COMPANION ANINAL WELFARE

1. COMPANION ANINAL WELFARE

2. Approx. 150-160 million pets in the U.S. Approx. 65% of households have a pet

3. 65 million owned dogs [39 % of households] 78 million owned cats [34 % of households] [Feral? 20-50 million?] 12 million owned birds [7 million households]

4. Americans spent over $9 billion on dog food 2003 $36 billion on pet products in 2004 $3.8 billion on just cat food in 1995

5. Pet trade results in the death of from 2.1 million (Patronek) to up to 9.1 million dogs every year (Amer Humane Assoc.)

6. and 5.7 to 9.5 million cats (AHA) Note this is in shelters, and does not include strays, feral cats, those killed privately.

7. Patronek and Glickman ~ Shelters in Iowa and Washington took in 7.6% of dog population each year

8. Patronek and Glickman ~ Shelters in Iowa and Washington 7.6% of dog population each year ~ Approx. half euthanized, or 4% of the total population

9. Patronek and Glickman ~ Shelters in Iowa and Washington 7.6% of dog population each year ~ Approx. half euthanized, or 4% of the pop. ~ Generalizing to entire country, estimate = 2.1 million dogs euthanized each year.

10. Dane County Humane Society 2004* Incoming Reclaimed Adopted Euth Dogs 1,840 688 716 382 Cats 3,604 209 2,207 1,052 Other 1,613 12 675 362 Canine numbers are almost exact replicate of 1996 Feline numbers higher in 2004 (31 % increase) than ‘96 * numbers don’t all total correctly

11. In large cities (Los Angles for ex), not uncommon for 150/day to be killed. (Compare these numbers with 100,000 dogs used in research every year.) HISTORICAL TREND: (ASPCA) 1895 96% dogs killed 95 % cats killed 1994 74 % dogs killed 78% cats killed

12. No-Kill Shelters ~ No information how many ~ No information how many dogs ~ Quality of life variable ~ Disagreement in the field about their practicality and ethics

13. Where are these animals from? Arkov 1983 Most common age of surrender = adolescence Inverse correlation between price and surrender. Most commonly first obtained from friend or shelter

14. REASONS FOR SURRENDER • (Salman et al 2000; pers comm) • DOGS • Behavioral problems • “Moving” • Too much time or money • CATS • Litter box problems • Allergies • Behavioral problems • Moving/Other cat

15. How prevent abandonment of pets?

16. I. AVOID IMPULSE BUYING (and responding to supernormal sign stimuli)

18. II. OBTAIN FROM: 1. Responsible breeder 2. Breed Rescue Group 3. Shelter

19. RESPONSIBLE BREEDEER DEFINED: ~ Selection criteria = health, disposition > looks, status ~ Raises pups and maintains adults in enriched, humane environment ~ Takes full responsibility for pups for their lifetime (will take back at any age for any reason)

20. PUPPY MILLS ~ Numbers unknown, thousands exist ~ Covered by AWA, but little enforcement; conditions often inhumane ~ Worst states = Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania ~ Most “AKC registered” ~ Sold in pet stores, through ‘brokers’

23. III. AVOID ‘DEALERS’ & PET STORES

24. IV. DON’T BREED FOR FUN

25. V. CHOOSE FOR HEALTH & BEHAVIOR, NOT LOOKS

26. Buy breeds appropriate to your lifestyle

27. Border Collie Obsessive Tulip Pip Border Collie Smart (really smart) Lassie Luke Border Collie Needs job Hours of exercise Reactive Great Pyrenees Barks at night “Dis-a-pyr”

29. VI. BREED FOR HEALTH

30. Breeding for Novelty Scottish Fold Sphynx

31. Breeding for Size Neopolitan Mastiff [WHaM] South African Boerboel 120 - 170 lbs

32. Breeding for Extreme Physical Characteristics German Shepherd Dog

33. Corgi cross Bassett Achondroplasia Improper development of cartilage at the ends of the long bones - a form of dwarfism

34. Neopolitan Mastiff Pekinese Brachycephalia Mutation that leads to shortened muzzle and broad head

35. VII. BREED (and select) FOR GOOD DISPOSITIONS

39. DEFINITION OF BREED: ~ Changes over time, in different locations. CURRENT IN US: Genetic basis - isolated population representing subset of possible genetic variability in the species. HISTORICALLY, AND ELSEWHERE Phenotypic basis OR location-based