The goal of this study was to determine if anxiety, aggression, and fear-related behaviors are more common in pruritic dogs with atopic dermatitis than nonpruritic, healthy dogs. One hundred forty-one pruritic dogs >1 yr of age with a... more
The goal of this study was to determine if anxiety, aggression, and fear-related behaviors are more common in pruritic dogs with atopic dermatitis than nonpruritic, healthy dogs. One hundred forty-one pruritic dogs >1 yr of age with a clinical diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and a >3 mo history of pruritus were recruited. Dog owners completed a behavioral survey (canine behavioral assessment and research questionnaire) and a pruritus scale (pruritus visual analog scale). Pruritic, atopic dogs showed significant increases in fear- and anxiety-related behaviors as well as aggression compared with a large control group of healthy dogs. Stranger-directed aggression, owner-directed aggression, familiar-dog aggression, dog-directed fear, nonsocial fear, touch sensitivity, excitability, and attention-seeking behaviors were all increased in the study group. Trainability was decreased in the study group. Chronically pruritic dogs experience fear and anxiety and are more likely to displa...
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A questionnaire survey of 385 UK-based university students was used to investigate whether there was an association between pet keeping in childhood and humane attitudes in young adulthood. Subjects gave detailed, retrospective reports of... more
A questionnaire survey of 385 UK-based university students was used to investigate whether there was an association between pet keeping in childhood and humane attitudes in young adulthood. Subjects gave detailed, retrospective reports of the pets they had kept during their childhoods, and a variety of attitude scales and open-ended questions were used to measure their current attitudes concerning the welfare of both animals and humans. Higher levels of childhood pet keeping were related to more positive attitudes towards pet animals and greater concerns about the welfare of non-pet animals and humans. Ethical food avoidance practices (eg vegetarianism); membership of animal welfare and environmental organizations were also found to be associated with pet keeping during childhood. Knowledge of the experiences that underlie existing variation in humane attitudes will greatly assist the development of more effective humane education programmes in the future.
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This paper reviews the literature on human attitudes to animals, and postulates the existence of two primary motivational determinants of attitudes labelled ‘affect’ and ‘utility’. It also proposes that the relative strengths of these key... more
This paper reviews the literature on human attitudes to animals, and postulates the existence of two primary motivational determinants of attitudes labelled ‘affect’ and ‘utility’. It also proposes that the relative strengths of these key attitude dimensions are affected by various modifying variables including the specific attributes of the animal, the individual characteristics and experience of the person evaluating the animal, and a range of cultural factors. The role of science as a cultural modifier of human attitudes to animals is also discussed.
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Dog ownership has been associated with increased levels of physical activity (PA), including increases in total PA and walking time in some but not in all studies. These earlier studies did not consider puppy acquisition, in particular,... more
Dog ownership has been associated with increased levels of physical activity (PA), including increases in total PA and walking time in some but not in all studies. These earlier studies did not consider puppy acquisition, in particular, and were limited to a maximum of 10 months duration. The purpose of the current pilot study was, therefore, to analyze long-term changes in participants’ PA behavior after puppy acquisition. Participants who acquired a puppy from one of nine preselected breeds differing in size and energy level were included. PA was assessed at baseline and 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after puppy acquisition using an online questionnaire. Participants, who were initially included, did not differ in their PA at baseline (n = 38). In the group that completed the trial (n = 11) total PA, leisure time walking, total dog-related PA, and total dog walking increased within the first two years and decreased while remaining above baseline values during the last year, coinciding w...
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Dog ownership contributes positively to physical activity (PA). The impact of different dog breeds and age on PA is less investigated in longitudinal studies. This study aimed to evaluate PA changes in dog owners as their dogs’ ages... more
Dog ownership contributes positively to physical activity (PA). The impact of different dog breeds and age on PA is less investigated in longitudinal studies. This study aimed to evaluate PA changes in dog owners as their dogs’ ages increased and to explore whether there are differences in PA between owners of different breeds over a three-year period. Owners of different dog breeds were categorized into nine groups according to the perceived energy level and size of the breed. PA was monitored using an online questionnaire for three consecutive years. Linear mixed models (LMM) showed a small, but significant decrease in total PA, leisure time walking, dog-related PA and dog walking over three years. No decreases were found if only participants who attended at all time points were included. In all LMM analyses, a significant relationship between the dog breed and the outcomes of PA were shown. At baseline, dog owners performed different types of activities depending on their dog bre...
