Lesson 6 - Responsible Pet Ownership PDF

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Summary

This lesson is how to be a responsible pet owner...

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Responsible Pet Ownership: Dog Welfare, Social, Legal and Ethical Requirements - RC4301 Learning Objectives: 

Dog welfare - what do we mean by animal welfare?

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Social, legal and ethical requirements of owning a dog

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Legalisation involved in dog ownership

What is welfare: 

Quality of life

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5 freedoms 1. Freedom from hunger and thirst 2. Freedom from discomfort 3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease 4. Freedom to express normal behaviour 5. Freedom from fear and distress

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Owners have a responsibility to their pets as they are their advocates

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Welfare is also described as the state of an animal as it copes with its environment

Task 1 - Animal Welfare can be considered from several points of view Consider one of the following and make some notes on how they may consider Animal Welfare differently (a veterinary surgeon; pet owners; RSPCA; breeder). 

Vet surgeon would be looking at cost vs benefit and make a decision based on that e.g. putting to sleep. Owner's may be more ruled by heart than head

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Depending on the person they may be more focused on money like surgeons or breeders

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RSPCA - they look at legislation perspective. breeder will be thinking of the immediate welfare of the puppy

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Depends on what you see as comfort as an individual may have a lot more bedding than what a kennel/charity can afford

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Dogs cannot show normal behaviour in a vet if they are injured and they may be scared of the environment

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The RSPCA may also look at animal welfare decisions from a cost-effective point of view

Cultural Differences: 

In some areas such as Asia and even some places in Spain, dog populations live on the streets and are seen as vermin or a nuisance as they contribute to spreading disease

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Some cultures believe dogs stop angels coming into their homes - they can only have dogs for security etc. and they are only allowed to keep them outside due to religion

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Dogs are banned in Turkmenistan due to cultural beliefs that they smell and will bring disease to the country

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Muslims treatment of dogs is still a matter of debate as the Koran states they are unhygienic; therefore, they will never touch a dog unless they can wash their hands immediately and they would certainly never have one in their home

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They are popularly eaten in Asia

How Do We Assess Dog Welfare? 

Welfare is a concept which can be difficult to measure but is critical to understand

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Welfare indicators o

o

o

o

o

Appearance 

Body

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Coat

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Skin condition

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Weight

Body functions 

Food/water intake

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Excretion

Environment 

Is it suitable?

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Can the dog behave normally?

Behaviours 

Social interaction

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Stereotypical behaviour

Free observations

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Anything else you can observe

Welfare concepts o

Generally, when assessing welfare we look at 3 main factors 

Physical

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Behavioural

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Psychological/emotional state

Physical State - where the emphasis is on health, fitness, production, reproduction and biological functioning 

Driven by vets

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Easiest state to measure and understand

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Generally accepts that welfare is poor if health is poor

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Focuses on the belief that physical state improves with good health care and nutrition

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Care needs to be taken with companion animals as sometimes prolonging life of chronically ill animals is not always good welfare

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Good health must underpin good welfare - the dog may seem in good health but could still be suffering

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Good health can be in conflict with natural and happy

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Productivity/reproduction used as a measure of welfare - but may not reflect behavioural/ psychological states. More effective in farm/zoo animals and not necessarily dogs

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Abnormalities due to extreme breeding

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Healthy but in poor physical state due to deformities/disabilities

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A dog could be taught a behaviour that they would naturally show for pain so when they do it, the owner fails to see they are injured

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Keeling et al.

The physical state looks at the biological functioning of the animal and how healthy and fit it is. This approach is primarily driven by vets and farmers. It is the easiest state to understand and measure as usually pathological and behavioural signs are obvious (Broom 1993, p87). It is also the least controversial (Keeling et al, 2011, p19); there is general acceptance that welfare is poor if the animal is not healthy and fit and good welfare should always include treatment of disease and injury. Emphasis of the physical state improves health care and nutrition. However, as in the case with companion animals, prolonging life through treatment of chronic diseases is not always the best welfare (Keeling et al, 2011, p19). Whilst good health may underpin good welfare, it is too simplistic in itself to ensure good welfare. Measures of good welfare may include healthy, well nourished, productive and reproductive success (Mellor et al, 2009, p4) but the animal could still be suffering, especially with modern interventions and selective breeding (Keeling et al, 2011, p20).There may also be other factors that negatively affect productivity and

reproductive success which are not welfare issues so the relationship between them is not as straight forward as it may appear (Keeling et al, 2011, p21). Behavioural State 

Considers the natural life of the animals’ ancestors and how much the domesticated/ captive animal can reflect this life

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Driven by consumers and general public

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Focuses on a natural lifestyle and how it can lead to improvement in housing, environment, enrichment and social contacts

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Natural behaviour can present welfare issues as the needs of animals domesticated for centuries are probably different from their wild ancestors - how much evolutionary behaviour is retained in domesticated animals?

