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Animal Welfare or Living Conditions

 

Using Stories vs. Using Data to Persuade People

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We hear a lot these days about the power of "telling stories" to persuade people to change their attitudes, to donate, etc. Although I'm a big fan of data and hard numbers, there's good evidence that they do not make compelling outreach material for most audiences. This may be particularly true for animal issues, where the number of animals on farms and in shelters and laboratories is staggeringly high and difficult for many people to comprehend.

The Agriculture & Public Health Gateway

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by Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
A searchable database sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, which provides access to information about both public health and animal agriculture, as well as research describing how these two subjects are related.

Filling the Ark: Animal Welfare in Disasters

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When disasters strike, people are not the only victims. Hurricane Katrina raised public attention about how disasters affect dogs, cats, and other animals considered members of the human family. In this short book, sociologist Leslie Irvine goes beyond Katrina to examine how disasters like oil spills, fires, and other calamities affect various animal populations—on factory farms, in research facilities, and in the wild.

Dirty Pigs are Healthy Pigs

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A study of piglets raised in different environments provides a direct link between "dirty" living and immunity to illness and genetic expression, with researchers concluding that eliminating gut bacteria may reduce allergies and other autoimmune diseases among pigs.

Immigrants, Animals, and the Suppression of Moral Dialogue

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As the immigrant population in the United States grows, cultural practices involving animals are under greater scrutiny; this paper discusses the multicultural interpretations of these practices and the potential conflicts that may arise between cultural and animal advocates.

What Canadians Really Believe

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This survey assesses the beliefs of Canadians on 21 ethical issues (including animal testing and wearing fur), with results demonstrating a significant divide on certain issues by gender and region.

McDonald's Controlled Atmosphere Stunning Feasibility Update Report w/ a Comparative Assessment of Poultry Stunning Technologies

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A report by the McDonalds Corporation on Controlled Atmospheric Stunning (CAS) and electrical stunning concludes that CAS does not offer "significant advantages" over the electrical systems already in use by U.S. suppliers, and that McDonald's will support usage of both CAS and electrical stunning.

HSUS Predicts 10 Million Animals a Year Saved by Downturn in Fur Sales and Public Support

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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates that more than 10 million animals worldwide are saved per year due to changing public opinion about the use of animal fur and the increased use of faux fur and other substitutes.

Upcoming 3rd Wave of HRC's Animal Tracker

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Wave 3 of HRC's Animal Tracker, slated for early next year, will survey a representative sample of adults in the U.S., addressing questions like knowledge of various animal issues, the influence of concern for animals on personal choices, perceived impact of the animal protection movement, and support for the movement's goal of eliminating animal suffering. We'll also be able to compare the results with findings from the baseline survey, which was conducted in early 2008.

"Pain-Free Animals" - A Slope Too Slippery

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Regular readers of this blog know that I am an advocate of in vitro meat and believe it holds the promise to dramatically reduce animal suffering by removing most farm animals from the equation. Another approach would seek to genetically alter animals to remove or limit their ability to experience pain. While laudable in its intent, however, this is a pretty frightening concept, in part because it suggests that animal suffering is only physical in nature, ignoring the mental anguish suffered by animals.


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