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Millions of animals are adopted from animal shelters in the United States each year, although some are returned post-adoption, which can decrease both the animals’ chances of future adoptions and the owners’ willingness to adopt again. In... more
Millions of animals are adopted from animal shelters in the United States each year, although some are returned post-adoption, which can decrease both the animals’ chances of future adoptions and the owners’ willingness to adopt again. In this study, we investigated the impact of adopter expectations for ownership and animal behavioral problems on post-adoptive dog returns at a large animal shelter in South Carolina. Between June–September 2021, 132 dog adopters completed a survey about their expectations for ownership through Qualtrics. Twenty-nine adopters returned their dogs to the shelter within three months of adoption, with a median length of ownership of eight days. Owners completed follow-up questionnaires about their perceptions of adoption and dog behavior at two days, two weeks, and four months post-adoption. Categorical principal component analysis revealed three factors pertaining to adopters’ expectations for ownership. Independent t-tests showed returning owners had s...
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Unsuccessful animal adoptions are stressful for many owners and may reduce their willingness to adopt again. The goal of this study was to determine the proportion of return owners who adopted post-return and investigate return... more
Unsuccessful animal adoptions are stressful for many owners and may reduce their willingness to adopt again. The goal of this study was to determine the proportion of return owners who adopted post-return and investigate return characteristics that affected the likelihood of post-return adoption. We analyzed adoption records from a South Carolina animal shelter between 2015 and 2019 (n = 1999) using a logistic regression model including post-return adoption (binary) and return reason, species, animal sex and age. We found one in 10 individuals adopted from the shelter within 12 months of return, and post-return adoption was associated with return reason and species. Returns due to owner-related reasons, such as the owner’s health (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.07, 0.57) or unrealistic expectations (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.19, 0.94) were associated with significantly lower odds of post-return adoption. Owners who returned due to the animal’s health exhibited four times greater odds of post-return adop...
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C-BARQ fear and aggression trait descriptions (numbers of questionnaire items in parentheses). Table S2. C-BARQ behavioral phenotypes used in the discovery analysis. Table S3. C-BARQ behavioral phenotypes used to test predictive model.... more
C-BARQ fear and aggression trait descriptions (numbers of questionnaire items in parentheses). Table S2. C-BARQ behavioral phenotypes used in the discovery analysis. Table S3. C-BARQ behavioral phenotypes used to test predictive model. (PDF 480 kb)
Research Interests: Genetics, Sociology, Science Policy, Fear, Behavior, and 11 moreMorphology, Medicine, Sociability, Emotions, Mapping, Aggression, Canine, CD, Snp, GWAS, and IGF
The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of demographic and experiential factors on first-year veterinary students ’ career choices and attitudes to animal welfare/rights. The study surveyed 329 first-year veterinary... more
The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of demographic and experiential factors on first-year veterinary students ’ career choices and attitudes to animal welfare/rights. The study surveyed 329 first-year veterinary students to determine the influence of demographic factors, farm experience, and developmental exposure to different categories of animals on their career preferences and on their attitudes to specific areas of animal welfare and/or rights. A significant male gender bias toward food-animal practice was found, and prior experience with particular types of animals—companion animals, equines, food animals—tended to predict career preferences. Female veterinary students displayed greater concern for possible instances of animal suffering than males, and prior experience with different animals, as well as rural background and farm experience, were also associated with attitude differences. Seventy-two percent of students also reported that their interactions...
