Animal Welfare Organizations Research Articles

Workshop on the validation and regulatory acceptance of innovative 3R approaches in regulatory toxicology – Evolution versus revolution

At a joint workshop organized by RIVM and BfR, international experts from governmental institutes, regulatory agencies, industry, academia and animal welfare organizations discussed and provided recommendations for the development, validation and implementation of innovative 3R approaches in regulatory toxicology. In particular, an evolutionary improvement of our current approach of test method validation in the context of defined approaches or integrated testing strategies was discussed together with a revolutionary approach based on a comprehensive description of the physiological responses of the human body to chemical exposure and the subsequent definition of relevant and predictive in vitro, in chemico or in silico methods. A more comprehensive evaluation of biological relevance, scientific validity and regulatory purpose of new test methods and assessment strategies together with case studies that provide practical experience with new approaches were discussed as essential steps to build up the necessary confidence to facilitate regulatory acceptance.

Recent efforts to elucidate the scientific validity of animal-based drug tests by the pharmaceutical industry, pro-testing lobby groups, and animal welfare organisations

BackgroundEven after several decades of human drug development, there remains an absence of published, substantial, comprehensive data to validate the use of animals in preclinical drug testing, and to point to their predictive nature with regard to human safety/toxicity and efficacy. Two recent papers, authored by pharmaceutical industry scientists, added to the few substantive publications that exist. In this brief article, we discuss both these papers, as well as our own series of three papers on the subject, and also various views and criticisms of lobby groups that advocate the animal testing of new drugs.Main textWe argue that there still remains no published evidence to support the current regulatory paradigm of animal testing in supporting safe entry to clinical trials. In fact, the data in these recent studies, as well as in our own studies, support the contention that tests on rodents, dogs and monkeys provide next to no evidential weight to the probability of there being a lack of human toxicity, when there is no apparent toxicity in the animals.ConclusionBased on these data, and in particular on this finding, it must be concluded that animal drug tests are therefore not fit for their stated purpose. At the very least, it is now incumbent on—and we very much encourage—the pharmaceutical industry and its regulators to commission, conduct and/or facilitate further independent studies involving the use of substantial proprietary data.

Evaluating the recently imposed English compulsory dog microchipping policy. Evidence from an English Local Authority

This is the first empirical study examining the effectiveness of the newly imposed English compulsory dog microchipping policy. A dataset of 2974 records was retrieved from an English local authority’s website. Records were from the period 2010–2018 and were analysed based on the three periods of the policy timeline: initial period includes data recorded prior to the intent of imposing the microchipping policy (April 1, 2010 - February 2, 2013); second period includes data recorded between the announcement of the intent and the date of the policy coming into effect (February 3, 2013–April 5, 2016); and the final period includes data recorded after the policy came into effect (April 6, 2016–July 4, 2018). A preliminary binary univariable logistic regression model analyzed the initial period which revealed that microchipping was an effective means of traceability providing evidence supporting the imposition of the policy. Thereafter, a multinomial logistic regression model was employed for the complete dataset and all policy periods. It revealed that both the period after the announcement of intent to impose the policy and the period after the policy came into effect have had a significant effect on the return of stray dogs, with the latter of greater magnitude. In particular for Staffordshire bull terriers and its crosses, which is the leading breed in animal welfare organization and local authority kennels, this study identifies the need for further research. Overall, these findings are encouraging in terms of the success of the policy however, more insights are required on keeping microchip details up-to-date and on the link of deprived areas, youth and the ownership of Staffordshire bull terriers. Although the findings of this study may not be generalized to all English local authorities, its conclusions could be used as a benchmark and starting point for further investigation.

A Public Perspective of Undercover Investigations in Animal Husbandry – an Interaction between Agriculture, Animal Welfare Organizations and Governmental Control

Undercover investigations in animal husbandry have attracted great media attention in recent years. Animal welfare organizations, farmers and politi-cians have been discussing the need for undercover investigations and their consequences for animal activists. Since the public perspective and its influencing factors had not previously been scientifically investigated an exploratory study with 292 German consumers is conducted. Using structural equation modeling the attitude to undercover investigations and their influencing factors are revealed. Generally the results show a positive attitude towards undercover investigations. They are perceived as necessary for animal welfare reasons because state-owned control mechanisms are unsatisfactory. In addition, the results show that the work of responsible animal welfare organizations receives social approval and the public is unsure about the psychological burden on affected farmers. The positive attitude towards undercover investigations is influenced by the increasingly critical view on livestock farming. However, the public rejects harsher punishment of investigators. Undercover investigations demonstrate the discrepancy between agriculture and society and show that the welfare of farm animals is becoming increasingly important.

