ICAWC 2013, Barcelona, Spain - Steve Goward's presentation on Welfare Assessment and Quality of Life

1. Animal Welfare and
Quality of life
Some thoughts and ideas to promote
the improvement of animal welfare
in our organisations.

2. How do we perceive animals?
• From Aristotle to Darwin to your individual
beliefs………..
• Aristotle's views influenced views for
hundreds of years.
• Other great thinkers of the time did not share
Aristotle's views that we could treat animals
as we like.

3. Who put the cat amongst the pigeons?

4. Darwin challenged many previous
thoughts on animals
• Where they came from
• How they survive
• What their needs were
• What drives them to pass on their genes

5. So why do we still treat animals
poorly?
• When an idea or belief has been around for a
long time it is hard to extinguish.
• I equate this poor welfare of animals to the
same problems I see with training methods
employed by some trainers.

6. Beliefs come from different but
essentially popular sources

7. Does it make a difference how they
are trained? Surely it is only
important that they are trained!
or

8. Blackwell et al 2008

9. • Behaviours that owners find problematic are
widespread in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)
population (Voith et al.,1992; Wells and Hepper,
2000; Bradshaw et al., 2002; Kobelt et al., 2003;
Hiby et al., 2004)
• and are a common cause of dogs being
abandoned, sent to re-homing centres, or
euthanized (Bailey, 1992; Miller et al., 1996;
Patronek et al., 1996; Serpell, 1996; Salman et al.,
1998, 2000; Scarlett et al., 1999; New et al., 2000;
Marston and Bennett, 2003; Shore et al., 2003;
Mondelli et al., 2004; Shore, 2005).

10. • So education to the dog owning
public is still a very important tool to
improve animal welfare.
• If better training methods are
employed along with a greater
understanding of the species there
are likely to be less dogs handed over
to shelters for behavioural reasons.

11. Jeremy Bentham(1748-1832)
• The question is not, can they
reason: nor, can they talk, but
• can they suffer?

12. How do we know when they are
suffering if they can’t communicate?
• We must understand the animals ethology
• We must be able to interpret their vocalisations and
body language properly
• We must appreciate the impact of denying them
freedom to express certain behaviours
• We must improve our knowledge and understanding of
the species we are trying to help

13. Questions we need to try and answer
• Are all dogs needs the same?
• Is there one environment that suits all dogs?
• What is an acceptable level of welfare?

14. Where to start
• There are a number of methods that
have been used to assess welfare in
the past; Bramble’s 5 freedoms are
always a good base to begin but
there is much more information we
are now aware of that helps us
identify poor welfare.

15. • 1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst - by ready access
to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and
vigour.
• 2. Freedom from Discomfort - by providing an
appropriate environment including shelter and a
comfortable resting area.
• 3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease - by
prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
• 4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour - by
providing sufficient space, proper facilities and
company of the animal's own kind (if appropriate}.
• 5. Freedom from Fear and Distress - by ensuring
conditions and treatment which avoid mental
suffering.

16. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
• “The dogs have plenty of food”
• How, when, where, how often, how much,
what there fed all can have an impact on
quality of life.
• Water bowls, troughs, containers.

18. Freedom from Discomfort
• Ask yourself what makes you feel
uncomfortable.
• Beds, temperature regulation, noise, clean
resting area. A place to feel safe
• Choices make the difference here.

19. Is this ok??

20. So why is this??

22. Freedom from Pain
• This in theory should be the easiest thing to
do.
• Good veterinary care is essential for good
welfare.

25. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour

26. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour
• Ethology
• Do the research
• Have a good understanding of what your dogs
needs are.

27. Freedom from Fear and Distress
• Possibly the hardest to achieve.
• Arguably the most important of the five.
• Understand what creates fear and distress in
dogs.

30. How to improve welfare
• First thing to do is never say it is good enough!
• Second thing to do is identify achievable goals
• Take ideas and knowledge from where ever
you can get them and prioritise welfare and
quality of life

31. How to improve welfare
• We need to be able to identify both above and
below basic welfare
• We need trained people to identify areas that
need to be improved and how to do it!
• We need to understand the importance of
quality over quantity

32. Individual welfare scores
• To be completed by 2-3 carers
• Aims to identify areas to work on
• Can be used as a tool to corroborate
euthanasia requests
• Subjective

33. Welfare Assessment
Always think to yourself when filling in this
assessment how this dog would fit into your
own family life? Would you consider living
with this dog?
Will this dog be able to live a full life in our
shelter?

