Species of all Generations

One of the bravest little guineapigs had undergone a full recovery. When Sandy became stressed out in his environment among other males, lowering his stress response to cope and was at risk of parasite infestation. In December, he was removed to a single home environment as a result of others picking on him. Sandy had healed from those injuries but it did not reduce the severity of his susceptibility to mites.

As January came, symptoms decided to show as Sandy was not coping or responding to the normal treatment at home. After a few weeks, symptoms like hair loss, irritable and flakey skin, made Sandy feel uncomfortable and restless. Even with weekly preventable treatments (Figure 1.) of mites and mange did not help as he was already stressed out to the max. If your little one has already gotten to this stage, seeking veterinary help would be advised as there is a treatment to a parasite infestation problem!

Treatment requires weekly injections at the right dose for the weight of the animal. Giving ivermectin to guineapigs with mites is a medication to cure parasite infestations for a range of little critters. It could also be a cure against head lice, scabies, river blindness, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, and lymphatic filariasis. It is applied to the skin for external infestations via a needle to break the cycle of mites. After the first injection, it takes 7-10 days before the irritation will cease and the guineapig will start to feel more comfortable with the remaining injections for the month.

The concept of animal welfare is based on a range of physiological and behavioural responses that assist them in coping with environment conditions (Broom, 1986). It is the result of species adapting in response to the functioning of its body, from repairing systems, immunological defences, physiological and behavioural stress responses. It is the result of animals evolving such a diverse system where specific receptors detect damaging stimuli (Rutherford, 2002). However, if an animal’s stress response attempts to cope but fails to adapt, homeostasis then fails as a result of injuries, suffering, diseases and death (Hemsworth, 2003).

An individual animal’s well-being is influenced by every event that occurs in an animal’s life from birth to death. Therefore the nutrition, genetics and the nature of species contribute to understanding welfare. While its behaviour is the key to how well an animal performs with regards to attempts of coping within its environment (Broom, 1994). To the extent of succeeding attempts at coping within a sub-optimal environment can lack biological costs to the animal through deteriorating, growth efficiency, reproductive failure, poor health and injuries (Hemsworth, 1998). There is more to behaviour, often overlooked by affective states such as feelings and consciousness. Yes, I believe and agree that animals have a state they are in mental, physical and emotional well-being. The welfare of an animal can be assessed in relation to the 5 FREEDOMS, however, the measures between each species differ in behavioural responses and how they respond to certain stressors (Webster, 2005). An observational study is an indicator of measuring their natural behaviours and anything abnormal, as a result of restricting one’s ability could lead to negative welfare states.

1. Barnett, L. and Hemsworth, H. (2009). Welfare Monitoring Schemes: Using Research to safeguard welfare of animals on the farm. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, /2:114-131 =
2. Hemsworth, P. H. (2007). There is more to welfare assessment than behaviour. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Veterinary Association Conference.

Safeguarding welfare into the best possible practice can be achieved by education and training. Through implementing the training by consistently keeping welfare practices regulated, legislations updated and improved for generations to come. Legislation and code of practice keep things in place for further research and measures applied. To ensure the welfare of an animal is positive, we have to keep in mind of what is acceptable and not acceptable. A procedure is implemented to allow the law to work as a regulation. It is regularly reviewed for new knowledge to be applied to the needs of animals and new developments in the way we use and care for animals (Hemsworth, 2002).

The main laws that affect welfare of animals, apply to the use of animals in educational programs for teaching and researching purposes, all stakeholders are to comply with:

• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1975
• Animal Research Act
• State and territory Acts (one for each state)
• Veterinary Surgeon’s Act
• Poisons and therapeutic goods Act

We can respect the animals’ needs and prevent suffering through monitoring the welfare in ‘Quality Assurance programs’ (More, 2017). In Australia, it is established through a range of institutions funding for public and private sectors under the legislation acts for each state and territory. It is important to safeguard animal welfare to the best of our knowledge and attitudes toward animals!