Emotions and Ethical Decision-Making in Animal Ethics Committees.

Simple SummaryIn the EU, research projects using animals must be evaluated and approved by an ethical committee prior to start to balance potential harm to the animals with potential benefit to humans, in order to ensure moral standards, scientific validity, and public trust. However, different levels of knowledge among committee members, different views on which ethical aspects are relevant, member hierarchies, and a discrepancy between prevailing scientific norms of objectivity and the necessary conditions of a proper ethical evaluation makes it challenging. If applications are not properly evaluated, this can cause distrust in the ethics committees by society. We analyzed the role of scientific norms among Swedish committee members, application of the harm–benefit model, and the role of emotions in the ethical decision-making process. Researchers and chairpersons were most positive, whereas laypersons from animal welfare organizations were most negative. Laypersons more often felt emotionally engaged in the evaluation, but also that they felt they had less influence. We argue that the prevailing scientific norms are preventing necessary conditions for sound ethical evaluation consideration by excluding some members from the discourse. We propose that alternative models for ethical decision-making could contribute to an improved process and hence meet public trust.Ethical evaluation of projects involving animal testing is mandatory within the EU and other countries. However, the evaluation process has been subject to criticism, e.g., that the committees are not balanced or democratic enough and that the utilitarian weighting of harm and benefit that is normally prescribed is difficult to carry out in practice. In this study, members of Swedish Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) completed a survey aiming to further investigate the decision-making process. We found that researchers and animal laypersons make significantly different ethical judgments, and hold disparate views on which ethical aspects are the most relevant. Researchers were significantly more content than laypersons with the functioning of the committees, indicating that the ethical model used suited their preferences better. We argue that in order to secure a democratic and proper ethical evaluation, the expectations of a scientific discourse must be acknowledged, while giving room for different viewpoints. Further, to fulfil the purpose of the project evaluations and meet public concern, the functions of the different AEC member categories need to be clarified. We suggest that one way of achieving a more thorough, balanced and inclusive ethical evaluation is to allow for more than one model of ethical reasoning.

Do animals trigger asthma?

Animal welfare organizations receive hundreds of calls each year asking for advice on rehoming pets from the parents of children who have - or are at risk of developing - allergic diseases. But if a child reacts to the allergens produced by domestic animals, is it necessary to avoid any further contact? On the contrary, there is mounting evidence to suggest that keeping a pet may be just what the doctor ordered for a child with an allergic condition like asthma. John Bonner looks through the literature.

Pawsitive Solutions: An Overview of Prison Dog Programs in Australia

A survey of animal welfare agencies and corrections departments across Australia was conducted to compile a nationwide profile of prison dog programs, wherein inmates train dogs while learning skills to assist their rehabilitation. Most programs operating in 23 prisons in six Australian states were a community service design administered by animal welfare organizations. Inmates benefit through opportunities to train the dogs, give back to society, gain a sense of responsibility, improve self-confidence and social skills, and acquire vocational qualifications to improve job opportunities postrelease. Barriers identified included insufficient funding, limited training opportunities for the dogs, and some staff resistance.

Unpacking the ‘canine conundrum’

