Animal Welfare Notes

ANIMAL WELFARE,
ETHICS AND LAW

DR. SAKWA KAMAMA
ANIMAL WELFARE
INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL WELFARE
cont’….
• Animal welfare
- refers to the quality of life experienced by an animal and encompasses
how well the animal is coping with current situation and surroundings.
-Or the ability of an animal to interact comfortably with its environment,
resulting in satisfaction of both its physical and mental states
-Or the combined state of the animal's mind and body, and the extent to
which its nature is satisfied“
• Welfare
-A measure of how an animal is affected by different situations and
environment. It always maintain the focus on “the animal’s point of view”
cont’….
• “Welfare defines the state of an animal as regards its attempts to
cope with its environment.” (Fraser & Broom, 1990)
• Coping means the animal’s ability to use its functioning biological
systems in dealing with the prevailing stressful environmental
conditions
Welfare ethics
-is the moral principles that concerns how humans should treat
animals.
-anthropomorphism plays a key role
cont’….
Welfare law
-Rules that concern how humans must treat animals by giving
guidelines required/enforced.
One Welfare
- Is the concept that animal welfare depends on and influences human
welfare and environmental sustainability .
- it considers mental health as well as physical health and is thus an
extension of the One Health concept
cont’….
History-Animal welfare as an informal discipline
• originated from different religious ancestors through ages of
civilization.
• Ancestors held beliefs in protection and care of animals at all times,
including at slaughter.
Animal welfare in practice
• Began in 1822 when Richard Martin, a British member of
Parliament proposed a bill through parliament that sought to offer
protection to cattle, horses and sheep from cruelty.
cont’….
• 1824, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA), world’s first animal welfare organization was formed.
• Later in 1840, it became the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
• RSPCA recruited and trained inspectors
• With responsibilities to identify abuses against animals, gather evidence
and report to the authorities.
• Similar groups in latter years have been formed in Europe, America
and several other countries in the world, in Kenya we have KSPCA in
Karen
cont’….
Animal welfare as a “formal discipline in Kenya”
• Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) was formed in
1925
• Prevention of cruelty to animals- CAP 360
• NGOs advancing animal welfare
• Animal Welfare Action Kenya-AWAKE
• Reforms
• -Revision of CAP 360
• Formal training adopted in universities
• Inclusion into farming practices- organic farming
Animal welfare concepts
• The assessment of animal welfare is
highly influenced by the definition
criteria adopted:
Physical 1. Coping approach/Physical status
Mental
(fitness)
• Biological indicators including production
2. Feeling approach/ Mental status
Naturalness • Positive and negative emotional states
3. Living approach- Naturalness
4. Fit and feeling good/five freedoms-
utilizes all of above
Interaction of the three frameworks
Natural
Behaviour
Physical Mental
Fitness status
Fit & Feeling Good

INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL WELFARE cont’….
Coping approach/physical status
• “Welfare defines the state of an animal as regards its attempts to cope
with its environment.” (Fraser & Broom, 1990)
• Coping means the animal’s ability to use its functioning biological
systems in dealing with the prevailing stressful environmental conditions
Feeling approach/mental status
• This approach suggests that animal welfare solely depends on the
animal’s mental state and feelings
• Feelings are associated with the sensory system which makes the animal
aware or conscious of its environment
Feeling approach/mental status
• This approach suggests that animal welfare solely depends on the
animal’s mental state and feelings
• Feelings are associated with the sensory system which makes the animal
aware or conscious of its environment
Naturalistic approach/naturalness
• This approach supports the notion that animals fair best if allowed to live
naturally and to freely express their full range of behaviours
• It combines both good and poor welfare factors.
• E.g. factors like predation and harsh climatic conditions under a natural wild
environment can be argued as poor /good animal welfare
• Animals in unnatural environment e.g birds in a battery
system are prevented from expressing their natural behaviour
but live and produce in a stressful environment have poor
welfare
• Animal freedoms
1. Freedom from hunger or thirst
• availed through provision of ready access to water and a diet
to maintain health and vigour.
2. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
• availed through disease prevention or treatment.
cont’….
3. Freedom from fear and distress
• availed through avoidance of conditions which cause mental suffering.
4. Freedom to indulge in normal behaviour patterns
• availed through provision of sufficient space and adequate facilities.
5. Freedom from thermal or physical discomfort
• availed through provision of a suitable environment.
PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL
WELFARE
Dr. Sakwa Kamama
PRINCIPLES OF ANIMAL WELFARE
DEF.
- are set of moral values that establishes the framework for expected
behavior and decision-making in animal welfare.
These principles are:
1. That there is a critical relationship between animal health and animal
welfare.
2. That there are five internationally recognized animal freedoms that
provide valuable guidance in animal welfare.
• freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition;
• freedom from fear and distress;
• freedom from physical and thermal discomfort;
• freedom from pain, injury and disease;
• freedom to express normal patterns of behavior
3. That there are three Rs internationally recognised to provide
valuable guidance for use of animals in science.
• Reduction in numbers of animals
• Refinement of experimental methods
• Replacement of animals with non-animal techniques)
4. That the improvements in farm animal welfare can often improve
productivity and food safety, and hence lead to economic benefits.
5. The scientific assessment of animal welfare involves diverse
elements to be considered together.
• selecting and weighing these elements often involves value-based
assumptions which should be made as explicit as possible
6. use of animals in agriculture, education and research, and for
companionship, recreation and entertainment, makes a major
contribution to the wellbeing of people.
7. use of animals carries with it an ethical responsibility to ensure the
welfare of such animals to the greatest extent practicable.
8. The equivalent outcomes based on performance criteria be the basis
for comparison of animal welfare standards and recommendations
rather than identical systems
QUESTIONS??
DOMAINS OF ANIMAL
WELFARE
Domains of animal welfare
Def.
Domains of animal welfare are provisions that contribute to the overall
welfare of an animal.
• its divided into physical and mental components that give rise to an
animal’s welfare status.
• The domains provide the requirements for survival and health along
with experiences that are enjoyable for animals e.g social interaction,
exercise, play and exploration e.t.c.
1. Nutrition
- factors that involve the animal’s access to sufficient, balanced, varied,
and clean food and water.
- Available food should be nutritious, appropriate for the species and
individual animal and varied
2. Environment
– factors that enable comfort through temperature, substrate, space,
air, odor, noise, and predictability.
- Proper environment should provide shade and shelter and safe
housing that allows free movement and expression of natural behaviour
3. Health
– factors that enable good health through the absence of disease,
injury, impairment with a good fitness level.
• To foster good health prevent, rapidly diagnose and treat disease and
injury, and foster good health.
4. Behavior
– factors that provide varied, novel, and engaging environmental
challenges through sensory inputs, exploration, foraging, bonding,
playing, retreating, and others.
• Provide sufficient space, proper facilities and positive social
interactions with other animals and people.
5. Mental State
– by presenting positive situations in the previous four functional
domains, the mental state of the animal should benefit from
predominantly positive states, such as pleasure, comfort, or vitality
while reducing negative states such as fear, frustration, hunger, pain, or
boredom.
• Provide safe, species-appropriate opportunities to have pleasurable
experiences.
QUESTIONS ?
CLASSIFYING WELFARE ACCORDING TO
ANIMAL CATEGORY
5 Broad Categories
1. Welfare of working animals
2. Welfare of production animals (meat, milk and
eggs)
3. Welfare of companion animals
4. Welfare of wild and captive animals
5. Welfare of animals used in research and
experiments
Welfare of wild and captive animals
1. Welfare of wildlife
• Humans initially exploited wildlife for survival to obtain flesh, blood,
bones- for tools e.tc
• The increase in human population has increased demand for wildlife
products fueled by modernization.
• This leads to development of illegal trades and poaching of wildlife to
meet the ever increasing demand
• primary motivating factor for the flourishing of wildlife trade in
modern times is the economic benefits traders derive from it
• Money generated from illegal commercial exploitation of wildlife has

been estimated to range from 10 – 23 billion USD annually
• While more can be done to improve the welfare of wildlife in legal
trade, very little can be done for illegally traded wild animals unless
they are discovered in transit and confiscated.
• Main reason why wildlife is commercially exploited
1. Food – fish and other wildlife contribute a least a fifth of animal proteins in rural diets
of more than 60 countries
2. Clothing and ornaments – they are made from leather, furs, feathers etc. obtained
from wild animals
3. Sport – this involve hunting wild animals in order to collect trophies,

enjoyment i.e sport fishing etc
4. Healthcare – some traditional medicine are made from parts of wild
animals e.g rhino horns used for medicinal purpose in Asia
5. Religion – some animals or their derivatives are used for religious
purposes
6. Collection – wildlife specimens and curios are collected by museums and
private individuals
• Human activities during commercial exploitation and
conservation of wildlife may have and impact onwildlife
welfare in different ways
Welfare of free living wild animals
• Welfare issues affecting free living wildlife is highly attributed to
human encroachment to wild life habitat.
• The negative impact of human presence and activities have four
aspects that affect free living wild animal welfare:
1) Habitat loss & destruction.
2) Pollution.
3) Human contact.
4) Methods of managing wild population
• Habitat loss and degradation deprives species of life requisites,
causing trauma, prolonged suffering, pain, injuries and death hence:
• Disturbance of natural behaviour, movement patterns and migration
routes
• Fragmentation of populations and separation of social groups.
• Disturbance of breeding and nesting sites.
• Displacement of animals from their home ranges.
• Increased predator vulnerability
• Increased inter‐species aggression and competition.
• Competition with livestock for food and water.
• Fear due to the close presence of human beings.
Other welfare issues include
• Hunting wild animals leads to stress and injuries, sometimes results
cause death of involved animals
• Use of poisonous chemicals to kill wildlife
• Introduction of zoonotic diseases by infected humans encroaching on
their natural habitats
• Use of traps which capture wild animals causing stress and injuries
Potential solutions to address encroachment
• Involve all stakeholders in wildlife conservation.
• Avoid sub‐division of wildlife habitat
• Increased tolerance by local communities
• Protect humans from wild animals
• Building of ‘wildlife-friendly’ structures
• Preventing pollution.
Welfare of animals in captivity
1. Welfare of animals in captivity

