Animal Welfare and Quality of life

Some thoughts and ideas to promote the improvement of animal welfare

in our organisations.

How do we perceive animals?

• From Aristotle to Darwin to your individual beliefs………..

• Aristotle's views influenced views for hundreds of years.

• Other great thinkers of the time did not share Aristotle's views that we could treat animals as we like.

Who put the cat amongst the pigeons?

Darwin challenged many previous thoughts on animals

• Where they came from

• How they survive

• What their needs were

• What drives them to pass on their genes

So why do we still treat animals poorly?

• When an idea or belief has been around for a long time it is hard to extinguish.

• I equate this poor welfare of animals to the same problems I see with training methods employed by some trainers.

Beliefs come from different but essentially popular sources

Does it make a difference how they are trained? Surely it is only

important that they are trained!

or

Blackwell et al 2008

• Behaviours that owners find problematic are widespread in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) population (Voith et al.,1992; Wells and Hepper, 2000; Bradshaw et al., 2002; Kobelt et al., 2003; Hiby et al., 2004)

• and are a common cause of dogs being abandoned, sent to re-homing centres, or euthanized (Bailey, 1992; Miller et al., 1996; Patronek et al., 1996; Serpell, 1996; Salman et al., 1998, 2000; Scarlett et al., 1999; New et al., 2000; Marston and Bennett, 2003; Shore et al., 2003; Mondelli et al., 2004; Shore, 2005).

• So education to the dog owning public is still a very important tool to improve animal welfare.

• If better training methods are employed along with a greater understanding of the species there are likely to be less dogs handed over to shelters for behavioural reasons.

Jeremy Bentham(1748-1832)

• The question is not, can they reason: nor, can they talk, but

• can they suffer?

How do we know when they are suffering if they can’t communicate?

• We must understand the animals ethology

• We must be able to interpret their vocalisations and body language properly

• We must appreciate the impact of denying them freedom to express certain behaviours

• We must improve our knowledge and understanding of the species we are trying to help

Questions we need to try and answer

• Are all dogs needs the same?

• Is there one environment that suits all dogs?

• What is an acceptable level of welfare?

Where to start

• There are a number of methods that have been used to assess welfare in the past; Bramble’s 5 freedoms are always a good base to begin but there is much more information we are now aware of that helps us identify poor welfare.

• 1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

• 2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

• 3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

• 4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind (if appropriate}.

• 5. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst

• “The dogs have plenty of food”

• How, when, where, how often, how much, what there fed all can have an impact on quality of life.

• Water bowls, troughs, containers.

Freedom from Discomfort

• Ask yourself what makes you feel uncomfortable.

• Beds, temperature regulation, noise, clean resting area. A place to feel safe

• Choices make the difference here.

Is this ok??

So why is this??

Freedom from Pain

• This in theory should be the easiest thing to do.

• Good veterinary care is essential for good welfare.

Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour

Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour

• Ethology

• Do the research

• Have a good understanding of what your dogs needs are.

Freedom from Fear and Distress

• Possibly the hardest to achieve.

• Arguably the most important of the five.

• Understand what creates fear and distress in dogs.

How to improve welfare

• First thing to do is never say it is good enough!

• Second thing to do is identify achievable goals

• Take ideas and knowledge from where ever you can get them and prioritise welfare and quality of life

How to improve welfare

• We need to be able to identify both above and below basic welfare

• We need trained people to identify areas that need to be improved and how to do it!

• We need to understand the importance of quality over quantity

Individual welfare scores

• To be completed by 2-3 carers

• Aims to identify areas to work on

• Can be used as a tool to corroborate euthanasia requests

• Subjective

Welfare Assessment

Always think to yourself when filling in this

assessment how this dog would fit into your

own family life? Would you consider living

with this dog?

Will this dog be able to live a full life in our

shelter?