1. Barnett, L. and Hemsworth, H. (2009). Welfare Monitoring Schemes: Using Research to safeguard welfare of animals on the farm. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, /2:114-131
2. More, S.J., Hanlon, A., Marchewka, J., Boyle, L. (2017) Private Animal Health and Welfare Standards in quality assurance programmes: a review and proposed framework for critical evaluation. Veterinary Record180, 612

Sheltering animals in an overcrowded place is a form of neglect. Animals need to be provided with sufficient space, enrichment and to have some level of association with its own kind (Webster, 2005). Freedom to express themselves naturally without feeling confined and deprived of the environment. Overpopulated animal species can lead difficult lives with limited resources (Maier, 2018). Due to the competition from the number of animals, the smaller and weaker ones will suffer. It is devastating to see the effect of how animals cope if all needs are not being met.

An example at Kelly’s Haven for Friends Animal Rescue was reported by ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), removed over 200 animals from the property. The species overpopulated were dogs, cats, birds and farm animals including horses and goats. It resulted in individuals scraping for food and wandering into unnatural habitats. They were left deprived as a result of lack of food from competition (Maier, 2018), pushing the smaller animals aside and forced to live on the streets.

The more you have in a housing system, the greater the chances of animals being susceptible to diseases. It can upset the balance and harm fragile species, risking the spread of diseases through those who are not spayed and are breeding (Maier, 2018). Concluding that the states of animals were poorly looked after with inadequate feed, spatial constraints and physiologically creating stress on the animal of poor living conditions.

1. ASPCA transports more than 200 animals from the overcrowded animal rescue in Fulton County, N.Y. (2011). Targeted News Service Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.une.edu.au/docview/878632737?accountid=17227

2. Maier, C. (2018). The effects of Animal Overpopulation. Sciencing Committee

3. Mellor, J. (2016). Updating Animal Welfare Thinking: Moving beyond the “five freedoms” towards a “life worth living”. Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, Massey University, New Zealand

Stereotypies is the result of poor enrichment, suggesting that species are barely coping with what is provided for them on captive grounds, including domestic pets with little or no stimulation. It can arise from fear, boredom, reduced social activity with its own species and any form of abnormal behaviour with no goal or function. It is the cause that suppresses cognitive functioning and increases stereotypes (Mellen, 1997). A major welfare concern is that lions belong to a social group known as pride, containing up to 15 lions (Youldon, 2012). It states that when the welfare of the psychological and physiological needs of the animal are not being met (Mason, 2006), their behaviour is altered as a way to cope.

A common example as described by the above image is species differences occurring in the pacing or swaying stereotypical caged carnivores (Clubb and Mason, 2003). In some cases, stereotypes are not bad, as not all stress is bad or is it? The welfare of animal impacts on the enclosure size and housing conditions that prevent species-typical natural behaviours. However, it can affect the physiological well-being where the animal is prolonged and becomes chronically stressed (Clubb, 2007). To reduce the increased chances of stereotypes in a suboptimal environment of low stress. Information needs to be gathered about the natural history, ecology, habitat, social and feeding behaviour. The environmental variables to consider is a husbandry routine, enclosure design, diet, enrichment and training, keeper and visitor interaction are all factors to measure. A good welfare environment will induce abnormal, repetitive stereotypes by recalling attempts to perform natural activities (Clubb and Mason, 2003), while for others it may cause a disruption to the brain development leading to behaviour inabilities.

1. Mason, J. (2010). Species differences in responses to captivity: stress, welfare and the comparative method. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, Vol.25, No.12, p.714
2. Mellen, J.D., Hayes, M., and Sheperdson, D. (1998) Captive environments for small felids. In: Sheperdson D, Mellen JD, and Hutchins M, editors. Second Nature Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. pp. 184–201. _
3. Youldon, D. (2012). Lion behaviour explained: it’s all about territory. Getaway, Nature and Conservation

“Birds are among 95% of the warm-blooded animals being used in invasive research, suffering miserably each year in government, universities, laboratories and those considered (chickens, turkeys, ducks and pigeons) are being used in agricultural research globally (Hedye, 2002).”

I don’t know if I’m with or against work being done on animals. Under regulations, if the experimental design has a good proposal with a specific framework for gaining relevant outcomes. It is important to understand the nature of work being done under the legislation acts. There is list of experiments with potentials to safeguarding the welfare of animals into the best possible practice. While birds are being held at their own life, it is important to maximise pleasures and minimise pain during the procedures (Jeremy Bentham). Any suffering should be taken into account whatever the species is, addressed and regulated by law of the Animal Welfare Act 1974 (Australia).

