Human-Animal Interaction

Using volunteers to promote behavioral enrichment at zoos

Limited staff and limited resources can negatively impact the ability to provide ongoing enrichment. Our goal is to provide novelty, opportunity and choice for every zoo animal, every day. We encourage other zoos to look into ways to [also] incorporate...

Year Published: 1998Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Houts, L. 1998. Using volunteers to promote behavioral enrichment at zoos. Animal Keepers' Forum 25(5), 12-13.

Comparing animal training to non-training human interaction as environmental enrichment for chimpanzees

Training increased prosocial behavior .

Year Published: 1999Topics: Animal Training, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Chimpanzee, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bloomsmith, M. A., Baker, K. C., Ross, S. K. et al. 1999. Comparing animal training to non-training human interaction as environmental enrichment for chimpanzees. American Journal of Primatology 49, 35-36 (Abstract).

A novel approach for addressing enrichment and exercise for dogs in a reaching institution

An IACUC approved, successfully tested [with four beagle dogs] program to foster positive human-animal interactions [a retirement home was visited on a regular basis] and exercise [via preparatory training program] is described.

Year Published: 2001Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Hammer, J. G. 2001. A novel approach for addressing enrichment and exercise for dogs in a reaching institution. Lab Animal 30(7), 26-29.

Tickling induces reward in adolescent rats

In adolescent rats, 50-kHz vocalizations are most evident during tickling and rough-and-tumble play. The following experiments evaluated whether 50-kHz vocalizations reflect positive social affect by determining (1) if tickling is a rewarding event, (2) if social or isolate housing conditions...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Burgdorf, J., Panksepp, J. 2001. Tickling induces reward in adolescent rats. Physiology and Behavior 72, 167-173.

Enrichment: the human touch

The importance of human interactions are emphasized.

Year Published: 2001Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Rice, T. R. 2001. Enrichment: the human touch. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 6(3), 2.

Development of the human-research animal bond and its impact on animal well-being

The various roots of human-animal bonding in the research laboratory setting are reviewed. The development of these relationships is enriching to both personnel and animals inasmuch as people who care about their animals are committed to promoting and ensuring the...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Bayne, K. 2002. Development of the human-research animal bond and its impact on animal well-being. ILAR Journal 43(1), 4-9.

Human-animal bonds in the laboratory: How animal behavior affects the perspectives of caregivers

People are attracted by the animals to become caregivers in laboratories, which points to the importance of providing caregivers opportunities for rewarding interactions with the animals. Opportunities that enhance the comfort of the animals and increase the performance of a...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Chang, F. T., Hart, L. A. 2002. Human-animal bonds in the laboratory: How animal behavior affects the perspectives of caregivers. ILAR Journal 43(1), 10-18.

Ethical aspects of relationships between humans and research animals

More often than not, moral dilemmas are the result of good people trying to do the right thing when the right thing is unclear [p. 29]. I have spoken with some animal care staff who have complained about investigators who...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Herzog, H. 2002. Ethical aspects of relationships between humans and research animals. ILAR Journal 43(1), 27-32.

Ethical implications of the human-animal bond

Researchers must continue to question the barriers that have traditionally been erected against forming HABs [human-animal bonds] in the name of objectivity and to investigate seriously the ways in which fostering the formation of HABs can promote animal welfare without...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Russow, L.-M. 2002. Ethical implications of the human-animal bond. ILAR Journal 43(1), 33-37.

Prediction and preparation: Pavlovian implications of research animals discriminating among humans

The presence of humans as possible confounding variables is discussed. Human subjects are rarely if ever passive sources of data in studies involving animals.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Davis, H. 2002. Prediction and preparation: Pavlovian implications of research animals discriminating among humans. ILAR Journal 43(1), 19-26.