• Welfare directly controlled by those that keep them in Zoos, Rescue and
rehabilitation centres, Exotic pets Farming, e.g. ostriches and Crocodiles
e.t.c
• Typical confinement environment is impoverished, stressful and lack of
sensory stimuli relevant to the species
• Welfare issues associated withca ptivity include:
 Restricted movement, feeding and other behavioural opportunities
 Abnormal social groups and lack of area to retreat e.g putting a prey (gazelle) and
predator (lion) in neighbouring cages stresses the animals involved
 Forced proximity to humans
Too much predictability, e.g. owned vs. feral cats

Noise pollution causes discomfort and stress
Confinement within a small area exposes animal to
health complications
 Training/taming of animals for use in circus exposes
them to unnatural behaviour, animals mistreated
during training and stress during shows
 Unsocial groupings
Improper feeding in captivity (no natural food
provided)
 Tagging and marking which causes discomfort

and injuries
 Improper transportation of wild animals
causing injuries, stress or death
Ways of improving welfare of animals in
captivity
• increase the frequency and diversity of
positive natural behaviours
• decrease the occurrence of abnormal
behaviour
• maximise utilisation of the environment
• increase the animal’s ability to cope with the challenges of captivity or

the wild
• Care be provided by qualified and experienced staff - Handling avoids
discomfort, distress or injury
• Provide appropriate housing
Promote feeling of safety and security:
Housing social species together
Providing a place to escape
Preventing unresolved conflict (e.g. separating male animals)
Roles of veterinarians and AHAS in safe guarding wildlife welfare

• Veterinarians and AHAS involved in wildlife medicine have clearly
defined responsibilities to the animals in their care similar to those for
companion or farm animals.
• The most important responsibility to wild animals is to ensure that the
animals’ welfare is protected.
• Animal must be treated and released with a chance of survival at least
equivalent to that of other free-living members of its species
• Permanent captivity of a disabled wild animal is rarely acceptable on
welfare grounds
QUESTIONS?
WELFARE OF FARM AND
COMPANION ANIMALS
Welfare of farm and companion animals
Basic needs for companion animals (dogs and cats)
• Like humans, all animals have basic needs that must be met to ensure
an appropriate quality of life.
• Animals in captivity e.g those in a shelter entirely dependent on
humans to provide the conditions that will satisfy their basic needs.
• Animal needs can be grouped into five areas:
1. Physiological needs – e.g. food and water, appropriate
temperature/humidity, air and light conditions, shelter from environmental
conditions, etc.
2. Social needs – preference for living in solitude, in pairs or in a group
3. Psychological needs – appropriate stimulation and activity to prevent
boredom/frustration.
4. Environmental needs – suitable home, space and territory.
5. Behavioural needs – e.g. climbing, digging and scratching. Interactions with
carers/owners.
Physiological needs.
 Feeding:
• Always provide premium quality and well balanced food for the specific
animals
• Young, old and sick animal may require special nutritional demands compared
to adult
• Nutritional Needs of Cattle rely mainly on hay or pasture (fiber) to fulfill their
dietary needs.
Water-
-Always provide clean, fresh water must always be available to animals ad libitum
Salt and Minerals supplementation:
- Provide mineral supplementation to all animals e.g mineral blocks to cattle
Shelter:
• Shelter should protect from extreme hot or cold temperatures and other
extreme weather.
• Should be quiet place to rest, away from all drafts and off the floor.
• Requirements for Cattle Building
• Building- Cattle shelters need not be elaborate, but they must be waterproof and
draft free
• Fencing- Sturdy fencing and secure gates are a must for cattle
Social needs
• Different animals have different preference for living e.g solitude, in pairs or in a
group
• Feline family prefer living in solitude except lions while cattle prefer feeding together.
Psychological needs/ Excercise
• Animals need exercise to burn calories, stimulate their minds, and stay
healthy.
• boredom leads to destructive/ erratic behaviors in animals.
• Provide space enough required for appropriate stimulation and activity to prevent
boredom/frustration
Environmental needs
• Are needs that ensure provision of suitable home, space and territory for animals
Behavioural needs
• This are needs that facilitate expression of natural behaviours e.g
climbing, digging, grooming and scratching.
• Interactions with carers/owners.
Other needs include grooming and parasite control
• Tick, fleas and mites predispose animals to diseases and discomfort
• internal parasites suck blood leading to diseases
• Benefits of good animal welfare
Good animal welfare leads to:
a) Increased production---milk in dairy cow, dairy goat, for nursing mothers, egg
in poultry.
b) Rapid growth---young ones, those raised for market e.g. pigs, broilers, bulls,
sheep and goats, rabbits.
c) Reduced disease incidences
d) Increased survival chances for young ones
e) Increased reproductive performance
• Most welfare problems are associated with management methods,
deficiencies and inadequacies.
• Farm animal welfare problems related to feeding and watering
include:
• Inadequate quantities of feeds and water/ including pastures
• Inadequate quality of feeds due to inappropriate diets.
• Lack of mineral and vitamin supplementations.
• Improper concentrate to fiber ratios leading to diseases.
• Excessive concentrate feeding leading to diseases.
• Inadequate feeding space- fewer/smaller feeding troughs
• Inconsistencies of in feeding regime
• Inadequate watering facilities, unclean and unhygienic water.
• Improper housing designs, Inadequate size of house- not adequate mobility for
exercise
• Improper flooring- slippery, defective, too rough/traumatic, different types,
unwashable, unyielding/soft yielding.
• Improper or lack of resting areas
• Use of improper structures at the feed-bunk/partitioning/walls
• Slurry management
• Inadequate walk alley and confinement
• Welfare of young or newborn farm animals
• Early separation from mothers
• Rejection by the mothers
• Poor maternal ability
• Feeding on inadequate amounts of colostrum/milk
• Farm animal welfare problems associated with transportation
Improper methods of transportation
- improper loading
- overcrowding
- inappropriate vehicles
- hunger, thirst, stress, physical injuries, diseases, thermal
injury, death
• Post-transportation problems
• Farm animal welfare problems associated with slaughter
Inhumane killing causing suffering of the slaughtered animal
None, Incomplete or defective stunning
Stress to the animals waiting for slaughter due to location of waiting area
Ruthless handling before stunning
Starvation and thirst during waiting period
• Indicators of poor animal welfare
• Animal indicators:
- Physiological indicators- hormonal, temperature, heart
rate, respiratory rate and other parameters.
 Pathological indicators- signs of
clinical disease, injuries,
cutaneous and hair soiling.
 Body Condition Score- poor
body condition, emaciation
 Indirect indictors such as
production levels
 Ethological indicators- fear,
isolation, flight distance,
temperament
•
54
Injuries Injuries
55
Injuries Injuries
56
Indicators of poor animal welfare cont’d
• Farm indicators:
 Housing structures- their state, type
and state of flooring, roofing and
walling, site, lying areas and bedding
 Slurry
 stocking density
 In Pastures- amount of
pastures, traumatic objects,
 predation, swampy, poisonous
plants and other factors
57
Presence of water and
cleanliness of water
Types and state of feeds
Feed troughs, neck rail, feeds

