Entertainment Animals

Coming Soon: Year Five of HRC's Animal Tracker

HRC Admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

We’re getting ready to launch year five of HRC’s Animal Tracker annual survey of the public opinions and behavior of adults in the U.S. This year’s survey, which will field in March, addresses opinions toward various social movements, who people trust to provide information about animal welfare, opinions about the adequacy of animal protection laws, attitudes toward the importance of animal welfare in various situations, and the frequency with which people discuss animal protection issues. We asked the exact same questions in 2008 and 2009 and will be able to analyze changes over time. When the results are available in April, we’ll also refresh the Animal Tracker graphing tool so that the results will be easy to access and interpret.

Humane State Rankings 2011

Carol L. Glasser — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This report is the Humane Society of the United States' ranking of each US state based on laws addressing animal protection. The report is user friendly--presented as an interactive map, a listing of each state by ranking, as well as short individual reports for each state that provides detail on which laws exists in that state.

2011 U.S. Animal Protection Laws Rankings

Carol L. Glasser — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

This report ranks each U.S. state according to its animal cruelty laws. This ranking is released by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) on an annual basis. This year the five states with the best animal protection laws are: Illinois, Maine. Michigan, Oregon, and California. The worst are: South Dakota, Iowa, Idaho, North Dakota, and Kentucky.

Visitor Behavior in Zoos: A Review

Carol L. Glasser — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:15:21 -0800

This study is a review of studies that evaluate the behavior, personality, and characteristics of zoo visitors. The author argues zoos are a good place for researchers to observe human-animal interactions and suggests ways to make this field of study more cohesive.

Use of ‘‘Entertainment’’ Chimpanzees in Commercials Distorts Public Perception Regarding Their Conservation Status

Carol L. Glasser — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:45:00 -0800

Researchers investigated whether the way that chimpanzees are portrayed in the media effects the accuracy of people's knowledge about the species. They found that people's understanding of the animal is strongly influenced by the how the media depicts chimpanzees. Public service announcements about chimpanzee conservation increased accurate knowledge about the endangered status of the animal and their inability to be good pets, but commercials using chimpanzees as actors decreased understanding that these animals are endangered and increased the perception that they could be good pets.

Book Review - Animal Rights: What Everyone Needs to Know

Carol L. Glasser — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:45:00 -0700

This book review, by Michael-John Turp, outlines and discusses the book "Animal Rights: What Everyone Needs to Know," by Paul Waldau, former director of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dolphin-Human Interaction Programs: Policies, Problems And Alternatives

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:45:00 -0700

This policy paper summarizes the main policies in the U.S. that effect the welfare of dolphins in captivity. The paper also discusses the various ways that people use dolphins for entertainment. The paper concludes with recommendations to improve the rights and welfare of dolphins in the U.S.

Elephants in Circuses: Analysis of Practice, Policy, and Future

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 08:45:00 -0700

This policy paper reviews literature addressing the well-being of elephants in captivity and makes recommendations for changes. The paper provides a list of current laws regulating elephants in captivity, by state, as well as an extensive list of studies addressing the issue. Overall, the paper reports that current laws are inadequate for protecting elephants in captivity.

Releasing Wild Success

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:45:00 -0700

This report details the opinions and behaviors of zoo-goers based on a survey of 505 U.S. adults who visited zoo attractions in 2011.

The Moral and Conceptual Universe of Cockfighters: Symbolism and Rationalization

Carol L. Glasser — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:45:00 -0700

For this study, a researcher observed cockfights to investigate the justifications cockfighters use for participating in the activity. The researcher found that cockfighters value tradition, consider the activity a symbolic link to a "mythic and heroic past," and use "pseudo-psychological" justifications for their participation, such as that the birds do not feel pain.