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Predictive modeling methods and results. (PDF 340 kb)
Research Interests: Genetics, Sociology, Psychology, Fear, Behavior, and 11 moreMorphology, Space Science, Sociability, Emotions, Mapping, Aggression, Canine, CD, Snp, GWAS, and IGF
Summary of prediction equation. Figure S2. Mouse Gnat3 is highly expressed in the Amygdala and Piriform area. (PDF 542 kb)
Research Interests: Genetics, Sociology, Psychology, Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, and 12 moreFear, Behavior, Morphology, Sociability, Emotions, Mapping, Aggression, Canine, CD, Snp, GWAS, and IGF
A considerable number of adopted animals are returned to animal shelters post-adoption which can be stressful for both the animal and the owner. In this retrospective analysis of 23,932 animal records from a US shelter, we identified... more
A considerable number of adopted animals are returned to animal shelters post-adoption which can be stressful for both the animal and the owner. In this retrospective analysis of 23,932 animal records from a US shelter, we identified animal characteristics associated with the likelihood of return, key return reasons, and outcomes post-return for dogs and cats. Binary logistic regression models were used to describe the likelihood of return, return reason and outcome based on intake age, intake type, sex, breed and return frequency. Behavioral issues and incompatibility with existing pets were the most common return reasons. Age and breed group (dogs only) predicted the likelihood of return, return reason and post-adoption return outcome. Adult dogs had the greatest odds of post-adoption return (OR 3.40, 95% CI 2.88–4.01) and post-return euthanasia (OR 3.94, 95% CI 2.04–7.59). Toy and terrier breeds were 65% and 35% less likely to be returned compared with herding breeds. Pit bull-ty...
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Research Interests: Medicine and Human animal
Shelter medicine appears to be popular among prospective veterinarians, but there is a shortage of veterinarians entering the field to fill available positions. The reasons for this discordance are not well understand. This study... more
Shelter medicine appears to be popular among prospective veterinarians, but there is a shortage of veterinarians entering the field to fill available positions. The reasons for this discordance are not well understand. This study describes veterinary students’ interest in shelter medicine, their perceptions of common duties, and their perceptions of employment attributes in shelter medicine, compared with those of current veterinarians. The sample included 147 first-year students, 155 final-year students, and 221 veterinarians who self-completed an online survey between September 2020 and March 2021. We found high levels of interest in shelter medicine, with 40% of first- and 43% of final-year students indicating they were likely to consider working in shelter medicine. Outreach clinics (84% of first-year students, 86% of final-year students), access-to-care clinics (82%, 83%), and loan forgiveness programs (75%, 64%) encouraged many veterinary students to consider working in shelte...
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Abstract Anxiety tends to aggregate in families, and families increasingly include companion animals, such as dogs. Based on previous research pointing to a ‘personality fit’ between humans and their companion dogs, this study explored... more
Abstract Anxiety tends to aggregate in families, and families increasingly include companion animals, such as dogs. Based on previous research pointing to a ‘personality fit’ between humans and their companion dogs, this study explored the potential association between owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, while also testing for mediating and moderating factors. Two hypotheses previously proposed in the literature were here tested: that dogs may respond to their owners’ anxiety directly through emotional contagion, or that owners’ anxiety may affect dogs’ indirectly via (a) owners’ overprotectiveness - thereby restricting the dog's ability to familiarize itself with novel situations - or (b) their use of coercive dog-training methods. A cross-sectional approach was followed with use of an online questionnaire designed to measure owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, as well as owners’ protective behavior, and dogs’ emotional reactions to their owners’ emotions (i.e., ‘empathic trait’). Data were obtained from 1,172 self-identified dog owners. Results showed a significant positive correlation between owners’ trait anxiety and the severity of their dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior. No evidence was found for mediation of this relationship by owners’ protective behavior or their use of coercive training methods. However, the results showed a marginally significant moderation effect above a particular score in dogs’ ‘empathic trait’. This study suggests that owners’ trait anxiety is associated, to some extent, with the occurrence of dogs’ fear and anxiety related behavior problems. The extent to which dogs exhibit an ‘empathic trait’ may explain the strength of this association.