Sentient versus inanimate
59
Body condition, limb lesions
60
Good animal welfare
61
Good animal welfare
62
Poor poultry welfare
63
QUESTIONS??
END
Welfare of draught / working
animals
Welfare of draught / working animals
• Working animal- Animal kept by humans that has been trained to do
a specific job.
Importance of draught animals
1. Herding and hunting- Hunting for food.
• Dogs are able to follow scent of the prey, retrieve fallen prey.
• Horses carry the hunters
• Dogs and horses are used for herding sheep, goats, cattle and pigs.
2. Guards- defense and in warfare-
• Horses carrying soldiers to battle.
• Dogs are used for guarding homes
• Armies have used dogs as messengers, guards, mine detectors,
• Police dogs have many roles.
3. Search and rescue- Trails of missing persons, bodies buried
in snow, rubble after earthquakes, collapsed mines, destroyed
buildings
4. Guides- Dogs for war-blinded soldiers, lead blind people.
5. Draft animals- Various types of animals used to serve man
as draft animals- horses, donkeys, camels, oxen, elephants
,buffaloes
• Donkeys and oxen used for ploughing fields and grinding
grain
• Large dogs-Mastiffs used in parts of Europe to pull carts
6. Transportation-
• Animals were the main means
that people had to travel before
modern means of transport-
horses, donkeys, camels,
elephants and dogs
• Donkeys and camels are main
animals used as draught in ASAL
areas
7. Entertainment:
• Movies- to entertain people as trained actors, in their natural
habitats-national geographic, Animal planet
• Sports- Racing horses, dogs(Greyhound) -Polo-horses used by riders –
• Animal fights- bull fighting, cock fighting
• -Zoos- people watching animals
• Aquariums- fish
• Circuses-animal trained for circuses and movies
Welfare issues in working animals:
1.Poor nutrition
2.Poor harness design and use
3.Overwork and inappropriate management practices -beating
and working at young age
4.Problems of wounds, lameness, colic and infectious diseases
5. Lack of housing
2.Poor harness design and use Poor harnessing design and use
Overworking and overloading

wounds
• Donkeys show few signs of pain
(e.g. in Colic they often just
stand with head lowered or lie
down).
• It’s then easy to under-estimate
the seriousness of the condition
Proper harnessing Proper loading

• Like all other animals all draft animals require provisions that protect
their freedoms:
• Freedom from;
1. Hunger and thirst
2. Discomfort
3. Fear and distress
4. Pain injury and disease
5. Freedom to Express normal Behaviour
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst Provisions
o Give plenty of clean water

o Bucket-reachable, used to
o Give enough feed
o Balanced diet
o Concentrates
o Roughage
o Give mineral
licks/supplements
o Stocklick is good
Signs when not provided:

• Stunted growth
• Emaciation/low body condition
• Susceptible to infections/disease
• Low productivity
• Fertility problems
• Short productive lifespan
• Reduced income for owners
2. Freedom from discomfort Provisions/Dos
o Shelter from excessive rain
o Protection from excessive
heat/cold
o Tie on shade
o Have shelter preventing cold
winds
o Well fitting implements/harness
o Control parasites/insects
o Provide comfortable resting
place
o Well drained
o No sharp stones
• Wounds can develop
• Emaciation/low body condition
• Susceptible to infections/disease
• Low productivity due to parasite load
• Hoof thrush
• Sole abscess
• Stressed/abnormal behaviour
• Shivering/Sweating excessively
3. Freedom from pain, injury and diseaseProvisions/Dos
o Proper loading/carts/ park
o Taking care of animals and not
leaving them to roam/un-
attended to
o Limit mixing with new/wild
animals
o Use vocal commands-not whips
o Use moderate restraint
methods-vets/AHA!
o Use chemical restraint for
painful procedures
• Change in normal behavior, like not
rolling, not communicating, etc….
• Presence of:
 Wounds
 Abrasions
 Traumas
 Lameness
 Bleeding
 Muscle tremors
 Etc?
4. Freedom from fear and distressProvisions/Dos
o Name your animal
o Understand your animal
o Use vocal commands-not
whips
o Use moderate restraint
methods-vets/AHA!
o Use chemical restraint for
painful procedures

• Changes in behavior, animal can show:
 Aggression- kicking, vocalization, or biting
 Apathy- no interest on surrounding
 Depression- head held down, drooping
ears
 Signs of fear- running away, widening of
eye pupil, ears backward, grunting teeth
• Difficult to control
• Loss of appetite
• Etc
5. Freedom to express normal behavior Provisions/Dos
o Provide enough space
o Allow animals to interact with likes
and other species.
o Give space to roll, mate.
o Understand the behaviour of your
animal.
o Eliminate hindering elements e.g.
stones, thorns, disease, wounds.
Signs when provided
• Sniffing and smelling, Rolling, Vocalizing,
Socializing, Reproduction
• Scratching
Signs when not provided
• Depressed
• Aggressive- an aggressive donkey lays his ears
right back and opens his mouth, ready to lunge
forward and bite.
• Restless
Handling of Draught animals:
• Appropriate methods /Judicious use of restraint methods available
• Vocal and behavioural restraint- first line of restraint.
• Physical restraint methods and when they can be used
• Most procedures can be performed with this level of restraint alone
• Use of chemical restraint for painful procedures
• Principle of do no harm
• Principles of therapeutics ensures legal
88
Restraining draft animals:
• When a donkey's head is restrained, it can be
led or held (e.g. for injections).
• A Halter or Head Collar is used.
• Made from sisal rope or cotton. Avoid using
nylon
Chin hold: put the flat of your hand under the
animal's chin, then put your thumb across its
mouth and grip with your fingers.
• A donkey should carry a
maximum of 80Kg (≈ 1/2 its live
weight) on its back.
• It can pull a cart with a load
capacity of 300Kg (≈ 2x its live
weight).Use a padded and well
kept harness
Basic care for draught animals
Health
• Animals need to be kept free from disease, injury and harmful
parasites.
• Preventative and remedial vaccines and treatment should be
undertaken on time where applicable.
• Operations (e.g. castration) should be performed by people with the
necessary skills to ensure the methods used are safe, effective and
humane.
Harnessing
• Correctly fitted and well maintained harnessing of a suitable size should be used.
• Harnessing should be designed to enable the animals to perform to their fullest
capacity,
• Harnessing should not cause discomfort or injuries.
Nutrition
• Feed and water of sufficient quality, quantity and frequency not only to maintain
a good physical condition.
• Feed supplied should supply energy and other requirements to enable the
animals work to their maximum potential, reproduce and rear healthy young.
Handling
• Animals need to be humanely trained, in order to understand what is required
and learn the necessary skills and commands.
• They should be worked with compatible animals, of the same size and species.
• They need to be worked within their physical capabilities, and handled with
consideration.
Care
• Animals need to be well cared for and protected from predators, inclement
weather and abuse.
• Foot care and shoeing should be undertaken when necessary.
Notable quote:
“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak great language”- Martin Buber
QUESTIONS??
END
CARE FOR ANIMALS IN
SPORTS
Dr. Sakwa Kamama
CARE FOR ANIMALS IN SPORTS
• General problems with animal sports revolve around four main
issues:-
• Over breeding of the animals
• Mistreatment during training, performances, and the off-season
• Lack of veterinary care
• The ways in which unwanted sports animals are destroyed
CARE FOR ANIMALS IN SPORTS cont’…
Sled dog races
• The SDAC calls for specific reforms to be made in race procedures to
ensure the safety of the sled dogs, including:
• Performance of an electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, blood workup, and
urine test on each dog prior to the race
• Performance of a complete physical exam on each dog by a
veterinarian at each race checkpoint
• Certification of all mushers in canine first aid or CPR
• More rest periods during the race
• Establishment of minimum vet-to-dog ratios
• Animals in sports should be provided with good nutrition, grooming
and veterinary care.
• They should be handled in a humane way and kept safe from pain and
harem
• They should be well groomed through brushing and nail clipping
• They should always be provided with good housing.
The five freedoms Model
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
• All animals used in sports should receive daily high quality food and in
sufficient quantities
• Varied feed type specific for the animal including mineral and vitamin
supplementation
• Plenty water should be provided in plenty in water buckets
2. Freedom from discomfort
• Provide well maintained yards to allow regular exercise
• The yard should accommodate a number of the animals comfortably
• Individual housing should provide protection against heat and cold
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
• Animals in sports should have a regular access to veterinary care
including atleast an annual check up.
• Euthanasia should be performed by a licenced veterinarian, and only
in the event that the animal is suffering from incurable disease or
severe pain that cant be alleviated
4. Freedom from fear and distress
• Any evidence of physical or psychological abuse in sport animal is
unacceptable
• The animals should appear energetic, take interest in their surrounding
and demonstrate fearless interaction with people.
• Calm, positive handling should always be utilized
5. Freedom to express normal behavior
• Animals used in sports should have plenty of exercise, stimulation and
socialization to avoid anxiety, aggression and other behavioural problems
• Daily time for play and stimulation should be provided
• In housing or social grouping , compatibility and dominance amongst
animals should be recognized and respected
Notable quote:
Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of