34. Section One - Home-ability
Description
Best
0
1
2
3
4
5
x
Worst
Home-ability
Excellent
No
Known person directed aggression/reactivity
Low
Stranger directed aggression/reactivity
Low
x
High
Other animal directed aggression/reactivity
Low
x
High
Car Travel
Excellent
On leash aggression towards people
Low
x
High
On leash aggression towards dogs
Low
x
High
Muzzle Trained
Yes
x
No
Is the dog comfortable being alone
Yes
x
High chase drive (cars, cyclists, joggers)
Low
Recall when off the lead
Immediate
x
High
x
Poor
x
x
High
x
Totals
0
2
6
No
20
20
Never
48

35. Section Two - Dog to Dog Interactions
Description
0
1
2
3
4
5
x
Sociability with other dogs?
All dogs
Can the dog share kennel space?
Always
x
Never
Will the dog eat safely around other dogs?
Always
x
Never
On lead meetings - calm
Calm
x
Excitable
On lead meetings - vocalisation
Quiet
x
Excessive
On lead meetings - aggression
Never
x
Always
On lead meetings - confident
Confident
Possessive/guarding towards other dogs
Low
Play Style
Calm
No dogs
x
x
High
x
Totals
0
Worried
16 25
Rough
41

36. Section Three - Human Interactions
Description
0
Best
Physical Handling
Excellent
Does the dog initiate contact
Always
Impulse control
Excellent
Retrieving of toys
Always
Relinquishing of Toys
Happy/Eager
Interaction with the handler
Excellent
Possessiveness (Guarding)
Low
Play interaction with the handler
Interactive
Focus on handler with distraction
Excellent
Play Style
Forgiving
1
2
x
5
Worst
Never
x
None
Never
x
x
x
Unwilling
None
x
High
Avoidant
x
x
None
Rough
x
0
4
Impossible
x
Totals
3
4
6
10

37. Section Four - Manageability in Kennels
0
Description
1
2
3
4
5
Reactive entering or leaving kennel?
Low
x
High
Ease to remove the dog from its kennel?
Easy
x
Impossible
Is the dog calm when shut in?
Calm
Can the dog be taken off site safely
Yes
Placing a harness on the dog
Easy
Reactive when dogs pass the kennel
Low
Probability of redirection behaviours
Low
x
High
Placing a muzzle on the dog
Easy
x
Impossible
Risk to unfamiliar staff
Low risk
x
High risk
Reactivity on the lead
Low
Ease of placing a muzzle on
Easy
x
Difficult
Risk to volunteers
Low risk
x
High risk
Does the dog cope with routine change
Copes well
x
Unable
Resistance returning to kennel
Low
Stressed
x
x
Impossible
x
x
High
x
0
3
High
High
x
Totals
No
2
3
28
10
46

38. Section Five - Stress Levels
0
Description
1
2
3
4
5
Is the dog calm in the kennel?
Yes
x
No
Visible signs of stress
Minimal
x
Excessive
Self Mutilation
None
x
Excessive
Stereotypies/OCD’s
None
x
Excessive
Tail chasing/spinning
None
x
Excessive
Vocalisation
None
Does the dog hide away
Never
Does the dog show obsessive behaviours
Never
Sleeping
Normal
Wall bouncing
None
Ability to settle
Easy
Appeasement behaviours
Normal
x
Excessive
Avoidance behaviours
Normal
x
Excessive
Toileting
Normal
x
Abnormal
New environments
Copes well
Time to recover from stressful situation
Immediate
Excessive
x
Always
x
x
Always
No Sleep
x
x
Excessive
Impossible
x
Unable
x
Hours/Days
x
Totals
0
3
6
9
8
0
26

39. Totals
Section Score
Section
0
1
2
3
4
5
48
Home-ability
41
Dog – Dog Interactions
10
Human Interactions
46
Manageability in Kennels
26
Stress Levels
Totals
Complete Total of all Section’s Columns
0
171

40. Observational welfare assessment
• A simple walk around the shelter on a weekly
basis can help identify areas of poor welfare
• For people that work regularly at the shelter
the noise and fights or lack of behaviour
becomes normal
• So education to all staff & volunteers on
normal and abnormal behaviours is essential

41. Can assessing the welfare of
individuals tell us about the shelter?
• 100 dogs
• 15 cases of stereotypy
• 10 cases of shut down behaviour
• 15 cases of veterinary shortfall
• No enrichment

42. Welfare Audit
• Fill in the welfare audit by marking one circle on
each question.
•
•
•
•
Within this welfare audit there are 45 questions.
1 = Above welfare standard
2 = Acceptable welfare standard
3= Below welfare standard

43. • The top mark for this audit would be 45 the
worst would be 135 and an average 90.
Although this audit may give an overall score
rating for the welfare of dogs in the kennels,
care is needed when interpreting these results
as it is possible to get a “pass” of 90 yet many
aspects of the audit may have scored poorly
and some above average. The main use for
this audit tool is to identify areas that could be
improved.

