Animal Welfare Symposium, Hong Kong - Nov 2013

ANIMAL WELFARE SYMPOSIUM

CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, HK

21-22 NOVEMBER 2013

Professor Natalie Waran, University of Edinburgh, UK will be giving a presentation - “What is welfare & why does it matter?”

Heather Bacon also from JMICAWE at the University of Edinburgh will be presenting on “Animal welfare education”.

Programme and registration: http://www6.cityu.edu.hk/svm/aws-index.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Successful Equine welfare conference held at the University of Delaware last week

In July last year, more than 250 academics, veterinarians and equine practitioners had arrived at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh to attend the 8^th annual international equitation science conference. For this year’s conference it was the  turn of the United States, to which JMICAWE’s Prof Nat Waran was invited to provide a plenary presentation entitled ‘Future proofing equitation -  Advancing Evidence based learning and Practice in Equitation. She was joined by fellow key note speakers, Dr Hayley Randle, Duchy College, Prof Jan Ladewig from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark; Prof Hilary Clayton from Michigan State University; Dr Andrew McLean, Australia Equine Behaviour centre and Prof Paul McGreevy from the University of Sydney in Australia.

With the theme of “Embracing Science to Enhance Equine Welfare and Horse-Human Interactions,” the 9^th annual conference brought together equine scientists, veterinarians, students, horse trainers, instructors and riders at the University of Delaware in Newark during July 18-19 with excellent live equitation science demonstrations and discussion, held at Pennsylvania University’s New Bolton Center hosted by Prof Sue McDonnell.

ISES is a nonprofit organization that facilitates research into the training of horses so as to enhance horse welfare and improve the horse-rider relationship.

Photo by Dr Elke Hartmann

Advice to farmers, pet and horse owners in this hot weather

High temperatures and humidity, particularly sudden changes in conditions, can pose a major threat to animal welfare.
The following basic advice is to help farmers, transporters, pet owners and others avoid problems.

Those who look after animals must avoid causing them unnecessary suffering (it’s a legal requirement), and must avoid subjecting them to conditions where this is likely to occur.  It is an offence if the welfare of an animal is compromised as a result of a failure to take appropriate action in response to extremes of temperature.

Farmed animals should be provided with adequate shelter and protection in accordance with the law and welfare codes. In hot weather it is particularly important that animals have access to shade and water. Livestock keepers should inspect their animals often and take necessary action to correct any problems.

Those transporting animals, including agricultural animals, should avoid problems in hot weather. Things to consider include:

• factoring potential weather conditions into the planning of any journey (for example not loading or moving animals during the hottest parts of the day)
• improved ventilation of the vehicle
• increased space allowances
• providing water and electrolytes more frequently

In addition, contingency plans should be in place for every journey, and are particularly important in hot conditions as delays, which might be relatively insignificant under normal conditions, can become critical very quickly.

• Livestock transport vehicles: a guide to best practice on vehicle ventilation

Don’t forget your pets in hot weather. Make sure they have plenty of water, ventilation and shade from the sun. Dog owners should not leave their pets in the car.

• Protecting the welfare of pet dogs and cats during journeys - advice for owners on how to identify and avoid overheating in animals

DEFRA Guidelines

Widening the spotlight on genetic welfare problems: heritable disorders in selectively bred reptiles.

With the help of my programme director, Dr Fritha Langford, I have recently been lucky enough to secure a Student Vacation Scholarship from the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare to investigate the welfare consequences of selective breeding of captive reptiles.

My work will focus on the royal python Python regius, a species that has over the past two decades seen an explosion in popularity among pet owners, hobbyist and commercial breeders, due in part to the emergence and exploitation of atypical phenotypes or “morphs”. Base morphs, such as the above Spider (a pattern mutation) and Pastel (a colour mutation), are combined in artificial selective breeding to create designer morphs, such as the above “Bumblebee”.

Since the publication of the CAWC report on Genetic Welfare Problems in Companion Animals in 2006, animal welfare scientists have worked to increase awareness of genetic welfare problems linked to irresponsible selective breeding of companion animal species. To date, work has rightly been focused on domestic species, which have historically been subject to most selective breeding. However, with the recent surge in captive breeding of non-domestic species and the high demand for novel traits, there is a risk that characteristics detrimental to animal welfare will be propagated through artificial selection in reptiles in the same manner as has been seen in dogs and cats.