At the end of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, the victorious Pandava king Yudhisthir and his brothers renounce worldly pleasures and make their final pilgrimage to the Himalayas. Throughout this arduous journey, they are accompanied by a stray dog. Eventually, only the king and the dog survive. At this point, Indra, the god of heaven appears and invites the king to board his chariot, but without the faithful dog, as it is considered unworthy of entering heaven. In some sense, this dual identity of the dog mirrors that of Cerberus, the hound of Hades. In Hesiod's description, Cerberus is friendly and welcoming to the dying, but if they attempt to return to the world of the living, the murderous nature of Cerberus is unleashed (Wasik & Murphy, 2012). This duality of relationships between humans and dogs is reflected in many other mythological and historical writings (Wasik & Murphy, 2012). In the modern era, particularly in the western world, our relationship with the dog no longer has this ambiguity. Dogs are faithful companions, elevated to the level of family. In much of the rest of the world, however, our relationship with dogs poses a conundrum. For the most part, dogs are faithful companions; except that they also can harm humans via transmission of rabies (WHO/Department of control of neglected tropical diseases, 2018) and, at the extreme, attack and kill humans (e.g. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/dogs-maul-another-child-to-death-in-sitapur-toll-rises-to-14/articleshow/64221931.cms, accessed on 16/07/2018). Inadvertently, our close relationship with dogs has actually made them an invasive species, and now dogs also have large-scale impacts on native wildlife. Our study (Home, Bhatnagar & Vanak, 2018), demonstrates the threat posed by domestic dogs as predators and competitors of native species, with potentially large-scale edge-effects on wildlife populations within and around protected areas. The commentary pieces by Zapata-Ríos (2018), Young, Bergman & Ono (2018), and Allen (2018) have a common thread in their interpretation of this canine conundrum; i.e. does our proclaimed love for ‘animals’ really only extend to ‘companion animals’? Benjamin Allen articulates the lopsided emotions associated with domestic animals, even when they negatively impact native wildlife. Standalone measures of population control such as trap-neuter-release (TNR), reducing access to food, and the use of canine shelters, not only reveal the lack of understanding of the scale of the stray dog problem, but also the inability to take necessary measures. The conundrum is one of choice: should people protect wildlife or stray dogs? From the fact that the global dog population is close to a billion, people seem to have chosen. Zapata-Rios stresses the importance of policy measures to address the issue of domestic dogs as an invasive species based on three principle premises; a cognizance of the ecological and human health impacts of dogs, a shift in human behavior while implementing policies of dog population control, and responsible dog ownership for reducing impacts. The author's own work (Zapata-Ríos & Branch, 2016, 2018) has shown similar impacts of domestic dogs on native species in the Ecuadorian Andes. In South America, the conundrum emerges from the strong bonds that people share with dogs, often resulting in stiff opposition to rigorous policies for dog population management (e.g. Montecino-Latorre & Martín, 2018). Young, Bergman and Ono broaden the perspective by suggesting that dogs impede conservation goals by acting as agents of conflict. They present the conundrum at two levels: first, dogs are valued companions of humans, but when independent, they can revert to a feral state. Second, although self-evident, the solution to dog population management is increased awareness about the importance of human companionship to dogs. Unstated in our study, and that of others, is the role of international animal welfare agencies in failing to show the leadership necessary to solve the problem. In many cases, these agencies only fuel the conflict. For example, in India and elsewhere in the world, they continue to showcase TNR as a humane population control method for cats and dogs, despite scientific evidence of its failure to be effective and sustainable (Loyd & DeVore, 2010; Totton et al., 2010; Belo et al., 2017). Furthermore, a neutered dog can still impact wildlife and human well-being. Notably, animal welfarists ignore the potential for prolonged suffering of wildlife when they are killed by the weak and inefficient jaws of domesticated dogs. The solution to the ‘dog’ problem requires a multipronged approach from rural and urban civic agencies, public health departments, animal welfare organizations and wildlife conservation groups. Together, they must work to articulate a common vision that balances conservation of wildlife and animal welfare. An argument that should be put forward more forcefully is that the welfare of companion animals such as dogs, is best served under the close guardianship of humans. There is no need to reinvent the wolf.

“We Speak for Those who Cannot Speak for Themselves”

This article examines the history of the Toronto Humane Society [THS] from 1887 to 1891. It argues that the THS drew on the discourses of earlier Humane Societies and SPCAs in Britain and the United States and concludes that, like other animal welfare organizations, the THS saw the moral reform of the working classes as one of its primary duties. To do this, the Humane Society is linked to the larger moral and social reform movement that permeated the city in the late-nineteenth century. Dominated by members of Toronto’s middle class, the THS inordinately targeted workers in its efforts to spread humane sentiments throughout the city.

