welfare and behavior

Question 1

1. What is the primary piece of animal welfare legislation in Scotland?

Answer 1

Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

Question 2

2. Name a piece of secondary legislation that relates to the Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) Act re: tail docking.

Answer 2

The Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2010

Question 3

3. What is meant by the term ‘Duty of Care’ in relation to the primary pieces of legislation in the UK?

Answer 3

Generally, there is a duty to comply with legislation.
Although the Code does not have legislative effect, it is intended to promote and give examples of good practice. Duty of care – responsible ownership, must act reasonably to prevent harm or suffering, not knowing is no defence.

Question 4

4. What are the ‘Codes of practice’ in terms of animal welfare?

Answer 4

• The aim of the Code is to help owners look after their animals properly.
• Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (the Act) anyone who is responsible for an animal has a legal duty to take reasonable steps to ensure its welfare.

Question 5

5. In relation to pet dogs, cats and rabbits what is written into a ‘code of practice’?

Answer 5

The purpose of the code of practice (the Code) is to provide practical guidance to help people to comply with the provisions of Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the Act). It does not tell people precisely how to care for an animal, but summarises important things to consider when making decisions about how best to care for your animal.

Question 6

6. What are the criteria for a protected animal defined in the main welfare act?

Answer 6

6. What are the criteria for a protected animal defined in the main welfare act?
   An animal defined as a vertebrate other than man, excludes animals in embryonic form. Vertebrates include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Invertebrates such as insects, shellfish, crustaceans and cephalopods are not “animals” for the purpose of this part of the Act. Vertebrates: in captive or domestic care of humans, not living in the wild.

Question 7

7. What are the main offences described in this act?

Answer 7

Neglect, abandonment, administer poisons, carry out mutilations, sell an animal to children, use as a prize, use an animal for fighting, cause a protected animal unnecessary suffering.

Question 8

8. What are the current actions and penalties that could be taken if convicted of an offence?

Answer 8

Up to five years imprisonment, unlimited fine, trial by indictment, disqualification orders.

Question 9

9. What are the FIVE welfare needs? Describe them

Answer 9

Need for a suitable environment- provide appropriate environment for species ie bedding/housing.
Need for a suitable diet- provide suitable diet for species to ensure health.
Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns- providing sufficient space, facilities, and company of the animal’s own kind.
Need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals.- Provide company for social species, separate where needed ie behaviour or health effected.
Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease- prevent physical or mental suffering, ensure health care provided in a timely manner.

Question 10

10. What is animal sentience?

Answer 10

The ability to feel/experience sensations (and is thus a quality which entitles them to a right to care). The ability of being aware and able to feel… Consciousness.

Question 11

11. Outline the primary breeding and licensing legislation.

Answer 11

In Scotland, establishments used for breeding are controlled by:
Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021

Question 12

13. What are the key concepts in relation to animal welfare?

Answer 12

Sentience, feelings, needs, freedoms, ability to cope, ability to control environment, health, and stress.

Question 13

14. Give reasons why owners abandon their pets.

Answer 13

Finances, children, behavioural issues, veterinary bills, allergies the list goes on.

Question 14

15. Can you describe the differences between the following perspectives: utilitarianism, ethical humanism and contractarianism?

Answer 14

Contractarianism asserts that only individuals who comprehend and embrace a contract can have moral rights.
Utilitarianism is Based on principle of equal consideration, Equal consideration given to all species.
Humanism also known as speciesism, human beings are alone in deserving moral consideration, regardless of intelligence or ability whereas animals do not.

Question 15

What are the welfare implications for breeding dogs where puppy farming and poor welfare practices are concerned?

Answer 15

Breach of five freedoms due to inadequate housing, lack or no veterinary or preventive care leading to poor health and multiple potential clinical conditions.
Lack of socialisation or handling can impact behaviour which can continue to effect animals as they develop.
Any other relevant answer.

Question 16

17. According to the PDSA what are the current welfare issues affecting rabbits?

Question 17

18. Give examples where welfare of dogs has been compromised as a result of selective breeding.

Answer 17

BOAS- canines are unable to breath, effect’s ability to eat, digest food. Can cause many secondary conditions. Effect’s ability to eat, exercise and display normal behaviours.
Spinal disease due to overbreeding or breeding for select traits ie longer spines. Effect’s ability to carry out normal daily functions, causes pain and suffering.
Any other relevant answer such as seizures, rare genetic disorders, limb disorders etc.

Question 18

19. Describe how you could meet the welfare needs of cats in the domestic environment.

Answer 18

Allowing them to display their natural behaviour ie access to outdoor, enrichment in the house such as tall objects, places to hide, scratching posts. Provide varied forms of enrichment to stimulate multiple senses. Ensure adequate diet as unable to synthesis own taurine.

Question 19

20. Describe factors that influence owners when acquiring and sourcing a new pet.

Answer 19

Social media is a huge influencer, trends often influence an owner’s decision to purchase a certain breed. Social status is another consideration. In the absence of social status or trends potential owners look at behaviours and exercise levels, size, how the animal will fit in to their existing environment. If multi-pet household or children in the household this will also influence an owner when acquiring a pet ie friendly natures etc. Sourcing a new pet is often done via social media channels, due to increased publicity of puppy farms potential owners often consider where their new pet will now come from meaning they are more informed in their decision.

