Animal Behavior and Welfare Exam 1

Sentience

The capacity to be affected positively or negatively and have experiences and feel. The capacity to experience suffering and pleasure, implies a level of conscious awareness and consciousness of feelings.

Anthropomorphism

Attributing human characteristics, traits, emotions, or intentions to non-humans

Critical Anthropomorphism

Using human needs as a starting point for considering what animals may need in order to have a good life or, at least, to avoid suffering

Precautionary Principle

If there is a perceived risk to a practice, in the absence of scientific proof and consensus of the risks, err should be on the side of caution, and precautionary measures should mitigate threat even if the cause-and-effect relationship have not been fully established, "better safe than sorry"

Most species unlike us

We don't recognize welfare implications of

Early Definitions of Animal Welfare

Physically healthy, able to survive and reproduce, able to cope with their environment.

Very closed-minded definition

Coping

How an animal is managing and responding to their environment and challenges, regulating their physical and mental state, maintaining stability and homeostasis,

Animal Welfare

The overall mental and physical state of an individual animal and refers to the quality of life experienced by the animal

Welfare is about the animal

Outliers in a large group of animals still matter, the overall group of animals may have good welfare, but you need to look at the individuals

Welfare vs. QoL Timeframe

Quality over quantity, death = no more experiences = no welfare issues, how an animal dies is a welfare concern but not if.

Science of Animal Welfare

Tells us what animals can experience and how conditions affect them

Ethics of Animal Welfare

Asks how we ought to act towards sentient beings

Law of Animal Welfare

Sets the minimum we must do, often trailing both science and ethics

Is animal welfare the same as animal rights?

No

Veterinarian's Oath

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge

Animal Welfare and the Public

Veterinarian's views on animal welfare are currently trusted, credible, consulted

Professionalism

Requires that the acceptability of current animal-using practices is constantly reviewed and that proposals for evidence-based improvements are made by veterinarians

Importance of animal welfare in veterinary medicine

There are risks to the veterinary profession if veterinarians do not play a full and visible role in the advancement of animal welfare and if we are not seen as advocates for animal interests

1860's Welfare

No pain control, little to no anesthesia

1958 Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (US)

Only federal legislation that protects farm animals on the farm, except chickens

Public Concern in the 1960's

Ruth Harrison Animal Machines, Pepper the dog stolen off owner's property and sold to research market and euthanized

1965 UK Brambell Report

An animal should at least have sufficient freedom of movement to be able without difficulty, turn around, groom itself, get up, lie down, and stretch its limbs. Foundation for 5 Freedoms

1979 Farm Animal Welfare Council

Created the 5 Freedoms based on the Brambell Report

5 Freedoms

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst

2. Freedom from discomfort

3. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease

4. Freedom to express normal behaviors

5. Freedom from fear and distress

1966 Laboratory Animal Welfare Act

1st US federal law regarding animals used for research

1970 Animal Welfare Act (AWA)

Revamp of 1966 Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, Only US federal law regulating the treatment of animals in research, teaching, testing, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. Enforced by USDA and APHIS

The Three R's

"The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique"

Replacement: Alternative to animal use

Refinement: Minimize animal's pain and distress by improving techniques

Reduction: Reduce # of animals used

Speciesism

Attention to those species with whom we are familiar. Different levels of consideration for different animals based on species, not evidence of a difference in their ability to feel positive or negative emotions.

Anthropocentrism

Philosophical, cultural viewpoint, "human beings are the central or most significant entities in the worlds"

Bernie Rollin

Philosopher, bioethicist, created "telos"

"Telos"

An animals' nature, the fulfillment or thwarting of which mattered to them

1990's Temple Grandin

First to discuss stress in handling animals during slaughter and production. Created objective scoring system to assess welfare during handling and slaughter

US Animal Welfare Act 2002

Changed the term "animal" to specifically exclude birds, rats, and mice bred for use in research

UK 2006 Animal Welfare Act

Modified 5 Freedoms, made them 5 Needs

Five Animal Welfare Needs

1. Need for suitable environment

2. Need for suitable diet/nutrition

3. Need to be able to exhibit normal behavior patterns

4. Need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals

5. Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury, and disease

Ag-gag Laws

Criminalized 1. video recording or photographing anything within an agricultural facility without permission from the owner 2. misrepresenting oneself when applying for a job at an agricultural facility in that one's motives is to collect data or imagery from the facility