Chronicle of the 1st International Animal Welfare Summit – Vienna, 24th April 2018

On April 24th, 2018 the international animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS hosted the 1st International Animal Welfare Summit in Vienna, Austria. The meta-question of the event: “Animal welfare – A Necessity for Human Survival or Only a Concern for the Privileged?”. More than 300 attendees took part in the event, to hear from over 20 high-ranking experts from the fields of science, agriculture, nutrition, economics, politics and arts. The core message, stressed by all speakers and participants, is that animal welfare is not just a niche topic, but a collective and existential issue.

International Animal Protection Society Leadership: The Right People for the Right Issues.

As the increasing body of scientific information about the experiences of other species and their ability to suffer becomes available to those working within the field of animal welfare, the amount of potential issues to address also increases. Carefully choosing issues to address, and indeed leaders to drive the cause forward, has the potential to significantly increase the efficacy of the international animal welfare movement. Within this study 15 leaders of major international animal welfare organizations were interviewed about their experiences, thoughts and strategies, which have been primarily acquired through long-term exposure to the movement, and endeavors of trial and error. After thematic analysis, key themes are presented, along with strategies and cautions that may be beneficial to the animal welfare movement. Animal welfare leaders suggested a focus on issues that fitted well with their organizations’ remit and were not too broad, to avoid spreading resources and expertise too thin. A utilitarian framework was also considered important, aiming to improve the lives of as many animals as possible for the resources deployed. Good leaders were believed to have passion for their cause, not just for animals, and an ability to build and lead good teams, hence good interpersonal human skills were also perceived as essential. It is concluded that establishing what makes a good animal welfare leader could offer useful direction for future engagement of successful leaders in this field.

Private Animal Welfare Standards-Opportunities and Risks.

Simple SummaryIn all European countries, farmers keeping animals must comply with European and national animal welfare legislation. Each government has a responsibility to make sure that the legislation is complied with by the farmers. However, during the last decades it has become increasingly common that private organisations, such as the industry, farmers’ organisations, or animal welfare organisations, develop additional animal welfare regulations (‘private standards’) that the farmers also need to comply with. These private standards have the opportunity to improve animal welfare above the legislative level, however, in our study we have shown that this is not always the case and that all of these different private standards, in addition to the legislation, makes it difficult to get an overview of the animal welfare regulation and control arena. For the sake of the farmers, the animal welfare inspectors, the consumers, and the animals we conclude that it is important that policymakers consider this arena as a whole and not their own regulation as a single phenomenon.The current shift moves the governance of animal welfare away from the government towards the private market and the consumers. We have studied the intentions, content, and on-farm inspection results from different sets of animal welfare legislation and private standards with an aim to highlight the most important opportunities and risks identified in relation to the trend of increasingly relying on private standards for safeguarding or improving farm animal welfare. Our results show that different focuses, intentions, animal welfare requirements, inspection methods (i.e., methods for measuring and evaluating the compliance with a regulation), and inspection results, together with the use of vague wordings and a drive towards more flexible regulations does certainly not facilitate the interpretation and implementation of animal welfare regulations, especially not in relation to each other. Since farmers today often have to comply with several animal welfare regulations, including private standards, it is important to stress that a given regulation should never be seen as a single, stand-alone phenomenon, and the policymakers must hence consider the bigger picture, and apply the standards in relation to other existing regulations. This is especially relevant in relation to the legislation, a level that a private standard can never ignore.

Electrical water bath stunning for Halal poultry meat production: animal welfare issues and compatibility with the Halal rules.

Abstract The use of electrical water bath stunning for the 'humane' slaughter of poultry has drawn criticism from some animal welfare research scientists and animal welfare organizations throughout the world. During water bath stunning, birds are shackled and inverted prior to entry into an electrified water bath, current is passed from the head, through the body and legs to earth via stainless steel shackles. From a Halal perspective, the rules stipulate that the welfare of animals is protected at all times and that animals must be alive (not conscious) at the point of neck-cutting. Some Muslim authorities have therefore questioned the suitability of water bath stunning for Halal meat production due to its negative impact on animal welfare and the possibility of some birds dying prior to exsanguination. This paper examines possible welfare compromises during water bath stunning and how these may affect compatibility with the rules of Halal meat production.

