Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.2
3.0
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Companion Animal Welfare: Focusing on the Future
share announcement

Companion Animal Welfare: Focusing on the Future

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2024 | Viewed by 10412

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Grace Carroll

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
Interests: animal welfare; animal behaviour; anthrozoology; evolutionary psychology; human behaviour change for improving animal welfare; the evolutionary psychology of pet keeping
Dr. Alison Wills

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal and Agriculture, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire, UK
Interests: animal welfare; canine biomechanics; animal therapy; health and disease of exotic pets

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Increasingly, the benefits of taking a holistic approach to animal welfare are being recognized, with concepts such as OneHealth and OneWelfare emphasizing the interconnections between animals, humans, and the environment. Furthermore, the role of human in determining animal welfare is increasingly acknowledged, with growing efforts to address human behaviour head-on. Despite the progress made to date, several challenges remain. The number of companion animals is increasing globally, with growth in the number of both traditional (such as cats and dogs) and non-traditional, or exotic, pets. At the same time, pet sales are increasingly moving online with the exchange of animals unregulated on sites that host classified advertisements. Whilst increasing attention has been paid to common pet species and their welfare needs, issues affecting the welfare of exotic companion animal species remain comparatively understudied.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to encourage novel research that addresses gaps in our knowledge, benefits from new technological advances and utilizes our growing understanding of the importance of taking a holistic approach to improving companion animal welfare.

Original manuscripts that address future solutions for improving companion animal welfare are invited for this Special Issue. Topics of special interest may include (not an exhaustive list):

  • OneWelfare approaches to improving companion animal welfare
  • Theory-informed Human Behaviour Change techniques for improving companion animal welfare
  • Inter-disciplinary solutions to companion animal welfare issues
  • Technological solutions for improving regulation of online pet sales
  • Novel solutions for addressing companion animal relinquishment and abandonment
  • Assessing the link between animal abuse and other forms of abuse (e.g. domestic abuse, child abuse)
  • Factors affecting the welfare of non-traditional and exotic companion animal species

Dr. Grace Carroll
Dr. Alison Wills
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • One Welfare
  • human behaviour change
  • exotic species
  • technological advances
  • companion animal relinquishment