2010 Updated Veterinarian's Oath

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge

21st Century

AWA includes birds, 5 welfare domains, CA prop 12, positive welfare states

CA Prop 12

In CA, meat facilities must house animals in places that meet the minimum housing standards, higher welfare standards

Framework: Continuum

Sliding scale, good welfare: positive experiences, adequate welfare: minimal suffering, poor welfare: negative experiences

Framework: Inputs and Outputs

Resource based and animal based

Inputs

Info about environment, management, and animal risk factors. Resource-based measures. Ex. What the animal is eating, does it receive vaccines, things owner is doing

Outputs

Info about disease, physiology, and behavior. Outcome-based measures. Ex. Health issues or diseases, behaviors animal is exhibiting, things the animal has or is doing in response to inputs

Problem with the Five Freedoms

Conflicting ideals, impossibilities, redundancies, focus on negative. If not achievable, people ignore them, limited adherence

Framework: Three Circles

Functioning state, affective state, and natural living. Overlap and relationship

Functioning State

Physical state, all the physical factors that indicate health and physical fitness

Affective State

Mental state, emotions, cognitive state, mental well-being vs pain, fear, distress; negative and positive

Natural Living

Need to express natural, highly motivated innate behaviors typical of their species "in the nature"

Framework: The Five Welfare Needs

2006 UK, Need to....

1. Be protected from pain, injury, suffering, and disease

2. A suitable diet

3. A suitable environment

4. Exhibit normal behavior patterns

5. Be housed with or apart from other animals

The Five Welfare Domains

Domain 1: Nutrition

Domain 2: Physical Environment

Domain 3: Health

Domain 4: Behavioral Interactions

These 4 all contribute to

Domain 5: Mental State/Experiences

All of these together are a framework for animal welfare assessment

Why the Five Welfare Domains Work

Mental state emphasized, for every physical aspect affected there is an accompanying affective sate, positive welfare states, life worth living

Overall affective experience in mental domain = welfare status of the animal

Welfare assessments as a veterinarians

Helping farms establish good animal welfare, animal care guidelines, voluntary 3rd party audits, not legislation, provide further assurance. ALL VOLUNTARY, welfare standard is the minimum

Behavior and Welfare

Gateway between external and internal, behavior is one of the main means to evaluate welfare, informs clinical handling, and client education. Need to understand normal behavior is so you can detect abnormal behavior

Normal Behavior

Behavior as a species, group, and as an individual

Ethology

scientific study of animal behavior

Charles Darwin

Continuity of behaviors throughout animal kingdom, evolution, natural selection shaping behavior and emotional expression

Konrad Lorenz

Imprinting or sensitive period learning with plasticity

Fixed action patterns -> varied, feedback, context/motivation learning

Innate releasing mechanisms -> motivation sensory circuitry

Supernormal stimuli -> stimulus generalization and peak shift

Nikolaas Tinbergen

4 questions to explain behavior, how's and why's

Temperament

Genetically acquired, inherited behavioral responses to specific situations or stimuli

Personality

Combination of animal's temperament, learning experiences, and development

Tinbergen's 4 Questions

Development & Mechanism: Response to immediate factors

Function & Evolution: Purpose of the behaviors

Tinbergen's 4 Questions: Development

How does the behavior emerge over an animal's life, and how is it shaped by experience and age?

Tinbergen's 4 Questions: Mechanism

What internal mechanisms underly this behavior: neuro, hormonal, physiology, sensory, musculoskeletal?

Tinbergen's 4 Questions: Function

What purpose does it serve in survival or reproduction? What is the adaptive significance, usefulness in terms of fitness? Why does the animal respond in this way instead of another way?

Tinbergen's 4 Questions: Evolution

What is the evolutionary history of this behavior? Do we see it in related species? Why did this behavior evolve in the species? Why did the individual's ancestors have this behavior? Compared to other species?

Objective Observations

Based in fact, avoids overstating or oversimplifying, no feelings.

