General Animal Protection

This short summary of USDA data on per capita meat consumption shows a slight reduction in overall meat consumption in the US in 2010, compared to the previous year.

This study examines the level of adolescents' attachment to companion animals and the effects of living with companion animals on self-rated health. Over 8,000 Swedish teens were surveyed about their health, activities and companion animals. Overall, those with dogs (male and female) and females with horses indicated the highest levels of attachment to their companion animals. Those without companion animals had higher levels of physical activity than those with companion animals. Those with companion animals who reported the highest levels of health, also attributed the most importance to their animal(s).

According to this survey, young adults are interested in learning more about various cuts of meat and how to prepare it. This survey is of interest to animal advocates as it addresses how young adults get most of their information about meat and their level of knowledge about food preparation.

Researchers interviewed 26 women who experienced intimate partner violence while living with companion animals. All of them indicated their companion animal had been verbally or physically assaulted by their partner and most indicated they were unwilling to discuss this with the animal's vet. Of households with multiple animals, all respondents indicated that a specific animal was targeted for the majority of the abuse; the animal was most often a dog. One-quarter of the respondents indicated that their animals died as a result of the abuse and in one-third of the cases, the women were told by the violent partner if she left her companion animal would be harmed or killed.

This study examines the effect of the Burmese python in the Everglades National Park. Burmese pythons are native to Asia but have proliferated in Florida's Everglades due to the release of pythons kept as pets. Researchers find that they have depleted and almost eradicated species of rabbits, foxes, bobcats and opossums in sections of the park.

Legislation was introduced to the US congress in January 2012 that would require egg producers to switch from conventional cages to "enriched cages." Enriched cages refer to "colony housing," which would need to be phased in over 15 to 18 years. Sponsorship of the survey and the question wording was not made publicly available.

This survey of adults in Victoria, Australia examined attitudes toward keeping cats indoors. Those who live with cats were also asked if they keep their cats indoors and why. The authors find that most support some degree of cat containment, though the motivations for this differ between those who live with cats and those who do not.

This article summarizes findings from a survey of animal shelter and rescue workers. The survey, designed and administered by HRC, was commissioned by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Respondents were asked about various animal protection issues and their use of HSUS resources.