44. Kennel floor space (ref 1)
1. Larger than the dimensions indicated in category 2.
2.Small dogs (less than 12kg (26lbs) – sleeping area not less than 1.1 sq m (12 sq feet), width and length not less than 0.9 m (3 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 3.7 sq m (40 sq feet), width not less than 0.9m (3
feet).
2.Medium dogs (12kg (26lbs) to 30kg (66lbs) – sleeping area not less than 1.4 sq m (16 sq feet), width and length not less than 1.2m (4 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 5.5 sq m (60 sq feet), width not less than 1.2
m (4 feet).
2.Large dogs (more than 30kg (66lbs)) – sleeping area not less than 1.4 sq m (16 sq feet), width and length not less than 1.2 m (4 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 7.4 sq m (80 sq feet), width not less than 1.2 m (4
feet).
3. Smaller than the dimensions indicated in category 2.
Kennel temperature regulation
1. Individually controlled, to change temperatue for individual housed in the kennel
2.Adjustable to control temperature in the block of kennels
3.No ability to regulate temperature in the facility
Material used for kennel
1. un-damaged, Fit for purpose, non porous, easy to clean & maintain
2.Un-damaged, fit for purpose
3.Damaged, dangerous & unable to clean
Kennel drainage
1. Drainage for individual kennels to reduce cross contamination
2.Drainage for the whole block
3.No drainage
Numbers of kennels Per block
1. Below 10
2.Between 10 & 20
3. Above20
Dogs per kennel(size of kennels & dogs dependant)
1. Varied due to size and temperament
2.From 1 to 4 dogs
3. social isolation or above 4 dogs
Toileting options
1. Multiple opportunities to toilet away from the kennel, preference tested
substrate within the kennel
2. Area away from the sleep and feeding area
3. No options to toilet away from sleep area and feeding area
Kennel lighting (Ref 4)
1. Both natural and artificail light, with options to reduce and increase as
required
2.When using artifical light it should closely mirror that of natural light in
both intensity and duration
3.No lighting
Kennel floor
1. Un-damaged, non porous, non slip & comfortable
2.Un-damaged, non porous
3.Damaged, porous & unable to clean
Kennel weather resistance
1. adaptable shelter to meet the needes of individuals
2.Provides shade and shelter from the elements
3.No shelter from the elements
Kennel noise level (Ref 2)
1. Effective sound proofing within the kennel environment and around
the site. Noise levels maintained below 80dB
2. Some sound proofing between the kennels. Noise levels between 80
& 100dB
3. No sound proofing. Noise levels above 100dB
Sleeping options
1. As for 2 but with options for types of bedding and area away from
sources of stress
2. Dry, clean bedding away from the elements.
3. No bedding or wet dirty & exposed to the elements
Kennel orientation
1. Variation of choices for the dog to enable self reguation of
temperature
2. Not exposed to the elements
3. Exposure to the elements without the option to seek shelter

45. Access to water
1. As for 2 with the addition of water presented in a
variety of options as per the individuals needs.
2. Access to clean fresh water.
3. Limited or no access to clean fresh water
Feeding regime
1. As for 2 with the addition to be able to provide chewing
material and variety in the dogs diet as neccessary. More than
once per day.
2. Dogs fed sufficient to ensure good body condition.
3.Insufficient dietry needs met, unsafe feeding regime.
Time away from kennel
1. As for 2 with multiple opportunities to express natural
behaviours and interact with people and other dogs as
appropriate.
2. The opportunity to exercise and express natural
behaviours away from the kennel on a daily basis.
3. No opportunity to express natural behaviours away from
the kennel.
Kennel cleaning regime
1. As for 2 with attention paid to all items in the kennel and ability to
remove dogs from the area being cleaned.
2. Estaablished cleaning regime using appropriate materials that are fit
for purpose resulting in a clean and disinfected kennel.
3. No cleaning regime or incorrect use of materials and equipment.
Behaviour in kennels
1. Calm, relaxed and living mostly without negative emotions.
2. Dogs coping with the environment and able to adapt.
3. Stereotypies, obsessive behaviours and frequent aggressive
responses. Shut down behaviour with no ability to choose a
behaviour
Social interactions (human)
1. Repeated opportunities to interact and play whilst acting out
natural behaviours creating a positive emotional state.
2. Opportunity to interact witht the emphasis on positive
emotions on a daily basis.
3. No opportunities to interact with people or that the
interactions induce a negative emotional state.

46. Kennel temperature regulation
1. Individually controlled, to change temperatue for individual housed in the kennel
2.Adjustable to control temperature in the block of kennels
3.No ability to regulate temperature in the facility
Kenne

47. Each dog is trying to tell us how they feel

48. Are we listening?

49. • Some people say that dogs understand us
better than we understand them?
• This is a difficult subject to cover but vital that
we work together to improve our animals
quality of life wherever they are in the world

50. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg1Y_2AvS3c