, and is possibly tougher. Psychological stressors, such as excitement and fighting, will often have a …

Live Animals In Car Crash Studies, Nancy Heneson

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

No abstract provided.

The Ministry Of Agriculture 'S Involvement With Animal Welfare, Roy Moss

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The following is excerpted from a paper presented by Mr. Moss, Regional Veterinary Officer in the British Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, at the British Veterinary Association Annual Congress, September 9-14, 1979, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Meetings And Announcements

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

1. Meeting Report - Animals in Research
2. Announcement - Abstract exchange
3. New APHIS administrator
4. Newsletter on the Human-Companion Animal Bond
5. Veterinarians for Animal Protection
6. New editor for Equine Study Group
7. Bibliography of Animal Ethology

Definition Of The Concept Of ''Humane Treatment" In Relation To Food And Laboratory Animals, Bernard E. Rollin

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The very title of this talk makes a suggestion which must be forestalled, namely the idea that laboratory and food animals enjoy some exceptional moral status by virtue of the fact that we use them. In fact, it is extremely difficult to find any morally relevant grounds for distinguishing between food and laboratory animals and other animals and, far more dramatically, between animals and humans. The same conditions which require that we apply moral categories to humans rationally require that we apply them to animals as well. While it is obviously pragmatically impossible in our current sociocultural setting to expect …

Nsmr: Its Image, Direction And Future, J. Russell Lindsey

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The following speech was presented by Dr. Lindsey, Chairman of the University of Alabama Department of Comparative Medicine, at the Annual Board Meeting of the National Society for Medical Research (NSMR), Chicago, Illinois, November 10, 1979.

Mechanical, Electrical And Anesthetic Stunning Methods For Livestock, Temple Grandin

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

A good stunning method must render an animal unable to experience pain and sensation prior to hoisting and slaughter. The three basic types of stunning methods which are classified as being humane (i.e., pain less) in the United States, Europe and other foreign countries are captive bolt (penetrating and nonpenetrating), electrical, and CO₂ (carbon dioxide) gas anesthesia.

The physiological mechanisms of stress are the same before and after the onset of unconsciousness. The release of epinephrine as a result of stress inducers has an effect on the quality of the meat and it is therefore desirable to use a …

Designs And Specifications For Livestock Handling Equipment In Slaughter Plants, Temple Grandin

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Properly designed, maintained and operated livestock handling facilities are more humane and more efficient in ensuring a steady uninterrupted flow of livestock to the slaughter line, and will usually pay for themselves by reducing bruises, injuries and lost work time. Down time or lost work time in a large slaughter plant is expensive since a five minute delay can cost over $500 in lost meat production. Another benefit of good systems is increased safety for the employees; many serious accidents have occurred when agitated cattle turn and trample a handler.

Although specific recommendations vary for different species, certain general principles …

Laboratory Animals And Alternatives In The 80'S, Andrew N. Rowan

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

No abstract provided.

Bringing Nature Into The Zoo: Inexpensive Solutions For Zoo Environments, David Hancocks

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Animals in captivity have traditionally been kept in sterile and inappropriate environments. Typically this situation still prevails in zoos. Cages are designed only for restraint of the animals, expediency for the public, and convenient maintenance by keepers. The animals' behavioral needs are often ignored. By using nature as a norm, and by using natural materials, the spatial and temporal environment of a captive animal can be easily and greatly enriched. Several examples which have been used at Woodland Park Zoological Gardens are discussed. Their application and expansion are appropriate for most urban zoos

The Involvement Of The Farm Animal Veterinarian In Animal Welfare, David G. Llewellyn

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The following is excerpted from a paper presented by Mr. Llewellyn, BSc MRCVS at the British Veterinary Association Annual Congress, September 9-14, 1979, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Pet Mutilations And Veterinary Ethics, M. W. Fox

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

No abstract provided.

The Public Governance Of Science And Research Animal Welfare, T. E. Malone

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

The following is excerpted from a speech given by Dr. Thomas E. Malone, Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health, at the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Scientists (AALAS), Anaheim, California, October 5, 1977.

Bruises And Carcass Damage, Temple Grandin

International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems

Bruising and carcass damage is a major source of financial loss to slaughterhouses in the United States, approximately $46 million per annum. The absence of easily administered tests to determine where and/or when bruising occurs results in the slaughter plant absorbing carcass damage costs. Rough, abusive handling of livestock accounts for over half of all bruising. Injuries occur through overuse of persuaders, careless transport methods, and faulty equipment. Other elements relevant to carcass loss include branding cattle, abscesses, spreader and crippling injuries, sickness and death during extreme weather conditions, and carcass shrink. The 1979 regulations under the Humane Methods of …