Rescue Centres Flashcards
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
Q
hygiene and cleaning
A
- 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
Q
neutering
A
- 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
Q
common behavioural problems seen in shelters
A
- 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
Q
signs of stress, fear and anxiety
A
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
Q
how to reduce stress
A
- 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
Q
aggressive dogs
A
- 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
Q
short term an long term stays
A
- 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
Q
Dog welfare in kennel enviro
A
- 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
Q
financial implications of shelters
A
- 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
