Human-Animal Interaction

It is more than just a job; it is a way of life

This report is a summary of the Workshop which took place at Congress 2009 and the questionnaire submitted in preparation. The report covers the emotions raised by people working in the biomedical industry. At Congress 2008 I attended several lectures...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Cruden, J. 2010. It is more than just a job; it is a way of life. Animal Technology and Welfare 9, 7-24.

To squeeze or not to squeeze? A Discussion on LAREF, September, 2009

The discussion was started by the following questions: "Is the squeeze-back mechanism more or less stressful than the pole and collar system for removing a macaque from his cage for an IM (intramuscular) injection?" and "How are stress levels being...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Animal Training, Handling, Human-Animal Interaction, RestraintAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Moreau, E. 2010. To squeeze or not to squeeze? A Discussion on LAREF, September, 2009. Laboratory Primate Newsletter 49(2), 3-4.

Enhanced canine enrichment and its effects on staff morale

The use of dogs in research has been under increasing public scrutiny and criticism over the past several years, and our institution has been no exception. Of particular concern is the use of Class B dogs. In order to investigate...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Animal Training, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Bennett, K. J., Hill, V. A., Brock, K. et al. 2011. Enhanced canine enrichment and its effects on staff morale. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 772 (Abstract #P123).

Canine socialization through the use of playrooms or exercise rooms

Comprehensive enrichment programs for dogs, while not required by regulations, are becoming more common in research facilities. Many institutions are providing chewable enrichment devices and pair or group housing for their canine colonies. Human interaction is a species-appropriate enrichment for...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Andrews-Kelly, G. 2010. Canine socialization through the use of playrooms or exercise rooms. Enrichment Record 5, 7-9.

Caring for nonhuman primates in biomedical research facilities: Scientific, moral and emotional considerations

Animal care for nonhuman primates (NHPs) in biomedical facilities has undergone major changes in the past few decades. Today, most primate facilities have dedicated and highly trained animal care technicians who go to great efforts to ensure the physiological and...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Coleman, K. 2011. Caring for nonhuman primates in biomedical research facilities: Scientific, moral and emotional considerations. American Journal of Primatology 73(3), 220-225.

Human handling promotes compliant behavior in adult laboratory rabbits

Routine laboratory procedures can be stressful for laboratory animals. We wanted to determine whether human handling of adult rabbits could induce a degree of habituation, reducing stress and facilitating research-related manipulation. To this end, adult New Zealand white rabbits were...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Swennes, A. G., Alworth, L. C., Harvey, S. B. et al. 2011. Human handling promotes compliant behavior in adult laboratory rabbits. JAALAS 50(2), 41-45.

Novel canine housing in the United Kingdom: A welfare perspective

Since opening in 2008, a consistent observation has been that the dogs are significantly quieter and easier to handle in their new surroundings in comparison to the old facility. This may be due to specific design features and working practices,...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Housing, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Watts, N., Crimes, S. 2012. Novel canine housing in the United Kingdom: A welfare perspective. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 17(3), 3.

Handling of adolescent rats improves learning and memory and decreases anxiety

Some environmental interventions can result in physiologic and behavioral changes in laboratory animals. In this context, the handling of adolescent or adult rodents has been reported to influence exploratory behavior and emotionality. Here we examined the effects of handling on...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Costa, R., Tamascia, M. L., Nogueira, M. D. et al. 2012. Handling of adolescent rats improves learning and memory and decreases anxiety. JAALAS 51(5), 548-553.

Playful handling by caretakers reduces fear of humans in the laboratory rat

Handling of laboratory rats can increase physiological and emotional stress, leading to a fearful relationship with humans. We hypothesized that the affective quality of handling techniques used during routine care influences the animals' fear of humans. We assessed responses of...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Cloutier, S., Panksepp, J., Newberry, R. C. 2012. Playful handling by caretakers reduces fear of humans in the laboratory rat. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 140(3-4), 161-171.

Playful handling as social enrichment for individually- and group-housed laboratory rats

Social housing is recommended for laboratory rats because they are highly social mammals but research constraints or medical issues often demand individual housing and, when social housing is practiced, it typically involves housing with only one or two conspecifics. We...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Cloutier, S., Baker, C., Wahl, K. et al. 2013. Playful handling as social enrichment for individually- and group-housed laboratory rats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 143(2-4), 85-95.