My project will focus on a single genetic disorder associated with a single, widely propagated phenotype of the royal python; the Spider morph (shown in the above example). The defect is known in the hobby as “wobble syndrome”, and presents as a characteristic loss of motor function during periods of stress and arousal. The Spider is deliberately selected for due to its high commercial value, resulting from its striking pattern, in which the black patches of the wild phenotype are significantly reduced to resemble a spider’s web.

Through survey of expert opinion, my report will establish for the first time a description of the wobble syndrome in the literature, and provide a quantitative assessment of the impacts of this condition to animal welfare. It is hoped that this will raise awareness of the potential for artificial selection to compromise welfare in reptiles, allowing informed breeding decisions to be made, evaluating anthropocentric benefit against welfare cost.

Mark Rose

Student on PGDip International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law

A Veterinary Nurse’s perspective on emergency shelter volunteering in Thailand

As many of you know JMICAWE’s welfare veterinary nurse Hayley Walters and veterinary surgeon Heather Bacon used their annual leave to volunteer at a Government run dog shelter in Thailand after 3,000 dogs were intercepted and rescued whilst on their way to Vietnam for the dog meat trade there.

Hayley, the only veterinary nurse on the international vet team, and Heather spent 10 days, treating, nursing and vaccinating the sick and dying dogs in the shelter and found the experience very testing.

With 2,000 dogs living in buildings designed originally for pigs and with an actual capacity for only 400 dogs, it was understandably difficult for the 2 Thai Government vets and handful of staff to provide good welfare standards for each individual. Many of the dogs in the shelter were dying either from diseases such as distemper and parvovirus or starvation due to overcrowding and the dogs’ inability to compete for the food offered twice daily. It was the ineffectualness of the treatment and nursing and the cultural differences in relation to things like acceptance of  euthanasia as a possibility,  that they found particularly upsetting.

Palliative care was the best that could be offered and each emaciated, suffering dog in the sadly filled to capacity hospital was offered pain relief and, thanks to Hayley, a small sheet of cardboard to protect their bony bodies from the wire bottom cages as they tried to survive. Hayley said:

“As I filled up each dog’s water bowl and cleaned its cage in the 35 degree heat and relentless humidity I was dismayed at how little I was able to provide for the hundreds of patients in the hospital. Filling its water accounted for only 5% of what I actually wanted to do as a vet nurse. There was no time to bathe and lubricate dry, discharging eyes; properly clean dogs as they lay in puddles of diarrhoea. No time to administer much needed fluids or sit and hand feed an anorexic dog, or to tablet the dogs that had eaten around their medication or even to stroke the ones that looked  enquiringly at me, offering limp tail wags and silently hoping for a gentle hand. There were so many dogs in the hospital and there was just not enough time to give them the basic care,…I just had to move on and clean out and top up the water of the next dog.”

What they did feel they achieved, and will hopefully continue now the team have left, is more humane handling techniques when moving and catching of the shelter dogs is necessary. The staff at the shelter are not knowledgeable about dog behaviour and have an understandable fear of being bitten and contracting rabies.  Of the limited staff there, none of them were vaccinated and no one had received training on how to handle nervous - aggressive dogs.

” It was incredibly sad to see these frightened dogs, who had already endured so much, being so roughly handled using heavy neck  graspers by the very people who were here to help them. I was really keen to demonstrate much more humane handling techniques whilst still maintaining the safety of the staff.”

By the end of their time there and with consistent safe but humane handling demonstrated, the staff learned how they could be much gentler and calmer with the dogs, the neck graspers were only used for the most dangerous of dogs and even then their bodies were supported when being lifted.

“ The reality of real world animal welfare is exhausting and depressing and I think I had a bout of compassion fatigue whilst out there. I walked away wondering what I had managed to achieve and questioning, once again, the ethics of long term shelters for animals. All these dogs…..these beautiful, friendly, individual characters….were all now facing a lifetime of captivity as anonymous souls in a dog saturated concrete pen.  And why? Sadly, all because of some peoples’ dietary preferences and the illegal trade that occurs to support this. I know I didn’t address the underlying problems to change the world in my 10 days in Thailand, but I hopefully made a few dogs’ lives a little more bearable”.

Soi dogs, the charity that funded Hayley and Heather’s  flights and hotel along with Worldwide Veterinary Services, employed more local staff to help with the ever growing influx of intercepted, smuggled dogs that arrived at the shelter. They have also funded the building of a new, improved purpose built shelter and continually advertise, via the internet, the new dogs that desperately need homes.