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The Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) was developed to obtain quantitative data on the domestic equine triad: training, management and behaviour. It can be taken repeatedly, thus collecting longitudinal data... more
The Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) was developed to obtain quantitative data on the domestic equine triad: training, management and behaviour. It can be taken repeatedly, thus collecting longitudinal data to enable evaluation of how changes in a horse’s training and management are reflected in that horse’s behaviour over time and how these changes can impact horse welfare in the longer term. Questionnaire validation and reliability were tested by determining (a) whether an owner’s subjective ratings of their horse’s problematic behaviours or undesirable temperament traits were reflected in the questionnaire scores obtained for that horse (construct validity), (b) whether two respondents, equally familiar with a particular horse, reported comparable scores for that horse through the questionnaire (inter-rater reliability), and (c) whether the same respondent, scoring the same horse after a known interval of time, recorded similar responses (intra-rate...
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Abstract The Fe-BARQ is a survey instrument designed to improve understanding of feline behavior that has been validated within a US population but not within a Spanish one. The Spanish version was translated and subjected to the same... more
Abstract The Fe-BARQ is a survey instrument designed to improve understanding of feline behavior that has been validated within a US population but not within a Spanish one. The Spanish version was translated and subjected to the same validation process, replicating the procedure described in the original research. Exploratory Factor Analysis of 816 questionnaire responses to 100 behavioral questions/items extracted the same 23 distinct factors that were reported in the original questionnaire, measuring most of the more common dimensions of cat behavior. Twenty two of the 23 factors demonstrated adequate–high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.6). The Spanish version of Fe-BARQ showed good inter- and intra-observer reliability across both extracted factors and items, and strong construct validity, showing a relationship between behavior problems reported by owners and their scale scores, confirming a loss of activity and an increase of inappropriate elimination issues with age, the relationship between predatory behavior and outdoor access, and less tolerance to contact in single cat households than in multicat households. Furthermore, behavioral differences among breeds were also confirmed. These results confirm the validity of the Spanish version of Fe-BARQ for use within a Spanish population.
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Human and canine parameters can affect the development of canine behavior problems, although their influence on the dog's response to veterinary behavioral treatment remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the possible... more
Human and canine parameters can affect the development of canine behavior problems, although their influence on the dog's response to veterinary behavioral treatment remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the possible associations between canine behavior following clinical intervention and canine demographic characteristics, owner personality and owner-dog attachment. The study included 131 dog-owner dyads who attended a veterinary behavioral service. Owners completed the C-BARQ at baseline, 3-months and 6-months, and the 10 Item Personality Inventory and Lexington Attachment to Pet Scale at baseline. Data were analyzed for the effect of clinical intervention on C-BARQ subscale scores using mixed effect models. Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between behavior change and canine and owner parameters. Within 6-months of veterinary consultation, trainability increased (coefficient 0.03, p = 0.01) and chasing (coefficient −0.04, p = 0....
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Over the last decade, equitation scientists have increasingly relied on online survey tools to gather information on horse training, management, behaviour and other equine-related subjects. With a detailed knowledge of their animals,... more
Over the last decade, equitation scientists have increasingly relied on online survey tools to gather information on horse training, management, behaviour and other equine-related subjects. With a detailed knowledge of their animals, horse owners and riders are ideally placed to contribute to research but are sometimes reluctant to engage with and devote time to surveys. The current article reveals, through consultation with stakeholder groups, the potential of a range of motivational items to boost horse-owner participation. A short, three-question inquiry was developed to rank respondents’ (n = 747) preferred survey tools and other items designed to engage the equestrian community with the donation of data. Respondents were asked to assign themselves to one of four categories: academics/researchers, professionals, practitioners and enthusiasts. The inquiry offered respondents the choice of three hypothetical tools: a standardised tool to measure behaviour over time; a logbook tool...
