WCRO Fall 2007

Preparation pays dividends in huge Tahoe fire Animal Fighting: wins and challenges Oregon makes history, bans gestation crates Animal Agribusiness: uncaging the victims of family farming Top fashion designers, retailers snared CA campaign to protect farm animals Washington campaign a possibility Recent legislative victories Online debut of A Humane Nation Last roundup for U.S. horse slaughterers Miracle horses survive kill floor Standing tall against cruelty: WCRO\u27s Eric Sakac

Use and perception of collars for companion cats in New Zealand

Aims: To investigate public perceptions of the use of collars for companion cats in New Zealand. To understand perceptions around safety and efficacy of collar use. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to members of the public via social media. The questionnaire collected details of respondents, cat ownership status, and responses to a number of questions regarding collar use in cats. Data were analysed using SPSS analytical software v21.0 for Windows (IBM Inc., Chicago IL, USA). Results were considered significant if p≤0.05. Results: A total of 512 responses were collected, 393 (76.9%) respondents reported owning at least one cat at the time of survey, of which 141 (36.4%) stated that at least some of their cats wore collars and 211 (54%) had at least one of their cats micro-chipped. Of the respondents with a pet cat, 351 (90%) allowed their cats outdoor access at least some of the time. Respondents 20 used collars for identification, and to reduce predation of birds and other animals. Reasons for not using collars included cat intolerance of collars, repeated collar loss and concern over collar safety. Respondents felt collars could cause injury if caught on objects, or if too tight, and many believed ‘not all cats will tolerate a collar’. Significant differences were found between cat owners and non-owners regarding whether cats were important for pest control; whether cats will tolerate collars; whether being well fed influences cat hunting behaviour; whether cats should be kept indoors at night; and whether a cat without a collar was likely to be a stray. Respondents trusted veterinarians and the SPCA most as sources of pet care information. Conclusion: Collar use for companion cats in New Zealand appeared to be low. Cat owners perceived a number of barriers to the use of collars which may be imagined, or result from incorrect use. Collars may be useful for improving animal welfare allowing rapid identification , improved rates of returns to owners and prompt medical interventions in the case of injury. Collars with attached devices such as bells are also useful to reduce the impact of domestic cats on both native and introduced wildlife, and may improve public perceptions of stray/wandering cats. Relevance: A number of concerns have been raised in recent years about the negative impacts of cats on New Zealand’s natural environment, and the possibility of poor welfare among unowned cats. Understanding the perceived importance of cat collars and exploration of the perceived barriers to their use are vital to enhance our understanding of cat ownership, cat identification and impact of cat predation. This understanding can help to guide development of policies and practices to improve animal welfare, reduce the negative impact of pet predation, and promote responsible pet ownership

HS NEWS Volume 26, Number 03

President\u27s Perspective: Living legacies (John A. Hoyt) A sticky problem The humanitarian as irritant The purveying of the parking lot pooch posters Bunny money \u27Factory\u27 farming update: humane alternatives pay (Dr. Michael Fox) In memory -- Barbara Smith Crisis: a sport swept by scandal Horse Racing bill moves forward People and animals: an organized approach to humane education on the elementary school level (Kathy Savesky) The program for programs (A thank you to our members) (Donald K. Coburn) The Humane Society of the United States 1980 Annual Report 1981 Annual Conference of The Humane Society of the United States: Animal Welfare: the Present Crisis Fighting the flea (Carol Moulton) The 70% Solution: a missed opportunity to protect the Pribilof Seals Seals have their day (Julie Rovner) Mourning doves Trapping Slide presentation Dogfighting Public appearance Bloodless bullfights Dogfighting Raccoon update Help for beginners Zoos Reservation deer Nongame legislation Marine Mammal Protection Act Lacey Act CITES Horse transportation The Animal Welfare Act FDA enforces turtle ban HSUS seeks postal ba

NEBLINE, June 2016

CONTENTS: Feature: The Garden Grocery — Food Safety & Selection at Farmers’ Markets Food & Health Farm & Acreage Pests & Wildlife Horticulture Early Childhood 4-H & Youth Extension Calendar and other extension news and event