Hayley and Heather both adopted dogs whilst out there and they will be arriving in Scotland in the next couple of months. If anybody knows of anyone who would like to rehome one of the dogs currently living in the overcrowded shelter then please contact Soi Dogs. http://www.soidog.org/

Soi Dog Charity

Academics from India visit RDSVS for professional development in veterinary teaching and research

We were pleased to welcome 6 senior Indian veterinary academics to Edinburgh last week. Funded by their University and with the support of their VC Dr Ashok and led by Edinburgh University Alumni, Professor Usha who is the Director of pig genetics and production research at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University, with whom the University through the RDSVS have a MoU, the group had a busy schedule of talks, visits and meetings. During their week-long visit, the group learned about the way in which the RDSVS PG and UG students are taught using a variety of different methodologies, how farm and Zoo practicals are integrated into problem based learning exercises, how knowledge about animal welfare is introduced throughout the curriculum and the way in which the curriculum is designed around Day 1 skills. A highlight for the team was visiting the small animal hospital and learning about the way in which cases are managed and the variety of specialist treatments available here.

Professor Usha said ‘ It had been a wonderful experience for us to learn about the vet education in Edinburgh. This visit has helped us to make suggestions for improving vet education in Kerala.  I am sure this visit will open up next stages of joint initiative’.

We are looking forward to the next stage of our project together, when Prof Anna Meredith will be visiting with the team in Wayanad in July to provide teaching on the wildlife health and welfare programme.

Heather Bacon of the JMICAWE contributes to important world wide policy development to help alleviate the suffering of animals used in tourism

Last week saw several positive developments in the welfare of wild and exotic animals. At a meeting on Animal Welfare, law and enforcement in Brussels, supported by the Federation of Vets of Europe, Born Free, Vier Pfoten, and Humane Society International, a number of issues relating to the welfare of exotic animals in zoos, circuses and trade were discussed. Member States attended to share their experiences in regulating the types of exotic species that could be kept in private ownership through the development of ‘positive lists’ as in Belgium and the Netherlands, Austria shared their experiences of banning wild animals in travelling circuses, and representatives from the European Alliance of Rescue centres and Sanctuaries, discussed the conservation and welfare implications of the illegal pet trade with particular reference to the endangered Barbary macaque – an entirely unsuitable species to be kept as a pet. Knowledge and experiences were shared and approaches to zoo inspectorate development discussed. In particular, the need for EU legislation on Animal Welfare across the region was highlighted by various member states, and across Europe there appears to be a growing demand and focus on regulation relating to captive wild animals.

This growing awareness also displays some global impact, with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) launching their ‘Global guidance on animal in tourism’. This series of documents, on which Heather of the JMICAWE advised, covers animal use in a range of different tourism scenarios and provides guidance for tour operators on what is and is not, acceptable practice within the tourist industry.

We are pleased that we have been able contribute to the development of such an important policy that will help to alleviate the suffering of animals used in tourism around the world.

http://abta.com/news-and-views/press-zone/abta-launches-global-welfare-guidance-for-animals-in-tourism 

Animal Models and the Dynamics of Biomedicine

Animal models have long played a key role in biomedical research, impacting on the nature of laboratory practices, regulation and governance, and – ultimately – the kinds of knowledge about health and illness that scientists can produce. At the same time, the use of animals in research continues to attract public debate, and organisations like the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) are sponsored by the UK Research Councils, the Wellcome Trust and industry to support initiatives that will reduce, refine and replace the numbers of animals involved. The challenges and opportunities of this for biomedicine have been extensively debated, but there is a dearth of empirical, social science research that takes as its focus the everyday activities of scientists at the ‘coal face’.

Dr Martyn Pickersgill, a sociologist in the Centre for Population Health Sciences, has recently been awarded sponsorship from the Moray Endowment to undertake research on ‘Animal Models and the Dynamics of Biomedicine’. This project is situated at the interface between the disciplines of science and technology studies (STS), medical sociology, and empirical bioethics. It uses qualitative focus groups with researchers employing animal models in the study of biological processes (human and non-human), in order to generate discussion about the changing use of animals in research and the ethical and scientific decision-making involved. Part of Pickersgill’s wider research programme on the social and ethical dimensions of science and medicine, the study aims to cast new light on the means by which regulatory structures, moral discourse, and scientific questions come together to shape the nature of biomedical innovation.

University of Edinburgh's Animal Welfare Symposium - held in the Chancellor’s Building on the 5th June

As part of the ongoing work of the local Animal Welfare Committee, the 2^nd Animal Welfare Symposium was held in the Chancellor’s Building on the 5^th June in collaboration with the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education.

