Bridging the gap between the science of animal welfare and the animals and their owners, this book gives essential advice to practitioners worldwide on how to improve the welfare of all animals. Down to earth and intensely practical, the book describes the fundamentals of changing human behaviour to benefit animal welfare and how this can be applied in real life situations. This is an important text for animal welfare advisors, researchers, welfare auditors and veterinarians, and key reading for all those concerned with animal welfare in non-governmental organisations, in governments, in industry and at universities.

Practical guidance to improving animal wellbeing by changing human behaviour Practical Human Behaviour Change for the Health and Welfare of Animals is the practical guide to helping people change behaviour for the welfare, wellbeing, and health of their animals. Grounded in evidence, this book enables readers to understand some of the underlying causes of human behaviour towards animals and deliver the crucial techniques and skills to help people make needed behavior changes. These techniques, including the use of the Stages of Change model, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and skilled Active Listening, support practical interventions for owner’s behaviors such as those around diet, exercise, weight control, and breeding; the text also supports professionals through difficult conversations such as euthanasia, hoarding, and giving up ownership. These approaches have been found to improve outcomes for animals as well as engagement with workers by owners. This way of working also reduces psychological burden on workers and help with job satisfaction. To aid in reader comprehension, Practical Human Behaviour Change for the Health and Welfare of Animals is complemented by case examples, analogies, and exercises. A supporting website provides worksheets and resources to further support the reader’s learning and help put skills into practice. Written by a highly qualified author with more than 20 years of experience in human behaviour change for animal welfare, the book discusses topics such as: What helps people change—and what doesn’t—covering traditional techniques that are less likely to help, and alternative methods that have been proven to support behavioral change in others Principles and key ideas underpinning motivational interviewing and active listening skills for motivational interviewing Structuring conversations with a focus, developing understanding of the owner’s situation and experiences, working with ambivalence, and supporting people to prepare for change Preparing for action via goal setting and action planning, supporting people to move into making changes and to maintain change in the long-term Practical Human Behaviour Change for the Health and Welfare of Animals is a valuable resource for veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and animal care providers; it is also highly useful for animal welfare and sanctuary workers, animal rehoming workers, and individuals working in health, environmental, and trading standards where animal welfare issues are encountered.

Sentience – the ability to feel, perceive and experience – is central to the animal welfare debate as it raises the question of whether animals experience suffering in life and death. This book explores and answers these questions in an objective way, based on the latest research and empirical evidence. Beginning with an introduction to sentience, the book investigates why we are so interested in sentience, when, as a species, humans became sentient and how it has changed over time. The book defines aspects of sentience such as consciousness, memory and emotions, and discusses brain complexity in detail. Looking at sentience from a developmental perspective, it analyses when in an individual’s growth sentience can be said to appear and uses evidence from a range of studies investigating embryos, foetuses and young animals to form an enlightening overview of the subject. With a full chapter covering ethical decisions such as animal protection and experimentation, this book is not only an invaluable resource for researchers and students of animal welfare and biology, but also an engaging and informative read for veterinarians and the general public. Sentience – the ability to feel, perceive and experience – is central to the animal welfare debate as it raises the question of whether animals experience suffering in life and death. This book explores and answers these questions in an objective way, based on the latest research and empirical evidence. Beginning with an introduction to sentience, the book investigates why we are so interested in sentience, when, as a species, humans became sentient and how it has changed over time. The book defines aspects of sentience such as consciousness, memory and emotions, and discusses brain complexity in detail. Looking at sentience from a developmental perspective, it analyses when in an individual’s growth sentience can be said to appear and uses evidence from a range of studies investigating embryos, foetuses and young animals to form an enlightening overview of the subject. With a full chapter covering ethical decisions such as animal protection and experimentation, this book is not only an invaluable resource for researchers and students of animal welfare and biology, but also an engaging and informative read for veterinarians and the general public.

"Understanding Animal Welfare, 2nd Edition is revised and expanded to incorporate new research and developments in animal welfare. Updated with greater accessibility in mind, the reader is guided through animal welfare in its cultural and historical context, methods of study, and applications in practice and policy. Drawing examples from farm, companion, laboratory and zoo animals, the text provides an up-to-date overview of research and its applications, while also tracing how concepts and methods have evolved over time. Originally intended for scientists and professionals, Understanding Animal Welfare has also found a home in undergraduate classrooms. It is now the essential text for students, practitioners, veterinarians, and researchers in animal welfare and related fields"--

The Behavior of Animals An updated view of animal behavior studies, featuring global experts The Behavior of Animals, Second Edition provides a broad overview of the current state of animal behavior studies with contributions from international experts. This edition includes new chapters on hormones and behavior, individuality, and human evolution. All chapters have been thoroughly revised and updated, and are supported by color illustrations, informative callouts, and accessible presentation of technical information. Provides an introduction to the study of animal behavior Looks at an extensive scope of topics- from perception, motivation and emotion, biological rhythms, and animal learning to animal cognition, communication, mate choice, and individuality. Explores the evolution of animal behavior including a critical evaluation of the assumption that human beings can be studied as if they were any other animal species. Students will benefit from an updated textbook in which a variety of contributors provide their expertise and global perspective in specialized areas

