Rescue Centres Flashcards
(33 cards)
1
Q
Where do animals in recue centres come from
A
- Neglect and cruelty cases
- Strays
- Given up for adoption/rehoming
- Abandoned
- Dangerous dogs
normally no owner and no vac/parasite protection
2
Q
reasons why rehome dogs
A
- Moving (7%)
- Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
- Too many animals in household (4%)
- Cost of pet maintenance (5%)
- Owner having personal problems (4%)
- Inadequate facilities (4%)
- No homes available for litter mates (3%)
- Having no time for pet (4%)
- Pet illness(es) (4%)
- Biting (3%)
- lack of time especially with lockdown puppies
3
Q
reasons for rehoming
A
- Moving (8%)
- Landlord not allowing pet (6%)
- Too many animals in household (11%) – collect cats?
- Cost of pet maintenance (6%)
- Owner having personal problems (4%)
- Inadequate facilities (2%)
- No homes available for litter mates (6%)
- Allergies in family (8%)
- House soiling (5%) if dogs soil = owner percieves their fault BUT if cat does =
- Incompatibility with other pets (2%)
4
Q
how many stray dogs a day delt by local authority and how many unclaimed dogs in kennels
A
- 280 strays a day
- 50,000
5
Q
global stray number of dogs
public outcry by russia
A
200 million (WHO) USA top with 75.8 million
- mass slaughter
- stray dogs delt differently in different countries
6
Q
Why are stray animals a problem
A
- Direct physical injury to humans, their pets or their livestock.
- Indirect injury as a result of road traffic accidents.
- Reservoir of disease to humans and their pets (rabies, Toxocara canis, toxoplasmosis).
- Pollution from faeces, urine, etc.
- General nuisance – e.g. noise.
7
Q
how do we deal with stray dogs
A
- methods to control breeding = reduce further expation of population
- methods to decrease existing population = selective culling
8
Q
Financial cost of strays in uk
A
- Human injuries from strays £0.15m
- Livestock injuries from strays £2m
- Road accident costs£0.53m
- Local authority costs £11.3m
- Police costs £15m
9
Q
welfare considerations for stray animals
- negative
A
- as pop increases to unsustainable levels = compertition lead to lack of food/water and increase development of infectious disease
- comp for mates/food = fighting = wounds/stress
- road traffic accidents
- all five freedoms compromised except exhibit normal behaviour patterns
10
Q
welfare considerations for stray animals
- positive
A
- Strays can exhibit a range of natural behaviours
11
Q
Natural population control
A
- If a population is allowed to reproduce in an uncontrolled manner, and no additional food is provided, it will reach
= a critical sustainable level. - Any further population expansion will be controlled by starvation, malnutrition and disease – all associated with welfare problems.
12
Q
human response to stray problem
A
- problems associated with stray dogs and cats put pressure on the municipalities to come up with an instant solution
= a city, town, or other district possessing corporate existence and usually its own local government - control programs need to clearly take account of all stakeholders (animals, children, parenrs, community)
13
Q
mass slaughter
A
- Sometimes using inhumane methods such as poisoning, drowning (pups/kittens), electrocution, gassing and starvation. = welfare issue
- drowning cats worse = hold breath for long time = prolonge torture
- Poisoning may cause a prolonged painful death and is very indiscriminate.
- Poisoned baits are dangerous to other members of the community may be accidentally picked up by pets and children
- if children whitness = violent society
- ignore stakeholders = some people want to save animals and hide from authorities
- inneffective in long term
- only effective if at same time every day, everyone slaughter animals
14
Q
why is mass slaughter ineffective
A
- population density of animals releated to availability of food
- once pop rises above critical level = starvation, reduced fertility so survival stables population size
- migration of animals into cull area = more resources available, pop flourish, infectious disease drops and population increases in small period of time to previous level
- migration could increase aggression as establish new teritories
15
Q
consideration for practical stray control program
A
- Accurately assess the nature of the problem.
- Balance the need for retaining the benefits of pet ownership while addressing the stray animal problem.
- Take account of all ‘stakeholders’.
- Co-ordinate the activities of all appropriate groups.
- Employ humane methods only.
- Change attitudes by education.
needs time and money to implement
16
Q
role of animals shelters for stray animals
A
- limited resources in terms of employees, feeding, vet care etc
- local economy restrict faesability of rehoming animals = need to be looked after long term
- many run by enthusiatic volunteers motivated by desire to save animals = culling not acceptable
- rise of no kill policies
- WHO and WSPA developed framework for control of stray dogs/cats
17
Q
no kill policy
A
- ‘moral ideal’ given limitless resources of space, manpower and money
- unrealistic practically = lead to further suffering (kennel stress)
- not address real problem
- animals that never leave = ethically bad
18
Q
realities of no kill shelters
A
- lead to relative overcrowding in poorly constructed and maintained facilities leading to many potential problems –
~ Poor hygiene and sanitation. - high level of disease and death (close contact
~ Reduced and unbalanced nutrition.
~ Lack of prophylactic and therapeutic medications.
~ Inability to quarantine or isolate - conditions that result save too many dogs same conditions that predispose to outbreak of infectious disease
- if have sufficient funds = acceptable if dont cause unnesasary suffering
19
Q
euthansia (def)
A
= usually performed for the sake of the individual animal itself, as an act of mercy
20
Q
selective culling (def)
A
= killing in a humane way for the sake of the whole population or human society
21
Q
neuter release programs
A
- popular in certain situations where relatively high stray companion animal population
- where the availability of food will favour the survival and reproduction of a population of strays.