The event -sponsored by Laboratory Animals Ltd.- was a success, with over a 100 delegates, including animal technicians, scientists, lab animal vets and Home Office Inspectors. The programme covered aspects of all the 3Rs.

Dr. Nichola Brydges (Edinburgh University) discussed animal emotions and the challenges involved in assessing affective state in rodents. She presented her own work on cognitive bias, a test which measures “optimistic” vs. “pessimistic” choices when presented with an ambiguous stimulus.

The next speaker, Dr. Will Shu (Heriot Watt University) described his ongoing programme of work to develop engineered liver tissues using human embryonic stem cells and 3D printing technology, as a potential alternative for toxicology testing.

A former Home Office Chief Inspector, Dr.Derek Fry, provided an excellent overview of experimental design principles, common mistakes and assumptions. Particularly useful was the discussion on different types of experimental design and how they impact on reduction and refinement.

Prof. Dominic Wells (Royal Veterinary College) summarised the techniques and welfare implications of the most commonly used genotyping and identification methods in GA mice. His talk concluded with a lively discussion on welfare issues associated with methods of early identification, which contributed to the participative atmosphere of the day.

The Symposium was brought to a close with the presentation of the Laboratory Animal Welfare and Alternatives Prize, awarded by The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education. This year there were 6 outstanding entries split over the two categories for the best poster, presented by an animal technician or a scientist, describing innovations in the context of replacement and animal welfare.

For the animal technician category the £ 500 Prize was awarded to two technicians for their poster describing work on improving animal welfare by making use of non-invasive techniques to detect oestrous in rats. The technique has a clear potential as a refinement over other methods and is particularly useful for reducing the number of animals that are used. The winner in the scientist category presented work describing a significant reduction technique developed for use in mice used in laboratories. The tetraploid complementation assay results in up to a third of the number of mice used.

Congratulations to the prize winners and many thanks to all sponsors and organisers for a very successful event.

 

China Agricultural University (CAU) - making a difference.

During the last week of May, Hayley Walters and Heather Bacon of the JMICAWE travelled to the China Agricultural University (CAU), China’s premier veterinary school, in Beijing.

Invited by Dr Jin of the surgical teaching team, they trained staff and students in the use of alternatives to animals in surgical training. Dr Jin has already made excellent progress in this area – reducing the numbers of dogs and rabbits used for elective surgical training in his course from 80 to 18 each year. In addition to improved clinical training experiences in suturing, ligature-tying, anaesthesia and pain assessment, we also discussed wider applications of animal welfare and its application across the veterinary curriculum. The trip was made possible due to travel funding and materials donation by Animals Asia.

As the number one veterinary school in China, CAU is well recognised as having excellent training facilities. It is hoped that through partnership with JMICAWE and the R(D)SVS, excellence in teaching animal welfare and its practical applications to the clinical environment may be integrated.

The teaching team (l-r) Hui Wang, Heather Bacon, Dr Aren Jin, Hayley Walters, with a range of models donated by Animals Asia

The next chapter for 2 little dogs - from Thailand to Edinburgh

After over 100 of you followed Heather Bacon and Hayley Walter's feedback report last week, after they arrived at the Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand, we thought you might like to know more about the work they are doing.

With humidity making working and sleeping uncomfortable, the girls have been working solidly on operating those needing surgery and providing food, comfort and cuddles to those who are recovering from the awful treatment they were subjected to. In recent days, they have gained enough trust with the community to be able to euthanise several dogs with severe disease, which is a huge relief. 

And thanks to mass vaccination, the daily mortality rates have reduced from 30 dogs per day at their arrival to approx 2 dogs per day now, so they're lucky to be leaving the dogs in good shape but many still desperately need help. 

Whilst the girls 'holiday' has come to an end and they head back to Scotland, they can leave knowing that their efforts made a huge difference to hundreds of dogs - especially two little ones!

Yes - following hot on their heels, and coming back to Edinburgh are Stewart (Hayley's light coloured dog) and Mothi (Heather's dark coloured dog)....and looking at the photos I think both dogs are delighted to be heading to Scotland!

We will definitely report on how Stewart and Mothi settle in, once they are through quarantine and settled in Scotland!

You can find out more by clicking this link - 20 dogs crammed into each cage - ready to go for eating or contact www.soidogs.org for more info.

2 members of Edinburgh University's JMICAWE Animal Welfare team help with Thai dog rescue.