character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to
animals cannot be good to man.
-S chopenhauer
QUESTIONS??
END
ANIMAL HANDLING
Dr. Sakwa Kamama
ANIMAL HANDLING
• Animal Handling- any deliberate disturbance or interruption of an
animal’s normal activity by a person, including touching, distracting,
manipulating, training, restraining, catching, holding, carrying, moving
or transportating the animal, whether by or under supervision of a
keeper.
• Animal handling limits some or all of an animal’s movement and can
be achieved through:
o Manual / physical / mechanical means
o Chemical means
o Combined physical and chemical
ANIMAL HANDLING cont’……
Animal hanadling during transportation
Transporter: the person licensed/ permitted by the Competent
Authority to transport animals.
Transport –the procedures associated with carrying of animals from
one location to another.
Basic considerations/rules on transportation:
• All animals should be inspected by a veterinarian or an animal handler
to assess fitness to travel.
• unfit animals should not be loaded onto a vessel.
• Unfit animals include:
i) Those that are sick, injured, weak, disabled or fatigued;
ii) Those that are unable to stand unaided or bear weight on each leg;
iii) Those that are blind in both eyes;
iv) Those that cannot be moved without causing them additional suffering;
v) Newborn with an unhealed navel;
vi) Females travelling without young ones which have given birth within the
previous 48 hours
vii) Pregnant animals which would be in the final 10% of their gestation period at
the planned time of unloading;
viii) Animals with unhealed wounds from recent surgical procedures such as
dehorning.
• Drivers and animal handlers should check the load immediately
before departure to ensure that the animals have been properly
loaded.
• Periodic checks should be made throughout the trip especially during stops.
• Transportation should follow the most direct stock route and be
undertaken in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary stress to the
animals.
• Animals should not be transported with any other animal species
other than of their own.
• sheep and goats may be transported together
• Animals should not be transported in vehicles intended for human
transportation
• Careful driving i.e avoid rapid acceleration or sudden brakes to
prevent animals from lose their balance.
• Can lead to bruises and injuries, weight losses.
• Method of restraining animals should be appropriate to the species
and age of animals involved and the training of the individual animal.
• Loading should be supervised and/or conducted by animal handlers.
• animals are to be loaded quietly and without unnecessary noise, harassment
or force.
• Ramps should be used during loading and off loading to prevent injury and
suffering
• Animals should not be rushed during loading and unloading.
• Tipping of animals off vehicles during offloading should not be
practiced.
• A system of early identification of injured animals prior to
loading/unloading and an action plan should be in place and known
to all employees.
• Animal loading facilities e.g collecting area, raceways and loading
ramps should be designed and constructed taking into account the
needs and abilities of the animals.
• dimensions, slopes, surfaces, absence of sharp projections and flooring.
• Adequate Ventilation and spacing should be provided during loading.
• When moving animals, their species-specific behaviour should be
used i.e most follow a specific leader
• Animals with little or no room to move should not be subjected to
physical force or goads and other aids which compel movement.
• Compelling devices should be limited to battery-powered goads on
the hindquarters of pigs and large ruminants, and never on sensitive
areas such as the eyes, mouth, ears, an genital region or belly.
Basic requirements for vehicles transporting animals
• Vehicle doors and internal gates should be large enough to permit
animals pass through easily without bruising or injury
• should have a quick release mechanism for partitions used to
separate large animals to enable release of animals in the event of
straddling.
• should have secure, smooth fittings free of protruding bolt heads and
any other sharp protrusions.
• should have provision for drainage or absorption of animals urine
during the transportation.
• Suitable bedding e.g straw, wood shavings or appropriate mats can be
added to vehicles to provide better footing for the animals and
protect them from the hard floor.
• Vehicles and containers used should be cleaned, sanitized, and
equipped with enough suitable fresh bedding at all times
• vehicles should be safe and effective for movement of the animals.
• Vehicles used to pull trailers should have sufficient power to smoothly
accelerate the unit and sufficient braking ability to stop safely.
• Sufficient ventilation should be available at all times while the animals
are on a vehicle.
• When animals are transported in crates or bins, the design,
construction, available space and state of repair should allow the
animals to be loaded, conveyed, and removed without injury
• Unless animals can be seen easily from outside the containers, every
container used to transport animals should have a sign or symbol to indicate
that it contains live animals and to show its upright position.
Care of animals during transport:
• Drivers should start, drive, and stop trucks smoothly to prevent animals from
being thrown off their feet
• Drivers should check each load immediately before departure to ensure that
the animals have been properly loaded.
• Transport animals in vehicles during the cooler mornings and evenings or
even at night reduce risk of heat stress and mortality during transportation. .
• Animals should be rested at appropriate intervals during the journey
and offered feed and water, either on the vehicle or, if necessary,
unloaded into suitable facilities.
• When resting requires the unloading of the animals, the facilities
should meet the needs of the particular animal species and should
allow access of all animals to feed and water.
Animal handling during disasters
Introduction
• Animal Handling Skills - Professionalism and Safety are key
• Being professional means being SAFE and HUMANE.
• Good animal handling skills prevent staff from being injured.
• Good animal handling skills reduce stress for the animal
• Basic principles of animal handling are applicable even in disaster
situations. However, remember that in disaster situations:
• Animals may be very stressed
• Access to animals may not be easily gained
• Appropriate restraining facilities may not be available
• Time pressures may put additional stress on handle
• Spectrum of the animals likely to be involved in disaster in our
situation :
• Cattle
• Sheep and Goats
• Pigs
• Horses and Donkeys
• Dogs, Cats and other pets
• Poultry
• Wildlife species
• Lab animals
• Animal behaviour in disaster chang due to:
• Disaster shock
• Affected habitation
• Separation from mates
• Separation from owners
• Physical injuries
• Self defense
• Frightened disposition
Dealing with the animal owners
Beware of owners’ emotional attachment to their livestock
• Provide re-assurance of the animal’s safety and recovery
• Provide re-assurance of professional conduct of rescue exercise
• Seek the owner’s assistance in approaching the animals
• Provide emotional support to owners (refer them to professional
support)
• Types of disasters include : floods – flash floods, drought,
earthquakes, fires, human conflict- land/resources etc
How to be safe as a handler:
• Listen to animals body language and approach only when it is safe
• Choose appropriate approach and restrain technique
• Maintain safe distance for animals that can kick
• Do not put any body parts between animal and restraint
• Use stable restraint devices suitable for each species
• Always stay alert when handling animals
• Take special care with injured, nursing and stressed animals
• Do not stay in flight path of pannicking animals, if if there is none stand
still do not run, raise your hand and shout to the animal.
• Take extra caution when approaching animals in closed environment
Injuries that can occur during rescue:
Causes of physical injuries
Animal in flight under fright
Disaster rubble when handling the animals
 Disaster agents such as fire, flood waters
From infectious diseases while handling animals Zoonoses
• Basic safety equipments:
• Gloves when examining / manipulating animals
• Protective glasses (body fluid splashes e.g. in brucellosis)
• Face mask (air borne infections – e.g. Psittacosis)
• Protective shoes (with steel caps and ankle support)
• HIGH leather gloves (aggressive cats and large bi
Ear protection Eye protection

