Research Methodologies

How to Be a Better Animal Advocate

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:30:00 -0800

If you didn't receive our newsletter in your inbox today, here it is! If this is the first time you are seeing this, you may not be a registered user of HumaneSpot.org. If not, register today! Registration is free and comes with added perks, like access to the search feature in our research database and emails tailored to your personal preferences and interests. These useful emails provide updates of all the new research items and blog posts added to our database that address the specific topic(s) that you are interested in.

Reliability of Indicators of Sheep Welfare Assessed by a Group Observation Method

Carol L. Glasser — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

In this study researchers test eight indicators of sheep welfare that do not require people to physically handle sheep. They find that four of the measures--cleanliness of the breech area, lameness, demeanor, and wool loss--were reliable and suggest these findings indicate that the welfare of farmed sheep can be assessed without physical intervention.

Christmas Bird Count--Historical Data

Carol L. Glasser — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

The Christmas Bird Count is thought to be the longest running citizen survey, currently in its 112th year. Each year, between December 14th and January 5th, bird watchers in the US and Canada count birds in their area, recording numbers and species. The Audubon Society takes this data and manages it. This website allows for users to access that data, organizing it by region or species.

The Development and Factor Structure of a Questionnaire Measure of the Strength of Attachment to Pet Dogs

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study describes the development of survey measures to evaluate people's attachment to their dogs. The authors test the scales and find that they are a reliable measure of degree of closeness to a companion animal, caring for and protecting a companion, and as a base measure of emotional comfort and well-being generally.

Assessing the Use of Chimpanzees in Research

Jill Howard Church — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

A report recently issued by the national Institute of Medicine is resulting in major changes in whether and how chimpanzees are used for research in the United States (one of only two countries in the world that permit the use of chimps at all).

Stray Cats in Auckland, New Zealand: Discovering Geographic Information for Exploratory Spatial Analysis

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

Researchers combined geographic information systems (GIS) technology and methods with data from local shelters about stray cat pick-ups to determine where large populations of stray cats live in Auckland, New Zealand. The areas with the highest density of stray cats were in Southern Auckland.

Making Superheroes out of Heroes

Che Green — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:17:29 -0800

2012 is nearly upon us, and everyone at the Humane Research Council would like to take a moment to thank our donors, volunteers, and clients, as well as everyone who uses our resources to help animals. With your support, in 2011 HRC made huge strides toward our mission of empowering animal advocates to use research to be more effective and help more animals.

Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Assessing the Necessity

Carol L. Glasser — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:45:00 -0800

This report was compiled for the National Institutes of Heath to assess the need for the use of chimpanzees in medical and scientific research. The committee that compiled the report did not suggest banning the use of chimpanzees, though they did determine that most current biomedical research use of chimpanzees is not necessary. The report presents a set of criteria to evaluate the necessity of using chimpanzees in future research.

Her Last Days

HRC Admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

It was her last three days. She woke up, alone in her room, and looked out onto the world. She had spent her days trying to sit up and look happy just in case someone looked through the window long enough to catch her eye. But they never did. She’d go to sleep, wake up, and do it again. It was now down to her last few days. Time was running out. After three more days, she would be dead.

Associations Between Variables of Routine Herd Data and Dairy Cattle Welfare Indicators

Carol L. Glasser — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

With an interest in identifying empirical measures for the welfare of farm animals that will not require in-person assessments, the authors of this study examine which routinely collected herd data variables are correlated with measures of animal welfare.