Question 20

Natural behaviours of rabbits

Answer 20

Social – large groups with dominant buck sharing a territory with several females and subordinate males.
Resource limitation is a key factor in sociality in the wild and may lead to aggression.
Live in burrows called warrens with multiple entrances.
Digging behaviours for escape, creating cool resting areas, nesting and making a scrape for scent marking or as a latrine.
Natural prey for many carnivores – constantly vigilant, will freeze initially, but may then flee; may also thump ground.
Selective grazers and browsers – spend 80% of time foraging & feeding; also perform caecotrophy.
Rely heavily on scent for territorial marking such as chinning; also for recognition and communication.

Question 21

Natural behaviours of horses

Answer 21

Prey species – will flee from threats or danger; will run away first
Highly reactive & always vigilant
Social; lives in herds – safety in numbers
Establish their role and place in herd and need to maintain this
Aggression helps to maintain hierarchy
Harem – dominant stallion breeds with mares
Mares will lead the group
Selective grazers – spend 50-70% of the day grazing

Question 22

effects of gentics and breeding on cats

Answer 22

Short legs of the Munchkin which affect their self-grooming ability.
Folded ears of the Scottish Fold that limit their visual communication.
Wool sucking behaviour involves sucking, licking and chewing on soft materials, observed in Siamese and Birman breeds.
Oriental breeds are also prone to psychogenic alopecia (excessive grooming).
Father of kittens can influence 2 traits:
i) timing of eyes opening in neonate kittens
ii) their friendliness towards humans or general boldness and confidence levels.
Breed-specific behaviours might include swimming in the Turkish Van or docile temperament of Ragdolls.
Bengal breed ranked highest for behaviours associated with wild cats such as aggression toward family and urine marking and lowest ranked for affection toward family.

Question 23

describe observational learning

Answer 23

Observational learning – watching and copying from others
Puppies imitate behaviours of their mother / pack members / litter mates
Learn communication signals: body postures and facial expressions e.g. play bow
As adults they can mimic behaviours of other dogs
Other dogs can be used as models for good or desired behaviours

e.g. puppy at the top of the stairs may be scared to walk down; if an adult dog walks past them and down the stairs, puppy will observe and follow.

Question 24

describe associative learning

Answer 24

Associative learning – they associate their behaviour with the outcome e.g. classical conditioning (Pavlov’s dogs)

This is the method they use to build up knowledge of their experiences
Occurs when 2 unrelated events become connected in a dog’s mind. They make connections between the stimulus and the behavioural response.
Animals make associations
e.g. collar and lead = walking/exercise outdoors and opportunity to explore, play and run

Question 25

Describe trial and error learning

Answer 25

Trial and error learning – practicing and learning from mistakes
Also known as Operant or Instrumental Conditioning.
Animal links a behaviour with a specific reward.
If a certain behaviour results in a positive outcome, then the animal is more likely to repeat that behaviour –Skinner, B.F. observed in rats.
Animal uses problem solving.
Animal training relies on this type of learning e.g. dog sits for a food treat.
Has led to POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT training methods

Question 26

describew habituation

Answer 26

The waning of a response to a stimulus that has no consequences or purpose.

Most animals have senses that detect far more information than they actually need.

This process allows animals to avoid responding to stimuli that are not relevant and filters them out.

This is the process whereby an animal becomes accustomed to a repeated ENVIRONMENTAL stimulus i.e. a repeated noise and learns to ignore it as it poses no threat.

An example could be a fear-inducing stimulus such as a loud noise that an animal has never heard before e.g. ice cream van jingle.

Question 27

describe socilasation

Answer 27

Explain the term:
Getting used to people and other animals; developing appropriate social interaction

Present Examples
Attending puppy/obedience classes; early visit to vets, visitors to the house

Implications for behaviour
Positive – likely to be friendly and affectionate towards people and be tolerant of other animals
Negative – likely to become fearful of people and other animals; may show fearful aggression
Rehoming to a young family unlikely; behaviour modification will be required

Question 28

describe fear in a cat

Answer 28

-crouching on the ground and lowering the body
-freeze/immobilile or arched back
-flateend ears
raised or lowered bristled tail
-withdrawl of head into shoulders
-rapid blinking/ dilated pupils
-avaerted eye contact
-

Question 29

decribe contentment in cats

Answer 29

-purring
-forward ears
-hight tail
-head held high
-slow blinking
-whiskers slightly forward

Question 30

describe aggression in cats

Answer 30

-hair on back bristled
-stand at full height
-rotate and erect ears
-lashing tail from side to side
-eyes wide with direct eye contact
-growling,yowling,snarling, howling-

Question 31

describe contentment in horses

Answer 31

-droopy ears and pointed sideways
-long and low head,neckand body posture
-resting one hind leg, eyes open or closed
-muzzle relaxed with oval nostrils, lower lip hanging

Question 32

describe fear in horses

Answer 32

-ears pointed fullu forward or bacawards
-eyes wide opwn showing white of eyes
-tense muzzle, square nostrils
-leanaing back, head fully raised, looking at object
-backing away.

Question 33

describe aggression in horses

Answer 33

-ears, flattened
-wrinkled, elongated nostrils
-head raised and turned towareds the target
-lunge forward/ kick back
-whites of the eyes
-showing teeth

Question 34

signs of contentment in rabbits

Answer 34

• laying streched out on belly
  -flopped into side
  -binkying/hopping
  -relaxed ears
  -tooth purring
  -grooming
  -forage
  -licking
  -feeding

Question 35

signs of fear in rabbits

Answer 35

• fleeing
  -crouching
  -freezing
  -loud scream
  -bulging eyes
  -teeth grinding

Question 36

signs of aggression in rabbits

Answer 36

-showing teeth
-upright/ flattened ears
-raised tail
-eye contact, dilated pupils
-upright posture
-thumping
-snorting
-hissing
-grunting
-growling