The Caged Chicken or the Free-Range Egg? The Regulatory and Market Dynamics of Layer-Hen Welfare in the UK, Australia and the USA

Since the 1990s there have been a number of government and market led initiatives to improve the welfare of layer hens in the United Kingdom, Australia and the USA. The focus of these regulatory and market initiatives has been a shift away from the dominant battery-cage system to enriched cages, barn/aviary and free-range production systems. Government regulations have played an important role in setting some minimum welfare standards and the banning of battery cages in the UK and in some US states. However the commodification and market segmentation of higher welfare standards has also seen the growth in production and demand of cage-free and free-range eggs in all three countries. This paper maps and compares the developments in government regulation and market segmentation of layer-hen welfare in the UK, Australia and the USA. The role of labelling and certification in facilitating commodification and market segmentation will be examined, including the public controversies and legal conflicts over egg labelling. The key state, market and civil society actors in each country will also be identified, and their role in driving or resisting higher standards examined, including the increasingly influential role of animal welfare organizations and food corporations.

Race and ethnicity are not primary determinants in utilizing veterinary services in underserved communities in the United States

ABSTRACTA retrospective database analysis (2011–2015) evaluated associations between race and ethnicity and veterinary service utilization by sampling 83,260 companion animals whose guardians (owners) self-identified as White, Black, or Latino/a from 39 Humane Society of the United States Pets for Life (PFL) sites across the United States. Controlling for socioeconomic status, the percentage of nonhuman animals sterilized through PFL whose owners were Latino/a or Black was substantially higher than in previously reported findings. While Latinos/as had the highest mean number of days from first contact with the program to consent, they also had the highest percentage of owners accepting the voucher during initial contact. Logistic regression models suggested that although meaningful, race and ethnicity were not primary determinants of veterinary service utilization. When veterinary and animal welfare organizations deliberately remove structural barriers embedded with racial inequalities, individuals, regardless of race and ethnicity, proceed with companion-animal sterilization. Therefore, service providers must use unbiased, informed, and culturally competent practices to improve companion-animal welfare through the optimization of veterinary services, including spay and neuter.

Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare Discourses in the Third Reich

After the National Socialists assumed power in 1933, their ideas on animal welfare gained a foothold in veterinary organizations. Moreover, veterinary authorities as well as practitioners themselves influenced and shaped this particular form of animal welfare, which departed from frameworks such as those offered by the animal protection movement. Not only did leading figures of the profession commit themselves to work in animal welfare organizations, they were also complicit in helping with the ideological purges that followed the “Gleichschaltung,” which forced the more radical elements of the animal protection movement into line with Nazi ideology. Drawing on a discourse analysis of the leading weeklies of the veterinary profession and the major animal welfare journals of the time, this paper analyses overlapping discourses on the meaning of animal welfare and how these discourses were integrated in the National Socialist leitmotivs of national wealth and the nationalist concept of a folk community. It also considers how the veterinary profession’s to be the sole “advocate and helper of animals” affected the relationship between the animal protection movement and veterinary institutions.

Perceptions of Social Responsibility of Prominent Animal Welfare Groups

ABSTRACTNonhuman animal welfare is an increasingly important component of consumer expectations of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The extent to which prominent animal welfare or protection organizations may influence people’s perceptions of food industry CSR may be related to an organization’s perceived social responsibility. Data from an online survey of 300 U.S. residents were used to explore relationships between demographics/lifestyle choices and perceptions of prominent animal welfare organizations (using best–worst scaling methodology). Overall, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was perceived to be the most socially responsible organization analyzed, followed by the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association (AHA). Results suggest that the perceived social responsibility of animal protection organizations in this study was not strongly linked to personally (financially) supporting them, with 2 exceptions: the perceptions of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and AHA. Improved understanding of the perception of animal welfare or protection organizations can inform decision making by organizations interested in furthering animal welfare causes.

Risk factors for redemption of feline neutering vouchers issued by welfare organisations

Animal welfare organisations in the UK invest substantial resources to fund subsidised neutering vouchers to increase feline neutering rates. Little evidence exists to quantify factors influencing voucher redemption. This cross-sectional...

