ABSTRACT A retrospective study (Study 1) involving 89 births and 137 newborns was evaluated based on data from two breeder centers during 2019–2021. The sixteen pregnant household dogs were monitored for their weights and ear skin temperature (EST) of the mother and their puppies at birth (study 2). Study 1 showed an early neonatal mortality (ENM) rate of 89% among the births and 10.6% among the neonates, while in study 2 ENM rate was 18.8% of the births and 8.2% of the newborn puppies. Healthy neonates of various breeds showed different mean daily weight gains either during 5 or 7 days of birth (Study 1). Moreover, the average of puppy to mother birthweight (WB) ratio is 0.04, with significant variation among breeds (Study 2). The mean EST of puppies at birth (35.3°C) was less than that respective mothers (37.9°C), showing no significant variation among breeds. A significant correlation (r2 = 0.6) was detected between puppy EST at birth and with neonate to mother WB ratio (p = 0.0003). The ENM rate is higher in breeder centers compared to household dogs. EST measurement at birth is a simple procedure to monitor mother’s and puppy’s body temperatures.

ABSTRACT This paper initiates new conversations about using physiological indicators to assess dog welfare. There are significant concerns about construct validity – whether measures used accurately reflect welfare’s complexity. We propose evidence-based frameworks to advance canine welfare assessment through improved physiological measurement protocols, challenge over reliance on isolated cortisol measurements, and present actionable recommendations for research methodologies that better consider individual variation. Current evidence demonstrates that animal welfare assessment requires multiple physiological indicators reflecting distinct biological systems. In practice, indicators are frequently used in isolation with limited salient dog descriptors, failing to reflect the canine experience adequately. Using a systems approach, we explore various physiological systems and alternative indicators It is essential to consider factors like age, body weight, and sex when interpreting biomarkers, and researchers should report these. This discussion identifies indicators for both positive and negative experiences. We advocate for a practical, evidence-based approach to assessing indicators of canine welfare, including noninvasive collection methods. We acknowledge the complexity of evaluating experiential responses in dogs and the need for continued work to improve practices, ultimately advancing welfare assessment and improving dogs’ lives.

ABSTRACT This mixed-methods study investigated themes and factors associated with recent dog adopters declining free over-the-phone support for dog behaviors of concern. At least one behavior of concern (potentially aggressive behavior [PAB], separation-related behavior [SRB], or other behavior of concern [OB]) was reported across 6,317 post-adoption support (PAS) calls made to 3,782 adopters at 2-days, 2-weeks, and 4-months post-adoption. However, for 68.8% of calls, the behavior support offered was declined. Generalized linear mixed-effects modeling and Tukey post-hoc testing showed declining support was significantly more likely at 2-weeks post-adoption compared to 2-days and when reporting behaviors of concern in the following combinations: PAB or SRB individually > PAB and SRB simultaneously > only OB > OB with PAB +/SRB. Inductive thematic analysis produced four themes from adopters’ responses around declining help: “Awareness but no action yet”, “managing behaviour”, “feels support not needed”, and “belief of cause”. Findings offer insights into adopter attitudes around dog behavior, support needs, and behavioral management. Future research should explore whether declining this support is associated with using other support types and whether uptake impacts overall adoption.

ABSTRACT The Compassion Questionnaire for Animals (CQA) was developed to measure compassion for animals as a multifaceted construct encompassing affective, cognitive, behavioral, and interrelatedness dimensions, each representing skills that can be cultivated through training and practice. Nonetheless, the original 28-item limited its usability in research. This study aimed to address this limitation by developing a shortened version of the questionnaire while preserving its strengths. The CQA underwent an iterative shortening process that was evaluated in a large-scale validation study was conducted to evaluate the shortened questionnaires. The final version comprised 18 items (CQA-18) with high content and valence balance among items. Psychometric analysis indicated that CQ-18 maintained properties similar to the original questionnaire in terms of internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity, while also presenting an invariant factor structure by gender. CQA-18 represents a significant reduction in length compared to the original version, while maintaining robust psychometric properties. The study findings underscore the theoretical and practical significance of the questionnaire in assessing and cultivating compassion for animals. However, certain limitations warrant consideration, and the implications for research and clinical practice are thoroughly discussed.