Ex. dilated pupils, ears flat, tail tucked

Subjective Observations

Interpretations, assigning meaning

Ex. Fearful, anxious

Ethogram

List, description and catalog of discrete, objective behaviors of an animal. Recognizable behaviors, standardization, no underlying emotional state or purpose

Umwelt

Environment or surroundings, the unique, subjective world that each animal experiences based on their own specific sensory and cognitive capabilities

Behavioral Needs

What does performing a particular behavior mean to the animal

Jack Panksepp (1990s) 7 Mammalian Emotional Systems

Positive: Seeking, care, play, and lust

Negative: Fear, sadness, anger

Highly motivated behaviors are usually accompanied by emotions

Negative if completing the behavior isn't possible

Positive once behavior is taking place

Varying terms about emotions

Emotion, feeling, mood, and affective state

Valenced

Pleasent or unpleasent

Affective State

The integrated picture of how an animal is doing mentally over a period of time. Includes all emotions or feelings experienced as pleasant or unpleasant; experienced consciously and which motivate animals to behave in particular ways

Emotional Conflict

Animal has competing emotions or motivations (i.e. when they are motivated to perform two opposing behaviors)

Frustration

Animal is motivated to perform a behavior, but is not able to do so (i.e. there is no available outlet or means for them to perform a normal behavior.

Negative Affective States

Comes from frustration or previous unpleasant experiences

Distance-Increasing

Increase distance between self and perceived threat or discomfort, avoid conflict, fear, communication

Distance-Decreasing

Decrease distance between self and other, affiliative, encourage approach, inviting

Displacement Behaviors

Normal behaviors that occur out of context for given situation; conflicted and unsure

Calming Signals

Help to avoid or stop conflict or help them cope with stress

Cognitive Bias

Way an animal's underlying affective state (emotion or mood) influences how the animal interprets/thinks about and response/reacts to ambiguous information or situations

Behavioral Repertoire

Time budget, fitting into the constructs of our society

Preferences

Choosing one option over others. To have preference, an animal must be able to compare different options that meet the same need or motivation.

Choice

Consequence of motivations, preferences, and decisions

Relaxed Dog Body Language

Eyes: Relaxed eyes, normal pupils, soft eyes

Ears: Neutral; back but not flattened; loose

Mouth: Open or closed; lips are long and soft, commissures relaxed

Face: Soft and loose

Spine/Posture: Flexible from neck to tail

Tail: Level with topline; slightly above or below topline, wagging

Stressed Dog Body Language

Eyes: Dilated pupils, prolonged staring or avoiding eye contact; whale eyes

Eras: Out to the side; flat against head

Mouth: Closed; lips-short, tense; snarl; lip lift; bite

Face: Skin taut; wrinkled brow; lips pulled back; tense jaw

Spine/Posture: Ridged and/or stiff

Tail: High above topline; tucked; wagging

Hackles

When up it indicates a state of arousal, not synonymous with aggression, can happen during play, potential to tip into aggression

Arousal

Intense emotional state

Tail Wagging and Behavior

Depends on breed, signifies arousal

High Flagged Tail

Highest arousal and confidence

Freezing Tail

Warning sign of aggression, tail goes from wagging to still

Belly Up

Can be distance decreasing signal and invite to belly rubs, look at whole dog, if soft and relaxed likely this.

Or could be distance increasing signal, lacking confidence and an appeasement behavior, submissive gesture. If dog shows signs on stress like lip licking it is likely this

Appeasement Behavior

Meant to reduce threat; deferential behavior with pacifying signals to another individual

Active Appeasement

Greeting or attention-seeking behaviors; ex. nuzzling, licking, lowering body

Passive Appeasement

Reduction in activity with goal of diverting/decreasing attention, ex. ears flat, tail tucked, averting eyes

Displacement Behaviors Examples

yawning, shaking off, lip licking, excessive blinking, scratching, paw lift, grooming out of context

Avoidance Behaviors Examples

Averting gaze/eyes; avoiding visual contact, turning head away, turning whole body away, crouching/moving back or away, trying to escape, hiding behind objects or persons, backing up with paw up

Ladder of Aggression

Subtle signs at first, escalates up the ladder and shifts fast when ignored