Hand protection equipments Foot protection

Respiratory protection
Guarding against worsening the disaster
• Avoid methods of handling that could worsen the situation
• Use correct ways of approaching and handling animals in different
categories
Pre-operation Planning:
• Establish what has already been done
• You are not responding alone
• Multiple agencies often involved
• Preliminary info available from National Agencies
L.A.S.T (require planning)
• Location
• Access
• Stabilization
• Transport
Location of Animal population –profiling population at risk during the DANA
(Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis) – especially.
• handling requirements – equipment, human resources etc. e.g. Wildlife vs.
livestock Logistics – source handling equipment locally or carry own?
• Facilities – e.g. for containing animals – there or not / loading ramps et
Description and demonstration of techniques for each type of animal:
• Dogs- standing, sitting, recumbent, injured
• Cats-cooperative, uncooperative, injured
• Cattle- hostile e.g. bulls, calm, stampeding/fleeing, recumbent, injured etc
• Horses -frightened and easily kicking, calming them, injured (warn of
dangers)
• Pigs –adults (can bite)/ young ones
• Sheep and goats, poultry, wildlife and others
General principles:
• If you don’t have to handle an animal then don’t do it
• Do not chase animal let them walk at their pace
• Always have an escape route for personal safety
• Stay alert as you may need to move quickly
• Never turn your back on injured or frightened animals
• Announce your presence but keep noise at minimum
• Unless necessary never approach an animal directly from the front
• Emergency crews should maintain quiet and safe distance
• Never walk behind an animal- can cause pannick
• Avoid shining light to animal’s faces- lights,emergency lights etc
General principles in handling large animals:
• Animals will act defensive – be aware of animal defensive
mechanisms.
• Use restraining techniques compatible with health status and the
intended procedure.
• Proper restraint and handling techniques reduces stress to animals
and also to the handler.
• Animals can inflict serious injuries to humans and to themselves as a
result of improper handling
• Restraint - physical (manual) / mechanical, chemical or both
• Where restraint devices are used, they should be suitable in size,
design and operation to minimize discomfort or injury to the animal
• Use restraining techniques compatible with health status and the
intended procedure
• Domesticated ruminants - physical restraint and sedation, local or
regional anaesthesia
• Aim in restraint - minimize the effects of handling on the animal.
• Personnel and animal safety are paramount.
• Knowledge of animal behaviour important to help approach & avoid
injuries
• Animals will act defensive – be aware of animal defensive
mechanisms.
• Hands are the most flexible instruments of restraint.
• Voice and manual restraint in some species. Voice should be soothing,
instructional and commanding. It also should be firm.
• Avoid loud noises and sudden movements when approaching animals.
• Restraint equipment / facilities - good working condition.
• Duration of restraint - always keep as short as possible (to allow for
completion of the intended procedure or manipulation).
• Knots used for restraint of domesticated ruminants include:
• Tomfool knot
• Halter tie
• Quick release knot
• Demonstration and evaluation of competencies for animal handling
Notable quote:
“No one begins a restraint procedure with the expressed purpose of

