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Welcome to HumaneSpot.org!


HumaneSpot.org, from the Humane Research Council, is a unique (and entirely FREE) research website tailored to the needs of animal and environmental advocates. Please register here to to explore our comprehensive public opinion database.

Why Register with HumaneSpot.org?

We all can do a better job of evaluating our programs and materials. Fortunately, we have an experienced, professional, and affordable organization to handle that part of our work -- the Humane Research Council.

Kim Sturla, Founder and Executive Director
Animal Place and the Rescue Ranch

New from HumaneSpot.org and HRC:

The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression

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Public attitudes toward bulldog-type dogs have changed significantly across the U.S. over the past few decades. This paper examines the validity of the theory that certain dog breeds are inherently more dangerous and aggressive than others, and if pit bull-type dogs are actually become more dangerous than they were a century ago by examining actual cases of dog attacks during the last 150 years.

Food Recalls, Awareness, and Consumer Attitudes

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The recent egg and beef recalls have people discussing food safety over the water-cooler this month. While they have garnered a lot of media attention due to the amount of meat and eggs contaminated, food recalls are not uncommon. Since the beginning of 2010 the USDA alone (the FDA and CDC also manage food recalls) has or is currently managing 56 food recalls. People are always at risk of food contamination, but are they aware of it? And when recalls highlight food safety issues, does it change individuals' consumptive behaviors?

Project Snapshot: Consumers Aware of and Concerned About "Factory Farming"

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In a national sample of 1,000 U.S. adults, the Beef Checkoff program found that the number of people who are familiar with the term "factory farming" has increased by 15% since 2008. The proportion of respondents associating factory farming with chickens has risen significantly since 2008, although the association with cows has been more stable.

HRC’s Free Research Primer Series

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When fellow animal advocates ask me questions about research on animal protection issues, I typically ask them if they have looked at our research primers. In response, I usually hear "Research what? Where?" I am guessing that many advocates, even those of you who follow our work, are not aware of the full wealth of free data we have available. Here I want to highlight HRC's research primers, since they are a free resource that can help all advocates better understand the issues on which they are working. So let me tell you a little about them.

Declining Orangutan Encounter Rates from Wallace to Present Suggest the Species was Once More Abundant

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A study of Bornean orangutan encounters with humans over the past 150 years suggests that the population of orangutans has declined over time. Potential explanations for the loss include habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and disease, all of which are examined in this paper.

Advocacy and the Internet (Part 4 of 4)

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The internet significantly influences the tactics that animal protection organizations use and the ways in which those tactics are implemented. The internet is now a mainstream part of American life, with 71% of U.S. adults accessing it on a daily basis. Social networking sites like Facebook, online petitions that automatically generate letters for campaigns, and speedy access to a large number of people via email lists are all tools unique to the internet. For animal advocates who are typically working on a shoestring budget, the internet helps level the playing field.

Presentation for the American Dairy Science Association, et al 2010 Joint Annual Meeting

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This presentation by Oklahoma State University Professor Bailey Norwood examines consumer purchasing decisions with respect to animal welfare by studying how consumers behaved during an egg and pork auction experiment featuring items from different types of farms, including cage-free and pasture systems.


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