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Attending the veterinary clinic is an integral part of the physical welfare of every companion dog. However, some dogs experience their veterinary visits negatively, which poses a risk of injury to the veterinary staff, their guardian... more
Attending the veterinary clinic is an integral part of the physical welfare of every companion dog. However, some dogs experience their veterinary visits negatively, which poses a risk of injury to the veterinary staff, their guardian (owner) and themselves during veterinary examinations. It may also influence the regularity of non-urgent veterinary appointments. To date there has been conflicting data on the proportion of dogs that are fearful during their veterinary visits. In this study, we explored the risk factors associated with fear during veterinary examination and in novel situations (including first time at the veterinary clinic) from 26,555 responses in the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire database. According to their guardians, over half (55%) of companion dogs displayed some form of fearful behaviour (mild-extreme) when examined by a veterinarian, while 14% of dogs exhibited severe or extreme fear. A similar trend was observed with dogs responding...
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A 10-month prospective study was carried out which examined changes in behaviour and health status in 71 adult subjects following the acquisition of a new pet (either dogs or cats). A group of 26 subjects without pets served as a... more
A 10-month prospective study was carried out which examined changes in behaviour and health status in 71 adult subjects following the acquisition of a new pet (either dogs or cats). A group of 26 subjects without pets served as a comparison over the same period. Both pet-owning groups reported a highly significant reduction in minor health problems during the first month following pet acquisition, and this effect was sustained in dog owners through to 10 months. The pet-acquiring groups also showed improvements in their scores on the 30-item General Health Questionnaire over the first 6 months and, in dog owners, this improvement was maintained until 10 months. In addition, dog owners took considerably more physical exercise while walking their dogs than the other two groups, and this effect continued throughout the period of study. The group without pets exhibited no statistically significant changes in health or behaviour, apart from a small increase in recreational walking. The r...
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In this study, behavioral characteristics in purebred cats were hypothesized to associate with breed, eye color, coat color, and coat pattern. Owners of 574 single-breed, registered cats completed the Feline Behavioral Assessment and... more
In this study, behavioral characteristics in purebred cats were hypothesized to associate with breed, eye color, coat color, and coat pattern. Owners of 574 single-breed, registered cats completed the Feline Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire, which generates a standardized behavioral profile incorporating 20 factors. Subjects were also screened for evidence of fear-related aggression, territorial aggression and inappropriate social skills, fear of noises, redirected aggression, separation anxiety, and inappropriate elimination. Subject breeds included Abyssinians, Bengals, Birmans, Burmese, Devon rexes, Maine coons, Norwegian Forest cats, Orientals, Persians, Ragdolls, Siamese, and Tonkinese. Coat colors included agouti, black, brown, cinnamon, blue, lilac, fawn, caramel, taupe, red, cream, blue cream, apricot, and white. Phenotypic variants associated with albinism, tabby and tortoiseshell patterning, inhibition of melanin, production of pheomelanin, and white spotting were represented. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the Feline Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire scores and frequency of behavior problems in cats of multiple coat colors, coat patterns, and breeds (P < 0.05). Interestingly, nearly all associations between behavior and coat type could be attributed to breed-based behavior differences. Associations independent of breed included increased cat aggression in agouti cats and prey interest in red cats, decreased stranger-directed aggression in piebald cats, and increased likelihood of separation anxiety in Siamese and Tonkinese patterned cats.