HS NEWS Volume 24, Number 04

President\u27s Perspective: Humaneness in action: a heritage for the future (John A. Hoyt) Jojoba beans Carter notifies HSUS of whale protection action Cold weather, cold pet? Tellico -1, Snail darter -0 Before looking for a puppy ... Animals in the air Don\u27t buy fur A breakthrough for the whales (Congressman Paul. N. McCloskey, Jr., California) Investigative Report: a report on some of the cases and areas of animal abuse currently under inquiry by The HSUS Department of Field Services and Investigations HSUS makes first grants from Alice Morgan Wright -- Edith Goode Fund Wild animal breeding farm closed in Florida West Coast Office discourages raccoons as pets Euthanasia workshop highlights Great Lakes activities Oil spill threatens wildlife on Gulf seashore Scar rule being enforced in Missouri Albany workshop successful despite energy crisis Montana added to Rock Mountain Region Laboratory animals Justice Department funding, update Endangered species authorization Greyhound training Animals in schools Pribilof seals BLM roundup of Challis Horses thwarted again Turtle farmers seek to overturn F.D.A. ba

Mitigating the impacts of pet cats (Felis catus) on urban wildlife

Pet cats are a very important part of life for many people and provide companionship to millions of people worldwide, from small children to the elderly. However, wandering pet cats may affect wildlife populations through direct predation, competing for prey with higher order consumers, spreading disease to wildlife and humans, exerting sub-lethal effects such as changes in parental behaviour or reduction in clutch size of prey caused by the fear of cat predation, hybridising with wild felids or breeding with stray and feral cats to maintain feral populations. In addition, they may annoy neighbours by disturbing dogs, attacking pet birds, spraying, digging in gardens, fighting (including with other pet cats) and walking on cars. Pet cats that are allowed to wander are also at risk from disease, fights with other animals that may lead to injury infection, and from traffic accidents (one of the leading causes of pet cat mortality). Despite these risks to wildlife and their pets, many cat owners in Australia and other countries such as the UK and New Zealand are reluctant to restrict their cats to their properties at all times. The primary aims of this thesis were to investigate several different precautionary approaches to reducing the risks proposed by predatory interactions between cats and urban wildlife and determine what precautionary measures the wider community considers acceptable. In association with colleagues from Australia and overseas, I assessed the social attitudes in Australia, the USA, the UK, New Zealand, Japan and China towards pet cats and cat ownership and responsibilities with a detailed survey. We found significantly different results between all countries, indicating that if any legislation was to be imposed regarding pet cats unique approaches would be required in each country. We confirmed that many cat owners will not keep their cats inside, and therefore other methods to prevent wildlife capture and reduce pet cat roaming behaviour are appropriate. I then examined the effectiveness of the anti-predation collar cover the BirdsbeSafe® (BBS) in reducing predation by pet cats on birds. A range of different colours and patterns are available for this device and I found that some patterns (red and rainbow) were effective at reducing predation on prey with good colour vision (birds and herpetofauna) by 47 – 54%. However, yellow collar covers were not effective at reducing cat predation on birds. The BBS had no effect on the numbers of mammal prey captured. This device is useful for cats that catch many bird or herpetofauna prey and either do not catch, or their owners would like them to catch, mammals such as rats and mice. It is not suitable in areas where there are sensitive small mammal populations. Ninety-six per cent of cats adapted to the BBS within two days, indicating that it will not upset or impede on the welfare of the vast majority of cats as long as collars are correctly fitted and checked regularly. Previous research on the anti-predation device the CatBib and my own research on the BBS indicated that these devices may alter the roaming behaviour of some pet cats, in most cases with cats reported as staying closer to home. This potentially provides another incentive for owners to fit their cats with these devices to reduce their wandering behaviour. I tested this hypothesis on 30 pet cats wearing either the CatBib or BBS with the use of GPS collars. In addition, I collected data from cats wearing GPS collars but no anti-predation device to determine factors that influence roaming behaviour. I found that neither the CatBib nor the BBS significantly changed the roaming behaviour of pet cats, supporting claims by the manufacturers of the CatBib and the BBS that the devices reduce hunting success while not restricting other behaviours. Thus they do not offer an option to owners wishing to restrict their cats' roaming. The most significant predictor of pet cat home range was housing density, with pet cats living in more rural locations travelling significantly further than pet cats in areas of high housing density. In order to reduce uncertainty over factors that affect cat predation I used a meta-analysis and mixed linear models to compare all of the studies that used radio-telemetry or GPS to examine cat roaming behaviour. I found that despite most individual studies showing that male cats have larger home ranges than females but no statistically significant difference between the two, comparing all the data concluded that male cats do have significantly larger home ranges than females. I also found that mature cats (over 8 years old) have smaller home ranges than younger adult cats (2 – 8 years old), desexing has no influence on roaming behaviour, husbandry practices (providing vet treatment and socialising cats with humans) did not impact roaming behaviour, and cats living in areas with low housing density (e.g. farm cats or pets on rural properties) had larger home ranges than cats in higher housing density areas. Ultimately, the best solution to prevent pet cats from impacting wildlife and for their own protection is to keep them confined to their owners’ properties at all times. Since this is an unpopular option, education campaigns are required to change the community practices and attitudes towards pet cats so that owners either become more accepting of confinement or more willing to use predation deterrents. Since there are significant differences between different countries in how people perceive cats and the impacts of their wandering behaviour, different approaches are required in different locations. In Australia, and possibly New Zealand, people may change their behaviour based on the effects cats have on some wildlife. However, in countries such as the UK, campaigns should focus on the benefits to cat welfare