Section One - Home-ability

Description Best 0 1 2 3 4 5 Worst

Home-ability Excellent x No

Known person directed aggression/reactivity Low x High

Stranger directed aggression/reactivity Low x High

Other animal directed aggression/reactivity Low x High

Car Travel Excellent x Poor

On leash aggression towards people Low x High

On leash aggression towards dogs Low x High

Muzzle Trained Yes x No

Is the dog comfortable being alone Yes x x No

High chase drive (cars, cyclists, joggers) Low x High

Recall when off the lead Immediate x Never

Totals 0 2 6 20 20 48

Description 0 1 2 3 4 5

Sociability with other dogs? All dogs x No dogs

Can the dog share kennel space? Always x Never

Will the dog eat safely around other dogs? Always x Never

On lead meetings - calm Calm x Excitable

On lead meetings - vocalisation Quiet x Excessive

On lead meetings - aggression Never x Always

On lead meetings - confident Confident x Worried

Possessive/guarding towards other dogs Low x High

Play Style Calm x Rough

Totals 0 16 25 41

Section Two - Dog to Dog Interactions

Section Three - Human Interactions Description Best

0 1 2 3 4 5 Worst

Physical Handling Excellent x Impossible

Does the dog initiate contact Always x Never

Impulse control Excellent x None

Retrieving of toys Always x Never

Relinquishing of Toys Happy/Eager x Unwilling

Interaction with the handler Excellent x None

Possessiveness (Guarding) Low x High

Play interaction with the handler Interactive x Avoidant

Focus on handler with distraction Excellent x None

Play Style Forgiving x Rough

Totals 0 4 6 10

Section Four - Manageability in Kennels

Description 0

1 2 3 4 5

Reactive entering or leaving kennel? Low x High

Ease to remove the dog from its kennel? Easy x Impossible

Is the dog calm when shut in? Calm x Stressed

Can the dog be taken off site safely Yes x No

Placing a harness on the dog Easy x Impossible

Reactive when dogs pass the kennel Low x High

Probability of redirection behaviours Low x High

Placing a muzzle on the dog Easy x Impossible

Risk to unfamiliar staff Low risk x High risk

Reactivity on the lead Low x High

Ease of placing a muzzle on Easy x Difficult

Risk to volunteers Low risk x High risk

Does the dog cope with routine change Copes well x Unable

Resistance returning to kennel Low x High

Totals 0 3 2 3 28 10 46

Section Five - Stress Levels Description

0 1 2 3 4 5

Is the dog calm in the kennel? Yes x No

Visible signs of stress Minimal x Excessive

Self Mutilation None x Excessive

Stereotypies/OCD’s None x Excessive

Tail chasing/spinning None x Excessive

Vocalisation None x Excessive

Does the dog hide away Never x Always

Does the dog show obsessive behaviours Never x Always

Sleeping Normal x No Sleep

Wall bouncing None x Excessive

Ability to settle Easy x Impossible

Appeasement behaviours Normal x Excessive

Avoidance behaviours Normal x Excessive

Toileting Normal x Abnormal

New environments Copes well x Unable

Time to recover from stressful situation Immediate x Hours/Days

Totals 0 3 6 9 8 0 26

Totals

Section 0 1 2 3 4 5

Section Score

Home-ability 48

Dog – Dog Interactions 41

Human Interactions 10

Manageability in Kennels 46

Stress Levels 26

Totals 0 171

Complete Total of all Section’s Columns

Observational welfare assessment

• A simple walk around the shelter on a weekly basis can help identify areas of poor welfare

• For people that work regularly at the shelter the noise and fights or lack of behaviour becomes normal

• So education to all staff & volunteers on normal and abnormal behaviours is essential

Can assessing the welfare of individuals tell us about the shelter?

• 100 dogs

• 15 cases of stereotypy

• 10 cases of shut down behaviour

• 15 cases of veterinary shortfall

• No enrichment

Welfare Audit

• Fill in the welfare audit by marking one circle on each question.

• Within this welfare audit there are 45 questions.

• 1 = Above welfare standard

• 2 = Acceptable welfare standard

• 3= Below welfare standard

• The top mark for this audit would be 45 the worst would be 135 and an average 90. Although this audit may give an overall score rating for the welfare of dogs in the kennels, care is needed when interpreting these results as it is possible to get a “pass” of 90 yet many aspects of the audit may have scored poorly and some above average. The main use for this audit tool is to identify areas that could be improved.

Kennel floor space (ref 1)

Kennel temperature regulation Kennel lighting (Ref 4)

Material used for kennel Kennel floor

Kennel drainage Kennel weather resistance

Numbers of kennels Per block Kennel noise level (Ref 2)

Dogs per kennel(size of kennels & dogs dependant) Sleeping options

Toileting options Kennel orientation

1. Larger than the dimensions indicated in category 2.

2.Small dogs (less than 12kg (26lbs) – sleeping area not less than 1.1 sq m (12 sq feet), width and length not less than 0.9 m (3 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 3.7 sq m (40 sq feet), width not less than 0.9m (3 feet).

