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Illuminating Issues of Companion Animal Welfare Through Research into Human-Animal Interactions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

A L Podberscek
A L Podberscek*
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Human-Animal Interactions Group, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
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Extract

Companion or pet animals are an integral part of many societies. Ownership rates of at least one pet for every two households (50%) have been reported in numerous countries, including the UK (Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association 1996), The Netherlands (Endenburg et al 1990), Poland (Fogle 1994), the USA (Rowan 1992), France (Anon 1995a) and Australia (Anon 1995b). While on one hand the animals gain from their close association with humans by being sheltered, fed and loved, they can also suffer neglect, cruelty, abandonment, unnecessary euthanasia, and may develop behaviour problems. The quality of our relationships with these animals is indeed variable.

Type
Invited Essay
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , November 1997 , pp. 365 - 372
Copyright
© 1997 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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