This week JMICAWE's Heather Bacon and Hayley Walters have taken some annual leave - and have headed to Thailand for their holidays. However, they have no intention of enjoying the beautiful beaches, as they have decided to volunteer along with other veterinary trained staff from the UK, Asia and USA to assist at the Soi dog foundation in Thailand.

Based at the Animal Quarantine Center in Nakhon Phanom, north-east Thailand, just a few kilometres away from the mountains forming the border with Laos, JMICAWE veterinary outreach manager, Heather and animal welfare vet nurse Hayley have joined a team of dedicated volunteers who answered an SOS put out by the Soi Dogs Foundation last month.

All the volunteers from the Worldwide Veterinary Service, Animals Asia Foundation and the Humane Society International, are helping to deal with the thousands of dogs rescued from trucks and farms destined for the meat trade.

Read more about this hands-on welfare work and watch the CNN video including an interview with Hayley Walters - http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/06/world/asia/dog-smuggling-coren-thailand/

CNN clip

Anna Brown, from our MSc AABAW program wins UFAW scholarship prize.

Anna gives us a summary of her dissertation activities

My project aims to reduce negative welfare impacts upon wild beavers involved within monitoring research, conducted by Telemark University College, Norway, in collaboration with the Royal Zoological Society Scotland.

Upon capture, wild beavers are ear tagged allowing for individual identification. However, these tags have highly variable retention rates. Without ear tags beavers require re-capture in order to be re-tagged, which is known to have negative welfare impacts across many wild species.

Firstly I want to identify the retention rate of each of the two tag types used. Secondly, from filming ear tag applications and post-tagging behaviour in the field, any signs of tag irritation can be recorded.

How my project could help to improve animal welfare

1.       I shall hopefully be able to identify a tag type which is both durable and has a minimal effect upon the beavers’ natural behavioural repertoire. In addition, upon selection and increased usage of a durable tag type, the need for re-capture can be reduced. Researchers can also save time by not having to chase down un-tagged beavers!

2.       With the potential re-introduction of beavers into the UK being a hot topic at the moment, my study results may be of use if beavers will one day require identification within the UK.

3.       Whilst monitoring typically aims to benefit a species as whole, individual animal welfare is also of importance. I also hope that my study can raise awareness of this theme, as I think individual animal welfare is often compromised within monitoring research.

What I have enjoyed about carrying out my project

I have really enjoyed learning about a species I have never studied, or even seen before. They are fascinating animals and I have been lucky to receive the opportunity to study them in their natural habitat!

Life as a student on our online MSc International Animal Welfare program

Written by Amber Barnes, a current MSc IAWEL student and winner of an Animal Welfare Trust grant.

I had been searching for a graduate program for some time when I came across the International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law program (MSc IAWEL) at the University of Edinburgh. 

I was specifically looking for comprehensive courses  in animal welfare, geographical flexibility and rigorous standards that would challenge me and prepare me for a career in animal welfare.  I have found all this and more in the IAWEL program.  Any concerns I may have had about online study were quickly relieved as I have found it most engaging and inclusive.  Of course, managing time zones and personal commitments, such as work and family, has been difficult at times, but it has certainly been worth it.  Indeed managing these time zones and working in groups with students with diverse cultural backgrounds has only served to prepare me for a career in international animal welfare.

When I started the Masters program, I held a position as an adoptions specialist and community educator  at a local humane society, though my background is as varied as the animals with which I have worked. The information  provided in the Companion Animal Welfare course has proved most beneficial  as I am able to give the community reliable, up to date information on the needs of their companion animals and better manage the welfare of animals that come into the shelter.  

More recently, I received a grant from the Animal Welfare Trust  to work with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries on welfare protocols, accrediting sanctuaries and placing displaced, retired or abused exotic animals, wildlife and equines into approved sanctuaries on a global level. In the first course of the MSc IAWEL; International Animal Welfare Science,  I became familiar both with creating welfare protocols and preparing research proposals . Possession of such knowledge  certainly  gave me an edge when preparing my grant application.

Additionally, the experience  of networking with other students and professionals from so many different areas in the world, makes me an ideal candidate for the position. Currently I am assisting a bear sanctuary in China in the accreditation process,  helping people in Israel place injured animals in sanctuaries and collaborating with professionals in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Turkey on  other animal placements.

I am certainly happy with my decision in choosing this program and look forward to what new information I will receive in the next year and how I will grow as a student and a professional.