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It can be difficult to identify and replicate the original environment

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This concept could be more beneficial if the emphasis was on ability to perform natural behaviours even if the environment is unnatural

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Restriction/confinement/inability to perform natural behaviour can lead to frustration, stress and poor welfare

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Good modern husbandry and management can be in the animals’ best interests

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Emotional and physical state can influence behaviour

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Many natural behaviours are associated with positive experiences and therefore important for good welfare

The behavioural approach looks at the natural life of the animals’ ancestors and how much the domesticated / captive animal can reflect this life. This is driven by consumers and the general public. A focus on a natural lifestyle can lead to improvement in housing, environment, enrichment and social contacts, especially in zoos. Whilst an attractive concept, the natural life view may be over romantic and sentimental about the nature of nature (Fraser, 2008, p69). Natural behaviour can present welfare issues (Webster, 2005, p6) and isn’t always in the best welfare interests of the animal e.g. aggression and flight behaviour in confined spaces (Keeling et al, 2011, p21) and harsh weather and high mortality in the wild. The needs of animals domesticated for centuries are probably different from their wild ancestors (Keeling et al, 2011, p21) and it can be difficult to identify and replicate the original environment. It is better if the emphasis is on ability to perform natural behaviours even if the environment is unnatural (Keeling et al, 2011, p23). Behaviours which are internally motivated

(rather than environmentally triggered) are associated with positive experiences and necessary for the well-being of the animal (Keeling et al, 2011, p23), and inability to perform them can lead to frustration, stress and poor welfare (Fraser, 2008, p69). Good modern husbandry and management can be in the animals’ best interests, where appropriate rather than natural behaviour is the primary concern (Keeling et al, 2011, p23).

Examples of ‘natural’ behaviours - hunting, prey drive with squeaky toys, socialization, puzzle toys for problem solving. Psychological/Emotional State: 

Psychological approaches considers the affective state of the animal and whether or not it is happy or suffering

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Driven by the general public and companion animal owners (ethical values)

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Based on the fact that animals can have positive or negative experiences/feelings

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Suffering can be through physical/mental pain

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How the animal feels about the situation will dictate whether or not it’s welfare is good

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Differences in the subjective experience of two animals in identical situations make it difficult to assess

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Good welfare not only requires there to be minimal negative aspects, but also requires there to be positive experiences

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Because the affective state links strongly with the other two concepts, if those are not at least satisfactory it is unlikely the animal can be mentally satisfied

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Sentient animals (aware of their feelings and emotions) have both physical and emotional response to pain

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Negative emotions cause immediate action - such as fear, pain

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Inability to partake in natural behaviour will lead to negative emotions?

The psychological approach considers the affective state of the animal and whether or not it is happy or suffering. This is driven by the general public and companion animal owners. The feelings and emotions of an animal are central to animal welfare (Keeling et al, 2011, p18); it is how the animal feels about the

situation which dictates whether or not it’s welfare is good, regardless of the primary cause. There will be considerable differences in the subjective experience of two animals in identical situations which adds further complexity. Good welfare not only requires there to be minimal negative aspects, but also requires there to positive experiences (Keeling et al, 2011, p14). This is the hardest state to measure, as how another feels is subjective (Keeling et al, 2011, p19) and requires scientific rigour in identifying reliable indicators (Webster, 2005, p2). However, if suffering can be measured it enables ranking of welfare issues (Keeling et al, 2011, p149). Because the affective state links strongly with the other two concepts, as if those are not at least satisfactory it is unlikely the animal can be mentally satisfied, it is perhaps the only measure that is required to assess welfare (Webster, 2005, p9). However, the current physical condition only measures actual pain at present, not the underlying physiological state and potential for future suffering (Webster, 2005, p9). For welfare to be truly good, it should also be sustainable. Negative emotions - fear, pain, boredom, frustration, stress Positive emotions - joy, happiness, excitement

All concepts have valuable contributions and some weaknesses. Good welfare requires a balance of all three; they are not mutually exclusive (Fraser, 2008, p70). The areas are all interlinked, sometimes dependent on each other and sometimes in conflict. For instance, an ill or behaviourally frustrated animal is unlikely to be happy and a natural lifestyle is not always conducive to good health. Animal Welfare is multifaceted and needs to consider both the body and

mind (Webster, 2005, p6) looking at both the cumulative effects of different aspects and acceptable compromises. For welfare to be good there must be positive experiences, not just absence of poor welfare (Mellor et al, 2009, p7). There is not just one single measure for welfare but it is an integration of various components (Mellor, 2009, p8). Management systems evolve with science and practice (Mellor et al, 2009, p70) but constant evaluation of the three concepts together should guide good quality of life (Fraser, 2008, p71).