2.Medium dogs (12kg (26lbs) to 30kg (66lbs) – sleeping area not less than 1.4 sq m (16 sq feet), width and length not less than 1.2m (4 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 5.5 sq m (60 sq feet), width not less than 1.2 m (4 feet).

2.Large dogs (more than 30kg (66lbs)) – sleeping area not less than 1.4 sq m (16 sq feet), width and length not less than 1.2 m (4 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 7.4 sq m (80 sq feet), width not less than 1.2 m (4 feet).

3. Smaller than the dimensions indicated in category 2.

1. Individually controlled, to change temperatue for individual housed in the kennel

2.Adjustable to control temperature in the block of kennels

3.No ability to regulate temperature in the facility

1. Both natural and artificail light, with options to reduce and increase as required

2.When using artifical light it should closely mirror that of natural light in both intensity and duration

3.No lighting

1. un-damaged, Fit for purpose, non porous, easy to clean & maintain

2.Un-damaged, fit for purpose

3.Damaged, dangerous & unable to clean

1. Un-damaged, non porous, non slip & comfortable

2.Un-damaged, non porous

3.Damaged, porous & unable to clean

1. Drainage for individual kennels to reduce cross contamination

2.Drainage for the whole block

3.No drainage

1. adaptable shelter to meet the needes of individuals

2.Provides shade and shelter from the elements

3.No shelter from the elements

1. Below 10

2.Between 10 & 20

3. Above20

1. Effective sound proofing within the kennel environment and around the site. Noise levels maintained below 80dB

2. Some sound proofing between the kennels. Noise levels between 80 & 100dB

3. No sound proofing. Noise levels above 100dB

1. Varied due to size and temperament

2.From 1 to 4 dogs

3. social isolation or above 4 dogs

1. As for 2 but with options for types of bedding and area away from sources of stress

2. Dry, clean bedding away from the elements.

3. No bedding or wet dirty & exposed to the elements

1. Multiple opportunities to toilet away from the kennel, preference tested substrate within the kennel

2. Area away from the sleep and feeding area

3. No options to toilet away from sleep area and feeding area

1. Variation of choices for the dog to enable self reguation of temperature

2. Not exposed to the elements

3. Exposure to the elements without the option to seek shelter

Access to water Kennel cleaning regime

Feeding regime Behaviour in kennels

Time away from kennel Social interactions (human)

1. As for 2 with the addition of water presented in a variety of options as per the individuals needs.

2. Access to clean fresh water.

3. Limited or no access to clean fresh water

1. As for 2 with attention paid to all items in the kennel and ability to remove dogs from the area being cleaned.

2. Estaablished cleaning regime using appropriate materials that are fit for purpose resulting in a clean and disinfected kennel.

3. No cleaning regime or incorrect use of materials and equipment.

1. As for 2 with the addition to be able to provide chewing material and variety in the dogs diet as neccessary. More than once per day.

2. Dogs fed sufficient to ensure good body condition.

3.Insufficient dietry needs met, unsafe feeding regime.

1. Calm, relaxed and living mostly without negative emotions.

2. Dogs coping with the environment and able to adapt.

3. Stereotypies, obsessive behaviours and frequent aggressive responses. Shut down behaviour with no ability to choose a behaviour

1. As for 2 with multiple opportunities to express natural behaviours and interact with people and other dogs as appropriate.

2. The opportunity to exercise and express natural behaviours away from the kennel on a daily basis.

3. No opportunity to express natural behaviours away from the kennel.

1. Repeated opportunities to interact and play whilst acting out natural behaviours creating a positive emotional state.

2. Opportunity to interact witht the emphasis on positive emotions on a daily basis.

3. No opportunities to interact with people or that the interactions induce a negative emotional state.

Kennel temperature regulation Kennel lighting (Ref 4)

1. Individually controlled, to change temperatue for individual housed in the kennel

2.Adjustable to control temperature in the block of kennels

3.No ability to regulate temperature in the facility

Each dog is trying to tell us how they feel

Are we listening?

• Some people say that dogs understand us better than we understand them?

• This is a difficult subject to cover but vital that we work together to improve our animals quality of life wherever they are in the world

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1Y_2AvS3c