Effects of environmental enrichment and behavioural style on stress responses in singly housed shelter cats (Felis catus)

Shelters are potentially stressful environments for singly housed cats. The behaviour and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) responses were examined in six shelter cats caged singularly for 30 days. Raised faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations and Cat-Stress-Scores (CSS) together with increased grooming and reduced eating indicated a stress response that tended to decrease with time. Environmental enrichment (EE) of the cages may help reduce this stress. However, the efficacy of different types of EE may be reliant on whether a cat is bold or shy, and may be related to the EE preferences expressed. A test was developed to discriminate between bold and shy cats. Nine cats were tested for latency to emerge from a carrier, and percentage of time spent in a carrier during a 5-min test in an empty arena. These measures were found to be significantly different across individuals and not significantly different across time. Seventeen cats were then subjected to a similar test, with similar results. Combining these results, it was determined that latency to emerge from carrier with a cut-point of 10 s was the most appropriate test for discriminating between bold and shy cats in a shelter setting. It correctly classified a high percentage of cats overall, was quick and easy to administer, and best suited to correctly identify shy individuals, which were less represented in this population and arguably could derive greater benefit from identification and extra attention. A final behavioural style study subjected 84 cats to this test, which showed acceptable cross-context consistency and correctly classified a high percentage of cats. Cats’ visit frequency to and time allocation with different types of EE were assessed using a plus-shaped choice chamber, in which each external compartment contained a different type of EE. Entrance to each chamber was gained through a cat-flap door monitored remotely using a HOBO data-logger. Usage of the shelf compartment was not significantly different from any other compartment. A significantly higher percentage of time was allocated to the compartment containing the hiding box compared to the toy compartment and to the empty control compartment, suggesting a hiding box may be a valued resource. A final experiment housed 72 bold or shy cats singly in cages enriched with either a hiding box or a shelf, or in an empty control cage. The amount of food eaten and the percentage of time spent eating increased across time, and percentage of time spent grooming decreased over time. Cats in the hiding box group had significantly lower FGM and higher food intake than cats in the control group, indicating that the type of EE used most in the choice test reduced stress. Shy cats used the hiding box significantly more than bold cats, and had a significantly higher CSS until day 5. There was no evidence that bold and shy cats benefited from different types of EE. The results indicated that the stress of caging is experienced more intensely by shy cats, but it can be reduced by the inclusion of a hiding opportunity in cats expressing either mode of this behavioural style

Manteniment dels animals en parcs zoològics : legislació i enriquiment

Treball presentat a la Facultat de Veterinària de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.Treball presentat a l'assignatura de Deontologia i Veterinària Legal (21223

Finding Sanctuary: Australian Foxes and Dingoes and the challenges of rescue

In Australia the term ‘sanctuary’ is used to define a very broad range of animal/human shared spaces, with no regulation as to who can and can’t use the term ‘sanctuary’ to describe their practices. On one hand the term ‘sanctuary’ is often used in Australia to describe the growing number of refuges for ‘domestic’ and ‘livestock’ animals rescued from agricultural industries. However, there are animal breeding facilities in Australia, (that breed, sell and exhibit animals for money) that also describe themselves as ‘sanctuaries’. For the last decade I have been running the “Sydney Fox and Dingo Rescue” and in this thesis I examine what it means to provide sanctuary to the foxes and dingoes we look after. My analysis is informed and shaped by Animal Studies literature on animal sanctuaries and the ethics of captivity. I highlight what it means to be a ‘true sanctuary’ and outline the ethical obligations sanctuaries like mine have towards both humans and non-human animals. The thesis also explores physical, psychological and legal forms of captivity for animals and how the cultural and historic significance of specific animals manifests in their need for sanctuary from persecution by humans. My own experiences running Sydney Fox and Dingo Rescue are an important aspect of this research, and I draw on these to contextualise the ethical dilemmas and challenges facing animal sanctuaries today

The effect of time left alone on cat behaviour

There is not much known about the relationship between a cat and its owner. Cats display a variety of behaviours towards their owner, but some of these behaviours are hard to interpret in an ethological context. In this study, the aim was to find out if cats are affected by the duration of time left alone at home. 12 single-housed indoor cats were tested in two treatments, before, during and after 4 h (T4) and 0.5 h (T0.5) separation from their owner. The cats were recorded in their home environment by digital cameras, and their behaviour was observed and recorded through instantaneous sampling, one-zero sampling and continuous sampling. Some households with pair-housed cats were also observed in this study. The results showed a difference in time spent lying resting during the time left alone. Cats in this study spent more time resting in T4, and they also tended to stay in the hallway near the front door before the owner left in this treatment. In the last 5 min of alone time, cats tended to be more attentive towards unidentified sounds and object in T4, and during reunion they tended to vocalize (purring), stay close to the owner and stretch more, and the owners tended to take verbal contact more often. The conclusion of this study is therefore that cats are affected by the duration of time left alone at home.Det finns mycket som inte är känt när det kommer till relationen mellan en katt och dess ägare. Katter riktar många av sina beteenden mot sin ägare, men flera av beteendena är svåra att tolka i ett etologiskt sammanhang. I denna studie var målet att se om katter påverkas av att lämnas ensamma i hemmet under olika tidsintervall. 12 innekatter, utan sällskap av en annan katt, testades i två behandlingar; före, under och efter 4 timmars (T4) och 0.5 timmars (T0.5) separation från sin ägare. Katterna filmades med digitalkameror i sin hemmiljö och deras beteenden observerades med hjälp av intervallobservationer, 1/0-registrering, samt kontinuerliga observationer. Några hushåll med två katter observerades också i denna studie. Resultatet visade en skillnad i tid som spenderades liggande vilande under tiden de var ensamma. Katterna spenderade mer tid vilandes i T4, och de tenderade att uppehålla sig i hallen, nära ytterdörren, innan ägaren lämnade hemmet i denna behandling. I de sista 5 minuterna av ensamhet, tenderade de att vara mer uppmärksamma på oidentifierade objekt och ljud i T4, och vid återförening tenderade de att vokalisera (kurra), hålla sig nära sin ägare och sträcka på sig mer, och ägarna tenderade att ta mer verbal kontakt. Konklusionen av denna studie är därför att katter påverkas av att lämnas ensamma under olika tidsintervall