Human-animal relationship: Affection for animals; giving animal names; touching animals; alleviating fear of humans (2007)

LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum]

Abstract

Relationships that develop between facility personnel and laboratory animals may result in an overall reduction in stress for the animals, and they may serve to buffer the potential stress of certain experimental situations. Administrators of animal research, testing, and teaching programs should look for opportunities to encourage the development and maintenance of bonds between personnel and laboratory animals, beginning with the initial employee interview. Researchers must continue to question the barriers that have traditionally been erected against forming human-animal bonds in the name of objectivity and to investigate seriously the ways in which fostering the formation of such close relationships can promote animal welfare without compromising the scientific respectability of research.Naming animals helps to correctly and quickly recognize individuals. Naming the animals helps me realize that I am working with sentient beings who deserve my consideration of their well-being. As a clinical veterinarian, I observed that caregivers became markedly more concerned for and interested in the animals in their charge when the ID number tags on the cages were replaced with name tags. I guess, we can all relate much better to names than to numbers, and we tend to treat named versus numbered animals accordingly. The naming of animals in research labs could serve as a safeguard for optimal animal care. An affectionate relationship based on mutual trust often makes it possible to touch or groom an animal. Certain postures and gestures indicate whether an animal likes to be touched.The fear of humans can be alleviated by visiting animals with good intentions on a regular basis.