The use of experiments of birds and chickens are modelled for biomedical research and agricultural purposes, include:

As described by some of the biomedical research experiments, I do not agree we should be doing experiments to improve human development. Overall, it still brings us back to Tom Regan’s conclusion about using them as a resource especially in the agricultural farming goods. It is limiting the behaviours of birds and chickens from their natural lives. Recognising if an animal is suffering objectively can indicate several things through assessing its behaviour, so that the welfare of animal can be improved. Using experimental tests will allow us to observe the animal in ways that preferences matter to them (Kilgour, 1991), as a result of enhancing the ‘quality of life’ for the future.

1. Dawkins, M. (2008) The science of animal suffering. Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK
2. Davis, K. (2003) The experimental use of chickens and other birds in biomedical and agricultural research. United Poultry Concerns, NEAVS
3. Regan, T. (2004) The Case for Animal Rights. University of Carolina

Tom Regan argues a great point, about why worry about loneliness, their pain and death if animals are existing for us. How an animals benefits us to some level, is fundamentally wrong in how the system allows us to view animals as resources.

Animals are not human properties, to consider an example used in sport, I also disagree. Just because the animal is prepared to do what we ask, shouldn’t we think about asking the animal? They may not communicate the same language as us, humans, but surely we have to acknowledge their feelings and set some limits as to how we approach animals judging on their behaviour. The association of human gambling on horses, greyhounds, bull fighting, etc is unethical. What are we gaining from it? Enjoyment followed by addictions, getting rowdy with friends or family. I believe it’s unacceptable to bet on any sentient beings unless you have agreed with the one competing. Factors to consider in sporting events are associated with injuries, pain suffering, and even deaths at the risk of stressing the animal out. As a result of being traumatised, I don’t see it ending well.

Philosophy of animal rights, it is wrong to treat weaker humans on the side for it is not rational to discriminate against non-human animals. “Tom Regan” states that it is wrong to treat human beings that are lacking intelligence, as it is also wrong to treat animals as tools for our use. I agree, with respect to humans, animals have the same right as us. If we can feel then that makes us living!

1. Regan, T. (2004) The Case for Animal Rights. University of California Press

Life comes in all forms on nature, it is the true experience that exists for our physical and mental well-being, and mental states.

A point I have considered from a moral philosopher D.G. Ritchie, ‘what if’ predators don’t need to eat, but they must eat prey to survive the long race. Then perhaps we should ensure they don’t kill when absolutely not necessary, and when necessary they should kill quickly and efficiently?’

The point is we all have a right to live and to a certain capacity of our well-being, at a cost of our own feelings, from contentment to some degree of suffering, but to what extent?

The welfare of a living being exists on many levels, to express their natural behaviour according to what they need and want (Dawkins, 2011). It’s complexity of life has been described as the driving force of the evolution consciousness. Our experience is monitored through our own memories. The behaviour is determined from a species level and through our experiences to acquire the basic needs of life. As seen by the level of interaction of foxes in the above picture, it is also important to understand their natural history and how a particular species behaves and adapt in life. Behaviour has the advantage of being studied unlike emotions, which can shed light onto situations from the perspective of an animal. They can respond to its environment through a lead of pleasant or unpleasant activities, such as escaping from predator or approaching leader as a subordinate of the group (Rushen, 1991). Understanding the physiology of animals emotion will never be clear of knowing what their autonomic responses are in nature (Jenkins, 1996).

While the physiological measures may be difficult to interpret, it is still important to respect nature and its evolutionary balance. It certainly implies that whoever contracts into the moral community, can serve their own purpose to survive from the level of subjective experience (Dawkins, 2011). Animals do have a consciousness here on earth, by means of suffering from food, water and pain, and the freedom to natural behaviours. Animals have a right to good health for as long as they live. How do we seek to help individual species, if we are still understanding our own conscious awareness of life around us?

1. Dawkins, M (2011) A users guide to animal welfare science. Department of Zoology, Oxford, UK