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Abstract Recent studies of the ancient and indigenous dog breeds, while informing us about the origins of the domestic dog and the process of domestication, can also aid in understanding the behavior of modern-day dogs. Genetic signatures... more
Abstract Recent studies of the ancient and indigenous dog breeds, while informing us about the origins of the domestic dog and the process of domestication, can also aid in understanding the behavior of modern-day dogs. Genetic signatures of indigenous American dog origins may be present on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, where a population of largely free-roaming, mixed-breed street dogs exists in association with human residential areas. Behavior is the product of a complex interplay of genetic predispositions and individual experiences, and any distinctive behavioral tendencies present in this population of dogs may represent adaptations (in the evolutionary sense) to the human cultural context in which they evolved. We wished to assess whether the St. Kitts dog population represented a model of dogs of indigenous origin living in close association with humans, and thus be useful in understanding the relative importance of factors (genetic vs. environmental) contributing to the behavior of modern-day dogs. To address the question of whether ‘island dogs’ possess the genetic signature of an indigenous origin, we used both mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) and Y chromosome typing to partially assess the ancestry and geographic origins of these dogs. To investigate whether ‘island dogs’ differed in behavioral characteristics from mixed breed dogs in a larger population (North America), we compared ‘island dog’ scores on the Canine Behavioral and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) with scores from North American mixed breed dogs. DNA haplotypes known to be associated with indigenous American dog origins were not found in the ‘island dogs’ sampled, and genetic analysis indicated a likely European (post-colonial) origin for these dogs. ‘Island dogs’ had significantly higher scores for non-social fear (p
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ABSTRACT This paper describes a range of cooperative displays in the loriine parrot genus Trichoglossus. The displays tend to be performed jointly by the members of established monogamous pairs, and have evolved specialised... more
ABSTRACT This paper describes a range of cooperative displays in the loriine parrot genus Trichoglossus. The displays tend to be performed jointly by the members of established monogamous pairs, and have evolved specialised characteristics which distinguish them from solo performances. The possible functions of these displays are discussed with reference to observations of apparently analogous performances in other monogamous avian and mammalian groups.
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Population management of free-roaming domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) is of interest due to the threat these animals pose to people, other animals and the environment. Current sterilization procedures for male dogs include surgical... more
Population management of free-roaming domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) is of interest due to the threat these animals pose to people, other animals and the environment. Current sterilization procedures for male dogs include surgical and chemical methods. However, little is known about how these procedures affect their behavior. The primary objective of this study was to investigate changes in selected behaviors following chemical and surgical sterilization in a male free-roaming dog (FRD) population in southern Chile. We also examined the association between serum testosterone levels and behaviors thought to be influenced by circulating androgens. A total of 174 dogs were randomly assigned to either a surgical or chemical sterilization group, or a control group. At the onset of the intervention period, 119 dogs remained and 102 dogs successfully completed the study. Each dog was monitored pre- and post-intervention using video recordings, GPS collars, and blood samples for the...
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Executive Summary • Animal protection and welfare organizations and agencies are accountable to their donors and supporters to make efficient and effective use of their limited resources. • In the interests of accountability, these... more
Executive Summary • Animal protection and welfare organizations and agencies are accountable to their donors and supporters to make efficient and effective use of their limited resources. • In the interests of accountability, these organizations should employ an empirical, evidence-based approach to evaluate progress in animal welfare, and to determine which of their policies and practices are effective. • Outcomes assessments of animal welfare interventions should aim to collect baseline data prior to the intervention, and incorporate at least one matching ‘control’ sample or group that is monitored over the same period in the absence of the intervention. • Evidence-based approaches also require the use—and, if necessary, the development—of reliable/repeatable, valid, and culturally appropriate measures to evaluate progress, and to assess the effectiveness of any particular welfare or humane intervention. • To be practicable for use by non-specialists in challenging ‘field’ situati...
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Social bonds between people and their pets are more popular than they have ever been. Yet archaeological and anthropological evidence suggests that human-pet bonds have existed throughout history, enduring despite their relative lack of... more
Social bonds between people and their pets are more popular than they have ever been. Yet archaeological and anthropological evidence suggests that human-pet bonds have existed throughout history, enduring despite their relative lack of practical utility or material value for humans and, in this sense, presenting a challenge to evolutionary theory. Citing abundant research, the chapter shows that the human-pet relationship should be regarded as “mutualistic,” conferring adaptive benefits on both participants For humans, animal companionship promotes social engagement and alleviates the debilitating mental and physiological effects of psychosocial stress. Animal-assisted therapeutic interventions for people with a variety of cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities are also becoming increasingly widespread. For animals, the human-animal bond has opened a new ecological niche and allowed dramatic increases in population size. However, the chapter also raises a number of ethical...