- Problems - Neuter and release programmes raise a number of concerns, both about their success in terms of public health as well as in terms of animal welfare.
- Numbers - In densely populated areas too few animals to make a difference to the population are usually caught.
- long term solution that requires volunteers, money, vet care, time
- Resources - for these programmes are also usually insufficient.
- Issues for people - the animals can still constitute a danger in terms of aggression, pollution and RTAs.
- Welfare – There is no guaranteed source of food, shelter and veterinary care.
22
Q
Health status examples of shelter animals
A
- normally unkown and need to be reviewed and physical assessment in 72 hours
- vac w/in 72 hours
- treat endo/ecto parasites
Emaciation
Obesity
Wounds from:
Dog fighting, badger baiting
Human abuse
Neglect – e.g. Sores, hock burns, Matted fur, overgrown teeth, etc
High parasite burdens
Mange
Any number of canine infectious diseases:
Parvo
Distemper
Etc.
Nutrition related disorders
Mobility issues
Endocrine disease
Old age
Deformities
23
Q
stress
A
- animals likely to be stressed especially if relinquished from owners
- reduce immunity and behavioural problems
24
Q
should shelter animals be treated
A
- some obious cases
- suffering and euthanasia only option
- animal may suffer in future
- finatial decision = some health issues too costly to treat, lengthy treatment
25
hygiene and cleaning
- RSPCA guidelines state that all places that dogs have access to must be kept clean
- Cleaning schedules should be implemented and displayed. Daily, weekly and monthly. (how often clean, correct disinfectant used at correct ratio.)
- make schedules when apply for licence]- train all staff
- Spot cleaning permitted to reduce stress. Full clean out when animal leaves.
- This should be included in the health plan developed with vet advice.
26
neutering
- Many UK rescue centres will neuter the animal before it is available for adoption
- Young animals? Don’t want to neuter too young, behavioural probs
- Many rescue centres in poorer countries are not able to do this.
- Potential reoccurring welfare concern? Lack of money
27
common behavioural problems seen in shelters
- Most behavioural problems are perceived by the owner as “abnormal” behaviours.
- The vast majority of “behavioural problems” are actually completely normal behaviours for the companion animal under consideration.
- However, these behaviours may be inappropriately carried out and be causing a difficulty for the owner
- solved in shelters if behaviourist on site (some once a week, resident, not at all)
~ Fear, anxiety and phobia related disorders.
~ Compulsive disorders.
~ Elimination disorders.
~ Aggression
- could develop behaviour problems because of stay
= affect rate rehomed (as well as breed/colour/age)
28
signs of stress, fear and anxiety
```
changes in behaviour (e.g. activity)
Emergence of fearful behaviour (e.g. aggression,
cowering, hiding)
Self-mutilation or over-grooming
Performance of repetitive behaviour
Shivering
Trembling
Sore tails – wack on walls of kennel
Paw-lifting
Weight loss
Loose faeces
Coprophagy (consumption of faeces)
Sore feet
High levels of vocalisation, or
Kennel chewing
```
29
how to reduce stress
- exercise = reduces sterotypical behaviours and barking and resting behaviour
- music = classical music shown to reduce stress
- social contact with other dogs offlead(introduce with caution as some wont react well)
- toys and food erichment (safe durable, maintain interset)
~ if shred = no more enrichment due to cost
~ toy type depends on individual
~ some dont engage at all
30
aggressive dogs
- RSPCA aware that, in some cases, staff are so concerned about a dog’s aggressive behaviour and the risk posed to themselves that a decision is made to withhold exercise and human contact.
= Aggressive and exhaserbate problem
- Whilst it is acknowledged that health and safety of kennel staff must be protected, not providing a dog with daily exercise or contact fails to fulfil the need to make sure a dog can behave normally, its need for company and to protect the dog from suffering.
- In the majority of cases, dogs display aggression because they feel threatened by something or someone
- So this behaviour is generally indicative of poor welfare.
- Therefore, where such situations arise, and it is believed that there is no alternative but to withhold exercise and human contact…
- It is necessary for all other possible means of improving the dog’s welfare to be explored which includes providing further enrichment and seeking advice from a vet and suitable behaviour expert.
- vet prescribe psychopharmacological intervention
- euthenasia considered if fail to protect dog
31
short term an long term stays
- Titulear, et al. (2013) found that urinary cortisol:creatine levels were not significantly different between short and long stay dogs.
- However, levels in both groups were high
~ Physiological stress response
- Behaviours between groups were similar
- Long stay showed more resting behaviours, lack of interest in enviro
- Staff perceived welfare of both groups to be similar
- Long stay group perceived to:
~ play less with people
~ Bark and growl more at strange dogs
~ Play more with objects when with another dog
- Overall, the study suggested large individual variation in measures of welfare and behaviour.
- Few differences between dogs housed for more than 6 months and short stays.
- study suggests that the welfare of dogs is influenced more by specific aspects of their individual kennel experience
(Rather than overall time spent in kennels)
32
Dog welfare in kennel enviro
- research on kennel dog find life challenging
- spacial restriction most impactful when compromising welfare
- poor welfare
- certain kennel aspects diffficult to cope (size, material, restricted exercise, limited human/dog contact)
- show sterotypical behaviours
- working dogs = transition very stressful
- as well as pets with no/little experience
33
financial implications of shelters
- require volunteers
- compation fatigue
- overworked and underpaid
- which animals to euthanise decision made higher up = staff walk out en mass, welfare compromised for animals as no one look after them
- funding = charity
- vary between centres (big organisations compared to sole operations