Equine Welfare in Clinical Practice: How and Why Behavior and Welfare Assessments Belong in Your Practice reviews the current psychological, behavioral, and welfare knowledge equine veterinarians should have and discusses how such knowledge may be incorporated into clinical practices. It covers such topics as practical welfare assessment, fear-free practices, and how horses learn (both good and bad habits). Each topic is intended to provide both practical and pertinent science-based information for equine practitioners and their clients. Written by international experts, this book explores the physical, psychological, and behavioral factors contributing to equine welfare. It discusses current knowledge about topics such as equine senses, cognition, and stereotypies, as well as appropriate and inappropriate training methods, for both adult horses and foals. It also addresses differentiating medical from behavioral problems and discusses the new field of how the gut microbiome affects behavior. Equine Welfare in Clinical Practice: How and Why Behavior and Welfare Assessments Belong in Your Practice is an important resource for clinical veterinarians who want to incorporate knowledge of equine behavior and welfare into their practices. Veterinarians who understand and can educate their clients in equine welfare and safe and appropriate care and handling techniques will increase their business success, improve the lives of their clients and patients, and strengthen the human-animal bond. In addition, the book will also provide updated information and useful practical tips for those who are already familiar with equine psychology, behavior, and welfare. - Emphasizes the clinical applications of the sciences of equine behavior and welfare - Offers expert recommendations to improve the lives of horses, their owners, and the veterinarians who care for them - Provides resources for further study and access to specialists for consultation or referral

What is animal welfare? Why has it proved so difficult to find a definition that everyone can agree on? This concise and accessible guide is for anyone who is interested in animals and who has wondered how we can assess their welfare scientifically. It defines animal welfare as 'health and animals having what they want', a definition that can be easily understood by scientists and non-scientists alike, expresses in simple words what underlies many existing definitions, and shows what evidence we need to collect to improve animal welfare in practice. Above all, it puts the animal's own point of view at the heart of an assessment of its welfare. But, can we really understand what animals want? A consistent theme running through the book is that not only is it possible to establish what animals want, but that this information is vital in helping us to make sense of the long and often confusing list of welfare measures that are now in use such as 'stress' and 'feel good hormones', expressive sounds and gestures, natural behaviour, cognitive bias, and stereotypies. Defining welfare as 'health and what animals want' allows us to distinguish between measures that are simply what an animal does when it is alert, aroused, or active and those measures that genuinely allow us to distinguish between situations the animals themselves see as positive or negative. Sentience (conscious feelings of pleasure, pain, and suffering) is for many people the essence of what is meant by welfare, but studying consciousness is notoriously difficult, particularly in non-human species. These difficulties are discussed in the context of our current - and as yet incomplete - knowledge of human and animal consciousness. Finally, the book highlights some key ideas in the relationship between animal welfare science and animal ethics and shows how closely the well-being of humans is linked to that of other animals. The Science of Animal Welfare is an ideal companion for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in animal behaviour and welfare, as well as for professional researchers, practitioners and animal welfare consultants. At the same time, it is easily understandable to non-scientists and anyone without prior knowledge but with an interest in animals and the rapidly evolving science of animal welfare.

This book deals with the role of education in improving animal welfare and reducing animal suffering inflicted by humans. It embraces situations in which humans have direct control over animals or interfere directly with them, but it considers also indirect animal suffering resulting from human activities. Education is regarded in the broad sense of creating awareness and facilitating change. First, consideration is given to a number of specific themes in which education can make an important contribution towards reducing animal suffering, and subsequently an examination is made of a number of interrelated contexts in which education can address the various themes. The considered educational themes are: · animal suffering and sentience that have both scientific and moral aspects · human discrimination against animals known as speciesism and the need for attitudinal change by humans · role and existing limitations of legislation in providing protection to animals · matter of enforcement of animal protection legislation · achievement of reform to improve animal protection by legislative and other means · training of professionals, carers, and users involved with animals to provide better protection · the scope for science to contribute to improved animal protection · animal protection as a regional and international issue

In recent years there has been a huge rise in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in animal sciences which has accelerated improvements in animal welfare. Down to earth and practical, this book gives guidance on how cross-disciplinary research can advance animal welfare. With numerous examples and case studies, the text explains: · the different concepts regarding cross-disciplinary research · how to set up cross-disciplinary research projects · how to work in cross functional teams and models for effective team working · how different fields can impact animal welfare, including social sciences, neurosciences, genetics, behavioural ecology and technology. The aim of the book is to help researchers and graduate animal science students to understand how to advance animal welfare through the integration of disciplines.