ABSTRACT Laparoscopy is the preferred technique for artificial insemination (AI) with frozen semen in sheep, given the ovine cervix’s anatomical challenges. This study assessed if and when laparoscopic AI alters stress and inflammation markers. Ewes underwent estrus synchronization and were divided into Control (hormonal protocol only; n=4) and LP (laparoscopic AI 54-60 h post-protocol; n=5) groups. Blood samples were collected at D-1 (pre-fasting), 0 h (during AI), 30 min, 60 min, 24 h, and 48 h post-procedure to measure serum cortisol, total protein (TP), albumin, and paraoxonase 1 (PON1). LP ewes showed elevated cortisol (p=0.01) at 0 h and 48 h compared to Controls. Albumin decreased acutely in LP at 0 h, 30 min, and 60 min. PON1 activity and TP remained unchanged, though data variability suggests larger samples for future validation. In conclusion, laparoscopic AI modulates cortisol and albumin, highlighting the need for strategies to reduce procedure-induced stress and inflammation, which can impair reproductive performance.

ABSTRACT Environmental enrichment is vital for captive animal welfare and should be integrated into tailored action programs. Setting objectives requires information on time use, enclosure use, and social compatibility. While activity and space are commonly assessed through instantaneous scan sampling, social relationships usually demand time-consuming focal sampling of affiliative or agonistic interactions. Since scan sampling also records social behavior, it raises the question of whether this method could offer a quicker yet reliable way to evaluate social relationships within groups. We studied grooming exchanges in a zoo-housed chimpanzee group, comparing social structures from scan and focal sampling. Results showed scan sampling yielded estimates of grooming similar to focal sampling. By reducing data collection time, scan sampling streamlines early enrichment program stages, enabling faster diagnosis of group dynamics and more efficient establishment of enrichment objectives, thus supporting animal welfare without compromising data quality.

ABSTRACT Behavioral observations of six dogs during seven animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are presented. Previous studies with AAI have not found significant threats toward dogs’ welfare. However, some findings suggest that environmental, human participant-related, dog-related factors and the type of intervention may influence the welfare. It is important to understand how AAIs affect participating dogs. This study aimed to describe behavioral responses of dogs engaged in AAIs, assess the use of behavioral observations as indicators for dogs’ welfare, and include handler’s perceptions. The interventions took place at two outdoor events. Seven AAI sessions with six different dogs were videotaped to analyze their behavior. Appeasement behaviors were shown at the highest frequencies (10.89/minute (SD 3.91)), followed by posture changes (5.95/minute (SD 2.36). Each dog displayed avoidance behavior at least once during each session. Most owners scored their dogs’ stress levels at 1 or 2 on a scale of 1–4. Behaviors indicating both positive and negative welfare were observed. Moreover, a potential need for the education of handlers to advocate for their dogs was identified.

ABSTRACT Every day, thousands of humorous animal videos are uploaded on social media platforms. In this study, 162 pet videos intended to be funny from various social media platforms were analyzed for content related to poor animal welfare. The videos were analyzed regarding risk of injury for the animals, suspected pain, agony breeding characteristics and animal behavior indicating stress. The success of each video was assessed based on views, likes and shares. Stress reactions of the animals were observed in 82% of all videos, while risks of injury were found in 52% of the videos. Pain was assumed in 30% of cases, and 32% of the videos showed pets displaying agony breeding characteristics, such as brachycephaly. A total of 93.8% of all videos achieved the benchmark “views:account follower (exposure)” value of 0.14, classifying them as successful videos. This study showed that successful animal videos on social media are often related to poor animal welfare. The study emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among social media users about animal welfare issues and can be the starting point for necessary educational work.