Surrendered and Stray Dogs in Australia-Estimation of Numbers Entering Municipal Pounds, Shelters and Rescue Groups and Their Outcomes.

Simple SummaryAnalyses of comprehensive and accurate dog intake and outcome data in municipal pounds and shelters across states in Australia would provide an in-depth understanding of the surrendered and stray dog issue as well as facilitate effective evaluation of existing management strategies. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive and reliable data at the federal, state and local government levels across public and private agencies. In this study, we developed a methodology to estimate the annual numbers of dog admissions in Australia, and to describe their outcomes. In 2012–2013, there were an estimated 9.3 dog admissions per 1000 residents (211,655 dog admissions). Of these admissions, 4.4 per 1000 residents were reclaimed (101,037 reclaimed), 2.9 per 1000 residents were rehomed (66,443 rehomed) and 1.9 per 1000 residents were euthanized (43,900 euthanized). An ongoing standardized monitoring system would enable Australia to evaluate management strategies to reduce numbers of dogs admitted and euthanized, and to benchmark its unwanted dog management policies and performance against comparable countries.There is no national system for monitoring numbers of dogs entering municipal council pounds and shelters in Australia, or their outcomes. This limits understanding of the surrendered and stray dog issue, and prevents the evaluation of management strategies. We aimed to estimate these in 2012–2013. Dog intake and outcome data were collected for municipal councils and animal welfare organizations using annual reports, publications, primary peer-reviewed journal articles, websites and direct correspondence. More comprehensive data were obtained for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Australian Capital Territory, whereas it was necessary to impute some or all data for Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania, as data were incomplete/unavailable. A refined methodology was developed to address the numerous limitations of the available data. An estimated national total of 211,655 dog admissions (9.3 admissions/1000 residents) occurred in 2012–2013. Of these admissions, the numbers where the dog was reclaimed, rehomed or euthanized were estimated as 4.4, 2.9 and 1.9/1000 residents, respectively. Differences in outcomes were evident between states, and between municipal councils, welfare organizations and rescue groups. This study emphasizes the need for an ongoing standardized monitoring system with appropriate data routinely collected from all municipal councils, animal welfare organizations and rescue groups in Australia. Such a system would only require data that are easily collected by all relevant organizations and could be implemented at relatively low cost. This could facilitate ongoing evaluation of the magnitude of the surrendered and stray dog problem, and allow assessment of strategies aiming to reduce numbers of admissions and euthanasia.

National aspirations, governance networks and the development of Canada’s animal welfare movement

AbstractThis article discusses the establishment of governance networks related to animal welfare and rights. Situating the animal welfare movement relative to processes of nation-building in British North America and Canada during the nineteenth century, it shows how the movement’s proponents struggled and failed repeatedly to translate the considerable interest that was expressed locally in cities across that nation into a national institution that might better represent the movement at that level and on the international stage. Employing sources including state legislation, federal political debates, newspapers, and published and archival materials generated by a wide range of civil society institutions, it examines the multiple tensions that informed these efforts, and balances them against the considerable headway that the movement made in other contexts during the latter decades of the century. In doing so, the article complements well-developed discussions of state formation in Canada by underscoring the importance of civil society institutions to that process.RésuméCet article discute de l’établissement de réseaux de gouvernance liés à la protection et aux droits des animaux. En situant le mouvement de protection des animaux par rapport aux processus de construction de la nation en Amérique du nord britannique et au Canada pendant le dix-neuvième siècle, il montre comment les partisans du mouvements ont essayé et en plusieurs fois échoué à traduire l’intérêt considérable exprimé localement dans les villes à travers la nation en une institution nationale qui pourrait mieux représenter le mouvement à ce niveau et sur la scène internationale. En employant des sources comprenant la législation étatique, des débats politiques fédéraux, des journaux et des articles publiés et archivés générés par un grand choix d’institutions de société civile, il étudie les multiples tensions qui informent ces efforts et les positionne contre les avancées considérables que le mouvement a connu dans d’autres contextes au cours des dernières décennies du siècle. Ainsi, l’article s’ajoute aux discussions déjà bien développées de la formation de l’état au Canada en soulignant l’importance des institutions de société civile dans ce processus.