What is the most effective way to measure animal welfare? Physical 

Eyes

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Weight

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Body

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Limbs

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Fur conditions

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Locomotion

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General disposition

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Does it fit the general requirements of the breed?

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Posture

Task 2 - Videos Dog Play: https://youtu.be/Wo98RlvjFEI 

Obstacles on the floor could cause injury and a small space

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Dog does not know how to be a dog without a human present

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Puppy looks to be stressed

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Tail straight, whale eyes, teeth out

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Puppy keeps avoiding eye contact and moving her face away

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The dog needs to be able to get away

Dog Waiting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNuAnYo55y0 

Sad, withdrawn

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Looks depressed

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No enrichment

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Anxious - ears back, mouth closed

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Cat and dogs in the same room - could fight?

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Restless

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Huddled together for support

Social, Legal & Ethical Requirements of Dog Ownership Responsible Ownership: 

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Consider the responsibilities of dog ownership under o

Ethical responsibilities

o

Social responsibilities

o

Legal responsibilities

We have a legal and ethical duty in the UK under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to provide a good quality of life for our pets o

What acts do you think of with regards to ownership?

Laws That Protect the Dog: 

Animal Welfare Act 2006

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Breeding of Dogs Act 1973

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Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999

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Boarding Establishments Act 1963

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Pet animals Act 1951

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Road Traffic Act 1988

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Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

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Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Laws That Protect the Public: 

Control of Dogs Order 1992

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Microchipping Act 2015

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Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005

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Environmental Protection Act 1990

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Dogs (Protection of Livestock Act) 1953

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Dogs Act 1871

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Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 / 1997 / 2014

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Pet Travel Scheme

Animal Welfare Act 2006

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Protects the animals

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Commonly domesticated under control of man, not living in wild state

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Ensures people take steps to maintain good welfare

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Section 3 o

Responsibility for animal (permanent or temporary)

o

Owner is always considered responsible if a person under 16 has responsibility of an animal who is in their care

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Section 4 o

It is an offense to cause a protected animal to suffer (unnecessarily) by an act or failure to act

o

It is an offense if responsible for an animal and through action or inaction another person causes the animal to suffer.

o

It is an offence if unnecessary suffering could have reasonably been avoided or reduced

o 

Doesn’t apply to destruction so long as humane

Section 6 - Docking of Dogs Tails o

It is an offense to remove whole or part of tail except for medical treatment

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Does not apply to certified working dogs under 5 days old, working, law enforcement, armed forces, emergency rescue or lawful pest control dogs

o

Common in hunt, point retrieve breeds, spaniels and terriers

o

Dogs with docked tails cannot be shown where public pay fees except to demonstrate working ability

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Section 8 o

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It is an offence to be involved in any aspect of animal (dog) fighting

Section 9 o

It is the duty of the person responsible for the animal to ensure its welfare, this includes maintain the 5 freedoms

o

The maximum fine is £5,000 and 6 months in prison for breaking the law

o 

Doesn’t apply to destruction so long as humane

Section 14 o

Provides codes of Practice and species specific practical guidance

Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 & Breeding and Sales of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999

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This law was updated in October 2019, and now states if you are breeding 3 or more litters and selling at least one puppy in a 12-month period you will require a licence

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To obtain a licence, suitable accommodation, food, water, bedding, adequate exercise, regular vets visits and disease prevention should be demonstrated

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Breeders can’t breed bitches under 12 months

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Only 1 litter per year and no more than 6 in a lifetime

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Costs £370 plus £25 per breeding bitch

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http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/60

Boarding Establishments Act 1963: 

Anyone who boards animals for payment e.g. in a kennel or their house requires a licence

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They must not have been disqualified from keeping animals, must provide suitable accommodation, food, water, bedding and show they are actively preventing the spread of disease to obtain a licence

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http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/43

Pet Animals Act 1951: 

This governs the licence to keep a pet shop

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It states that where selling animals they must have suitable accommodation, food , drink and regular checks

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Mammals must not be sold at too early an age, measures should be taken to prevent the spread of disease and appropriate steps should be in place to deal with fire and emergency situations

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Animals cannot be sold in streets

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Animals cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 12 (Age 16 animal welfare act 2006)

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You do not need a pet shop licence if you are selling animals bred from an animal kept as a pet

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http://www.legislation...