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Publisher Summary For most of human history, animals have occupied a central position in theories concerning the ontology and treatment of sickness and disease. Offended animal spirits were often believed to be the source of illness,... more
Publisher Summary For most of human history, animals have occupied a central position in theories concerning the ontology and treatment of sickness and disease. Offended animal spirits were often believed to be the source of illness, injury, or misfortune, but, at the same time, the assistance of animal guardian spirits—either one's own or those belonging to a medicine man or shaman—could also be called on to mediate in the process of healing such afflictions. Recent interest in the potential medical value of animal companionship was largely initiated by a single study that appeared to demonstrate life-prolonging effects of pet ownership among heart attack sufferers. This study has since prompted many others, most of which have demonstrated either short-term, relaxing effects of animal contact, or long-term health improvements consistent with a view of companion animals as sources of social support. Despite these findings, the positive therapeutic value of animal companionship continues to receive little recognition in mainstream medical literature, and as a field of research it is grossly undersupported by government funding agencies. Hopefully, with the gradual demise of this old-fashioned and prejudiced mind-set, one can return to a more holistic and open-minded view of the potential contribution of animals to human well-being.
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... the Ojibwa, young men at puberty were expected to isolate themselves in the forest and endure ... included physician and apothe-cary to the gods and guardian of the mysteries of mummification ... Asklepios&#x27;s shrine in the... more
... the Ojibwa, young men at puberty were expected to isolate themselves in the forest and endure ... included physician and apothe-cary to the gods and guardian of the mysteries of mummification ... Asklepios&#x27;s shrine in the sacred grove at Epidaurus func-tioned as a kind of ancient ...
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There is a growing interest in chemical sterilization as an alternative to surgical castration in large-scale sterilization campaigns to control canine populations. An important step toward understanding the short-term and long-term... more
There is a growing interest in chemical sterilization as an alternative to surgical castration in large-scale sterilization campaigns to control canine populations. An important step toward understanding the short-term and long-term effects of chemical sterilants is to determine their impact on blood testosterone concentrations, particularly as these could influence dog behavior after treatment. A field trial was conducted with 118 free-roaming male dogs in the Chilean Patagonia, where 36 dogs were chemically sterilized using EsterilSol, 39 dogs were surgically castrated, and 43 dogs remained intact as controls. Blood testosterone levels were determined at four time periods: on enrollment 6 months before treatment (t-6m), at the time of treatment (t0, within one hour after surgical castration or chemical sterilization and during a concurrent 2-week period for the control group), four (t+4m), and six (t+6m) months after treatment. Intrinsic and temporal factors were evaluated; age wa...
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Origins of the cat Although the ancestors of the domestic cat ( Felis silvestris catus ) first appeared about 35 million years ago (MYA) during the late Eocene, the cat family or Felidae, to which all living cat species belong, emerged... more
Origins of the cat Although the ancestors of the domestic cat ( Felis silvestris catus ) first appeared about 35 million years ago (MYA) during the late Eocene, the cat family or Felidae, to which all living cat species belong, emerged somewhat later during the Miocene about 10–11 MYA (Johnson & O’Brien, 1997; O’Brien et al ., 2008). Morphological and molecular studies of phylogenetic relationships among living felids indicate that the 37 extant species can be divided up into 8 major phylogenetic groups or lineages: the Panthera lineage; the bay cat lineage; the leopard cat lineage; the caracal lineage; the ocelot, lynx and puma lineages; and, finally, the domestic cat or Felis lineage (Leyhausen, 1979; Collier & O’Brien, 1985; Salles, 1992; Johnson & O’Brien, 1997; O’Brien et al ., 2008). The latter is believed to have diverged from the others around 6.2 MYA, and comprises four species of small cats that seem to have originated around the Mediterranean basin: the jungle cat ( Felis chaus ), the black-footed cat ( F. nigripes ), the sand cat ( F. margarita ) and the wildcat ( F. silvestris ) (O’Brien et al ., 2008).
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Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
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ABSTRACT full text available at http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/10.2460/javma.237.7.771