failing, but failure is the result of many who fail to apply basic principles
that determine success”
-Murray E. Fowler, 1995.
QUESTIONS??
END
STUNNING
Dr. Sakwa Kamama
STUNNING
Animal stunning:
• Its the process of making an animal unconscious or insensible to pain
while killing, slaughtering, or sticking to minimize pain, stress and distress
• Aims of stunning:
• induce immediate state of insensibility
• Produce sufficient immobility to facilitate sticking process and initiate bleeding
• Occurs in two stages-
• Making animal insensible to pain
• Exsanguination and renders animal unconscious irreversibly
STUNNING CONT’….
• Criteria for selection of stunning method:
• Class of animal
• Intended line speed
• Humane aspects
• Capital and maintenance cost
• Efficiency of the equipment
• Ease of operation
• Safety of handler or operator
• Effect on carcass and brain
• Religious and legal requirements
METHODS OF STUNNING
There are 3 main methods
1. Mechanical Methods
2. Chemical / Gaseous method
3. Electrical method
Mechanical methods of stunning:
• Mode of action: Rapid rise and fall in the intra cranial pressure &
destruction of cortex and deeper parts of brain a) Percussive stunning
Penetrative Non penetrative
Methods of mechanical stunning:
1. Captive bolt –penetrating: In this method a bolt attached to the pistol is
propelled forward into the animal to destroy cortex and deeper parts of
the brain.
• strikes the brain at the velocity of 76- 91m/s.
• Advantages- CBP is effective against Cattle, Sheep and Goat
Disadvantages –
• can’t be used for slaughter at rate of over 240-250/hr. due to reloading difficulty
• Less effective against bulls and pigs (Thick frontal bone structure)
• Noise produced during the operation
Positioning of the stunner
• Cattle: Middle of fore head, where
two lines taken from medial
canthus of each eye to the base of
the opposite horns- Gun placed at
Right angle to the head
• Calves: Pistol placed slightly lower
on head than adult cattle
• Bull and old cows: The muzzle is
placed 1.5 cm to the side of the
ridge running down the forehead
2. Captive bolt – non-penetrating- commonly done using mushroom
head and is used in calves where the brain is collected for edible
purpose
• This method is capable of producing immediate insensibility, which
last for more than 30sec.
• So, the period between stunning and sticking is not exceed more than
30sec.
• Successfully applied in sheep and calves not use full in older animals.
• In young calves intracranial hemorrhage may occur
3. Manual percussion blow- produces Immediate and permanent
insensibility by destruction of cortex and deeper parts of the brain
Rapid rise and fall in intra cranial pressure and sudden jerk due to the
energy of the bolt imparts on the head ( Acceleration concussion
4. Free bullet- animals are shot directly using specialized equipments
e.g sweedish killer,sprang pistol, RSPCA human killer pistol, greener’s
cattle killer
5. Water jet stunning- uses fine jet of water to penetrate the skull
mechanically to destroy the brain through laceration, crushing or chock
waves
b) Chemical methods:
• uses in carbon dioxide gas at a concentrationof 80%-85% to induce
uncounsious ness in animals
Advantages
• Superior than other methods
• Less noisy
• Better bleeding
• Meat PH is low
• No hazard to operator
Disadvantages:
• Needs more room
• Less rapid than other methods
• Expensive
• Only pigs are stunned in this method
c) Electrical stunning
- Low voltage alternating current is passed through the brain using
electrodes placed on either side of brain
Mechanism:
-the electric current causes massive depolarization of neurons in brain
resulting in epileptic seizures producing insensibility.
Notable quote:
“Until we extend the circle of compassion to all living creatures , man

will not himself find peace”
- Albert Schwertitzer(Nobel 1952)

Questions??
End

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ANIMAL WELFARE,

ETHICS AND LAW

Fit & Feeling Good

• Money generated from illegal commercial exploitation of wildlife has

3. Sport – this involve hunting wild animals in order to collect trophies,

1. Welfare of animals in captivity

Too much predictability, e.g. owned vs. feral cats

 Tagging and marking which causes discomfort

• increase the animal’s ability to cope with the challenges of captivity or

Roles of veterinarians and AHAS in safe guarding wildlife welfare

Feed troughs, neck rail, feeds

Good animal welfare

Poor poultry welfare

Overworking and overloading

Proper harnessing Proper loading

o Give plenty of clean water

Signs when not provided:

Signs when not provided:

Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of

Ear protection Eye protection

Hand protection equipments Foot protection

“No one begins a restraint procedure with the expressed purpose of

“Until we extend the circle of compassion to all living creatures , man

- Albert Schwertitzer(Nobel 1952)

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