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 5233 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Transportation on the Cortisol Level of Dwarf Rabbits Bred to Animal-Assisted Interventions
by Éva Suba-Bokodi, István Nagy and Marcell Molnár
Animals 2024, 14(5), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050664 - 20 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
(1) Background: the popularity of rabbits has increased during the last decade and become the third most common companion animal in the EU. Rabbits’ participation in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) is growing. It is highly important to ensure the well-being of the animals in [...] Read more.
(1) Background: the popularity of rabbits has increased during the last decade and become the third most common companion animal in the EU. Rabbits’ participation in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) is growing. It is highly important to ensure the well-being of the animals in AAIs. Whereas the needs and the advantages of people involved in AAI are becoming more and more evident, the needs of animals are not clearly defined, therefore, it is a great field of inquiry. Animals who are used for AAI need to be transported regularly, which itself might be a source of stress. (2) Methods: the stress of rabbits—caused by transportation—was measured in a non-invasive way: cortisol levels were determined from feces, based on their breakdown products. Eighteen animals were involved in the study. Rabbits experienced a 30 min transportation every second day for two weeks (altogether six times) while 126 samples were collected. (3) Results: rabbits could handle the transportation procedure the first time but subsequently the stress hormone metabolites in feces samples increased regardless of the offered treatments (hay, carrot and apple) during the carriage. (4) Conclusions: those owners who use rabbits for Animal-Assisted Interventions need to take into account that transportation itself is a stressful experience for the animals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Companion Animal Welfare: Focusing on the Future)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 302 KiB  
Article
Do Animal Welfare Education Campaigns Really Work? An Evaluation of the RSPCA’s #DogKind Campaign in Raising Awareness of Separation-Related Behaviours in UK Dog Owners
by Izzie Philpotts, Emily J. Blackwell, Justin Dillon and Nicola J. Rooney
Animals 2024, 14(3), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030484 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1376
Abstract
One of the main aims of companion animal welfare charities is to educate the public about the needs of animals. This is frequently performed through campaigns focusing on specific aspects of welfare. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), [...] Read more.
One of the main aims of companion animal welfare charities is to educate the public about the needs of animals. This is frequently performed through campaigns focusing on specific aspects of welfare. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Britain’s biggest animal welfare charity, launched the nationwide #DogKind campaign in March 2019. Targeted mainly at 25–34-year-olds, the campaign aimed to increase awareness of separation-related behaviour (SRB) among dog owners and encourage them to seek help for SRB from reliable sources. This research involved a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design evaluating the campaign’s effectiveness. It was conducted through a series of online surveys at three different time points: before the launch of the campaign (n = 2002), six months after (n = 2423), and, again, two months later (n = 269), during which we asked the same questions regarding knowledge of SRB. An experimental trial of 269 participants tested whether accessing a video alongside the campaign web pages increased the effectiveness of the campaign objectives. Overall, the campaign appeared to be effective in reaching its target audience but not at raising awareness of SRB or increasing the number of owners intending to seek help. The inclusion of a video in the campaign made no difference to its effectiveness. This study shows that this campaign had limited success in achieving its targets and highlights the importance of thorough evaluations of education interventions that aim to improve the welfare of companion animals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Companion Animal Welfare: Focusing on the Future)
24 pages, 537 KiB  
Article
What Do We Know about Dog Owners? Exploring Associations between Pre-Purchase Behaviours, Knowledge and Understanding, Ownership Practices, and Dog Welfare
by Izzie Philpotts, Emily J. Blackwell, Justin Dillon, Emma Tipton and Nicola J. Rooney
Animals 2024, 14(3), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030396 - 25 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2061
Abstract
Despite many dogs living in homes in the UK, there is still more to know about the welfare of those individual animals. Past research has shown that owners’ thoughts and behaviours have a substantial impact on their dog’s welfare. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Despite many dogs living in homes in the UK, there is still more to know about the welfare of those individual animals. Past research has shown that owners’ thoughts and behaviours have a substantial impact on their dog’s welfare. This study aimed to better understand owners’ pre-purchase behaviours, knowledge and understanding, and ownership practices, and explore any associations between these factors and their dog’s welfare. We conducted further analysis of the data collected by People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) for their 2017 PDSA Animal Welfare (PAW) Report (n = 1814). We extracted variables to describe owner demographics (7), pre-purchase behaviours (1), knowledge and understanding (4), welfare indicators, (2) and ownership practices (4), and we tested for an association between these variables. We found more pre-purchase research was carried out by younger respondents and those with a higher education level. Also, more research was associated with feeling more informed about the five welfare needs and knowing to seek help for behaviour from appropriate sources. Overall, the study found several novel and significant results worthy of note and further exploration but did not find any strong connections between the variables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Companion Animal Welfare: Focusing on the Future)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 837 KiB  
Article
Development and Validation of a Canine Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire and a Human–Canine Bond Questionnaire for Use in Veterinary Practice
by Robert P. Lavan, Muna Tahir, Christina O’Donnell, Alex Bellenger, Elodie de Bock and Patricia Koochaki
Animals 2023, 13(20), 3255; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203255 - 18 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1837
Abstract
The use of valid questionnaires to assess dogs’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in veterinary practice can improve canine health outcomes and communications between veterinarians and caretakers of dogs. The Canine HRQoL Questionnaire (Canine HRQoL-Q) and the Human–Canine Bond Questionnaire (HCBQ) were developed [...] Read more.
The use of valid questionnaires to assess dogs’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in veterinary practice can improve canine health outcomes and communications between veterinarians and caretakers of dogs. The Canine HRQoL Questionnaire (Canine HRQoL-Q) and the Human–Canine Bond Questionnaire (HCBQ) were developed and validated to fulfill this need. A literature review, interviews with veterinarians, and focus groups with caretakers were conducted to generate questionnaire items and develop draft questionnaires, which were piloted with caretakers to establish their content validity. Measurement properties were evaluated using data from a prospective survey study (N = 327). Draft Canine HRQoL-Q and HCBQ measures were developed, including a domain structure, items, recall period, and scale/response options. Refinements were made via iterative cognitive interviews with caretakers. When no additional revisions were indicated and content validity was established, the questionnaires were psychometrically tested. Ceiling effects were observed for all items, and factor analyses indicated that the pre-specified domains are appropriate. Internal consistency was demonstrated for the HCBQ (α = 0.79–0.86) and all but the social functioning domain of the Canine HRQoL-Q (α = 0.60). Test–retest reliability for the Canine HRQoL-Q was generally moderate-to-good (with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) > 0.79). Test–retest reliability for the HCBQ was moderate (ICCs: 0.70–0.79) except for the trust domain (ICC: 0.58). Known-groups validity was demonstrated via significant differences (p < 0.05) in scores for health/bonding groups. Convergent validity was supported (r > 0.40) between all domains and the total scores for both questionnaires. The Canine HRQoL-Q and the HCBQ are valid, reliable measures of canine HRQoL for use in veterinary clinics and appear to measure related but distinct concepts that contribute to canine health and wellness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Companion Animal Welfare: Focusing on the Future)

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 406 KiB  
Review
Potential Benefits of a ‘Trauma-Informed Care’ Approach to Improve the Assessment and Management of Dogs Presented with Anxiety Disorders
by Claire Lorraine Corridan, Susan E. Dawson and Siobhan Mullan
Animals 2024, 14(3), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030459 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 3628
Abstract
Dog caregiver reporting on the spectrum of fearful–aggressive behaviours often describes ‘unpredictable’ or ‘exaggerated’ responses to a situation/animal/person. A possible explanation for these behavioural responses considers that the dog is reacting to triggered memories for which the dog has a negative association. For [...] Read more.
Dog caregiver reporting on the spectrum of fearful–aggressive behaviours often describes ‘unpredictable’ or ‘exaggerated’ responses to a situation/animal/person. A possible explanation for these behavioural responses considers that the dog is reacting to triggered memories for which the dog has a negative association. For many dogs undergoing veterinary behavioural treatment or rehabilitation through a canine rescue organisation, the assessing clinician relies on “proxy” reporting of the history/background by a caregiver (dog owner, foster carer, or shelter personnel). Detailed information on the event or circumstances resulting in this negative association may be limited or absent altogether. Consideration of a trauma-informed care (TIC) approach, currently applied in a wide range of human psychology and social care fields, may be helpful in guiding the clinical approach taken. The literature relating to adverse early experience (AEE) and trauma-informed care (TIC) in puppies/dogs compared to children/adults was evaluated to identify common themes and conclusions identified across both species. In the absence of known/identifiable trauma, behavioural assessment and management should consider that a ‘problem’ dog may behave as it does, as the result of previous trauma. The dog can then be viewed through a lens of empathy and understanding, often lacking for dogs presenting with impulsive, reactive, or aggressive behaviours. Assessment must avoid re-traumatising the animal through exposure to triggering stimuli and, treatment options should include counselling of caregivers on the impact of adverse early experiences, consideration of the window of tolerance, and TIC behavioural modification techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Companion Animal Welfare: Focusing on the Future)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop