What's in it for the Companion Animal? Pet Attachment and College Students' Behaviors Toward Pets

Elsie R. Shore

Department of Psychology, Wichita State University

Deanna K. Douglas
Department of Psychology, Wichita State University

Michelle L. Riley
Department of Psychology, Wichita State University

Research on the human-nonhuman animal bond has focused primarily on its advantages to the human. The purpose of this study is to investigate behaviors of caregivers (owners) of companion animals (pets) and to examine the relationship between such behaviors and scores on a pet attachment scale. Participants were 501 largely nontraditional (older, married, employed full-time) college students living with a pet dog or cat. The study categorized owner behaviors as essential, standard, enriched, or luxury care. Almost all participants reported engaging in essential care behaviors, with numbers declining from category to category. Pet attachment scores appeared related to standard and enriched care behaviors but not to essential care. Too few participants reported doing luxury care behaviors to link them to attachment. The results suggest that even pet owners reporting low attachment provide beneficial care and attention to their pets and that pet attachment may be of limited use when looking at the benefit of the humananimal bond to the companion animal.

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Spectral Analysis of Feeding and Lying Behavior of Cattle Kept Under Different Feedlot Conditions

Stephen C. Wilson
Co-operative Research Centre for the Cattle and Beef Industry, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

Robin C. Dobos
New South Wales Agriculture Beef Industry Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

Lloyd R. Fell
New South Wales Agriculture Beef Industry Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia

This study used spectral analysis in 2 separate experiments to examine feeding and lying behavior of Bos taurus steers under 2 housing treatments: a feedlot yard stocked at 12.0 m2 per head with a dry, firm pen surface (NDF) and a "high density" (HDF) feedlot yard stocked at 6.0 m2 per head with a wet and muddy feedlot pen surface. The study conducted 1 experiment in Autumn, another in Spring. The study measured and analyzed ambient temperatures, relative humidity, and barometric pressure half-hourly onsite, using time series cross-correlations to determine whether steer behavior was associated with them. Both NDF and HDF groups showed similar lying and eating duration. HDF steers exhibited patterns of lying and feeding different from those of NDF steers. Spring observations found a number of correlations with temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure. Health and production data showed no differences between treatments. The results indicate that cattle made successful, short-term changes to changed feedlot environmental conditions. However, confirming these findings requires further replication. Spectral analysis was shown to be sensitive enough to detect behavioral differences between treatments and thus has potential animal welfare assessment tool.
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What Happens to Shelter Dogs? Part 2. Comparing Three Melbourne Welfare Shelters for Nonhuman Animals

Linda C. Marston
Department of Psychology, Monash University

Pauleen C. Bennett?‌
Department of Psychology, Monash University

Grahame J. Coleman
Department of Psychology, Monash University

Although the characteristics of dogs admitted to animal welfare shelters have been described previously, few studies have compared the statistics of different welfare shelters. The existing studies compare shelters that differ operationally and philosophically on factors such as whether they perform euthanasia or whether the shelter receives both impounded and relinquished animals. This study aims to determine whether differences in admission and outcome data exist between shelters when these issues are constant. The study sampled 3 metropolitan Australian shelters over a 12-month period. All shelters sampled serve both as municipal pounds and welfare shelters, perform euthanasia as required, and operate within the relatively small, culturally homogeneous environment of Melbourne. The study observed significant differences between shelters regarding the admission characteristics of the dogs, length of stay, and outcomes. The identification of these differences may enable us to establish "best-practice" procedures capable of implementation elsewhere. The differences identified in the reasons given for relinquishment between locations also may have policy and educational implications for animal control agencies.
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Nutritional and Behavioral Effects of Gorge and Fast Feeding in Captive Lions

Joanne D. Altman
Department of Psychology, Washburn University

Kathy L. Gross
Hill's Pet Nutrition Science and Technology, Topeka, Kansas

Stephen R. Lowry
Hill's Pet Nutrition Science and Technology, Topeka, Kansas

Nonhuman animals in captivity manifest behaviors and physiological conditions that are not common in the wild. Lions in captivity face problems of obesity, inactivity, and stereotypy. To mediate common problems of captive lions, this study implemented a gorge and fast feeding schedule that better models naturalistic patterns: African lions (Panthera leo) gradually adapted from a conventional feeding program to a random gorge and fast feeding schedule. Digestibility increased significantly and food intake and metabolizable energy intake correspondingly decreased. Lions also showed an increase in appetitive active behaviors, no increase in agonistic behavior, and paced half as frequently on fast days as on feeding days. Thus, switching captive lions to a gorge and fast feeding schedule resulted in improved nutritional status and increased activity.
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Welfare Evaluations of Nonhuman Animals in Selected Zoos in the Philippines

Ronnel R. Almazan

University of the Philippines

Roberto P. Rubio
University of the Philippines

Govindasamy Agoramoorthy
Tajen Institute of Technology

This study evaluated 3 zoos in the Philippines: the Wildlife Rescue Center and Mini Zoo, Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, and Cavite Botanical and Zoological Park to determine the standards of nonhuman animal welfare. The study measured and compared the cage sizes of various animals to the international minimum standards. According to the categories of management and husbandry, the 3 zoos showed a significant difference on the mean scores of ranking. The Wildlife Rescue Center and Mini Zoo ranked first, followed by Manila Zoo and Cavite Zoo. Although most cages in the 3 zoos followed acceptable minimum standards, the study identified several problems related to animal welfare, hygiene, husbandry, and management. Based on the evaluations, the study recommended that the 3 zoos improve animal welfare standards.

Cited by
Frances H. Albrecht?‌. (2005) Editor's Note: Tsunami Effects on Nonhuman Animals. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 8:1, 69-71
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