Category: Explaining Animal Welfare

Issues that explain the meaning of animal welfare

What to do with dogs in hot weather.

Pets naturally know how to keep themselves cool

We love our dogs so much that we cannot bear to be without them, mainly because they are part of the family and our children’s best friends. That is why we thoughtlessly put them at risk by insisting on taking them everywhere with us during hot weather. If we are going to the beach with our children, to the shops, going running or jogging, cycling or for a drive they have to be by our side.

Dogs do not need a suntan or play beach volleyball.

Most of us love a day on the beach or the park during hot sunny weather, but when we exert ourselves, what happens? We get hot, we sweat and we feel lethargic even in the shade. We can sweat it out and have access to shade and cold drinks whenever we wish, but dogs do not always have this luxury. We selfishly believe that despite being unable to sweat our dogs will enjoy the heat in the same way we do. But dogs do not need a suntan or to play beach volleyball.

To make matters worse we often drag them behind bicycles, take them jogging, tie them up on the beach or outside shops and cafes, leave them in cars despite all the warnings to the contrary and get them to run around and play with us. We think that just because we have thoughtfully brought water and a bowl and let them jump in the sea or a lake occasionally everything is O.K. But it’s not.

Dog, car, sun, heatstroke, dog cruelty
We insist on leaving dogs in hot weather despite advice to the contrary.

Dogs do not understand the weather forecast.

We strangely think that dogs have the reasoning powers to decide they will enjoy a day out in the heat when they have no idea where they are going, how hot it will be or how long they will be out. If they did, many might say no. They do not understand the weather forecast or where we are taking them and depend on us not to put them at risk. They are just eager to be with us and have fun with the family and ignorantly go forth relying on us to be sensible and make the right decision for them.

If they did understand what they were about to go through they might say “Just give me a huge bowl of water and cool breezy place to sleep and you go off and enjoy yourselves”. Sometimes it is more sensible on really hot days to take them out for a short walk early morning or not at all as even the evenings can be hot and humid. Breaking their routine, if they have one, for the odd day does no harm but heatstroke or suffering from too much heat or humidity does. It is reckless ownership to do otherwise.

Left to their own devices most animals have a natural and instinctive sense of how to stay as cool as possible in hot weather and will seek out the most comfortable spot to laze out the day. Ever noticed that herd of cows or sheep flopped in the shade of trees or bushes and on the highest point to get the breeze. Or the cat lazing in the shade on a nice cold stone surface.

Stray dogs instinctively know how to stay cool by remaining inactive and lying in the shade on a cool surface. Photo: animalrightsandwrongs.uk/johnbrookland

If we are all sensible and responsible pet owners we shouldn’t need advice every summer.

Whenever we get unusually hot weather in the UK the media drag out the same experts who give the same inane advice on how to care for our pets, particularly dogs. This normally involves paddling pools, ice lollies and ice packs, but rarely suggests not inflicting the hot weather on them in the first place.

Whenever I am out in hot weather I get extremely frustrated at seeing dog owners who appear oblivious that their dog is excessively panting and is looking miserable. I can see it, so why can’t they. If we are all sensible and responsible pet owners we shouldn’t need advice on doing the right thing for our dogs every summer as surely it is common sense?

So, forget the paddling pools, the special ice lollies, the ice pack coats, hats and bandanas. Just don’t take your dog out during the hottest part of the day, never in a car or tied up in the sun and don’t exert them. Move your rabbit, hamster or rat cage somewhere cool. Provide plenty of water. Its common sense methods without the cost and frills which the pet trade want you to buy to boost their profits and encourage you to take your dog out.

“When its hot let them flop.”

Vets and Exotic Pets

The British Veterinary Association (BVA), The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE)  and even the British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS) plus most other governing veterinary organisations worldwide have stated they are concerned about this burgeoning trade. They believe that ownership is a threat to native species, is a cause of population and habitat decline and that owners may not be able to care for them compromising their health and welfare. The animals can be a risk to human health as well as a danger to the public if they escape. Wild caught animals and birds are caused stress during capture, are poorly acclimatisation and suffer high mortality during transport and holding. So how come the trade and hobby continues?

NTCA’s – the veterinary professions’ acronym for exotic pets.

Vets have come up with the novel acronym of NTCA’s or ‘non-traditional companion animals’ to describe exotic pets which not only gives the impression that they can be described as suitable companion animals, but also gives their sanction to keep them.

“There are some species whose five welfare needs are so specialised they could rarely or never be met in a domestic environment. Other species should only be kept under licence or for defined and authorised conservation purposes.” We support the keeping of species as companion animals for which there is reasonable expectation based on published evidence and professional experience, that their five welfare needs can be met by suitably informed people. However, some NCTAs, such as reptiles, have exacting husbandry requirements, e.g. for humidity, lighting, nutrition and temperature, others such as birds have complex social, cognitive and nutritional needs, all of which must be fully researched and understood before acquisition’.

BVA Policy on exotic pets December 2015
Wild caught African Grey parrots being shipped in overcrowded containers destined for pet trade.
Veterinary profession does little to stem the trade.

Despite the fact that there is plentiful scientific evidence of the unsuitability of most exotic animals as pets and that the veterinary profession accepts that there is a need for some control, they appear to do little to stop it and are actively embracing this lucrative pet owning trend. It is particularly surprising as the profession prefers to look upon itself as a scientific body but in the case of exotic pets they choose not act on the evidence. They do not support any kind of ban choosing instead to suggest compiling lists of ‘suitability’ as well yet more research when all the evidence has been sitting there for years

The keeping exotic animals and their suitability has been a contentious subject for decades, but there has been little initiative to curtail it. Our desire to own something unusual results in the suffering and deaths of millions of animals worldwide, even before they get into the hands of inept owners. ‘Specialist exotic pet veterinarians’ have been quoted as stating that most of the illnesses, deaths and injuries they deal with are caused by the owners lack of understanding of the needs of the animals. These include inadequate diet, either too high or low heating and humidity, dehydration, lack of sufficient live food, poor handling and many other factors.

I have witnessed this first hand having been an animal health inspector at Heathrow Airport during the high point of the wild bird trade in the 1970’s and been part of a campaign to ban it. I watched birds and other animals being transported round the world destined for the pet trade dying in front of me in their hundreds. The trade in wild caught birds is thankfully over in Europe and America, but has been replaced by the reptile trade which is just as bad.

wild bird trade, cruelty to birds, pet bird trade, caged birds, exotic pets
Cages full of wild caught birds in Indonesia destined to spend their short lives in tiny cages. Photo: John Brookland/animalrightsandwrong.suk

Vets cash in on treating exotic pets.

Veterinarians have been quick to embrace the situation and provide for this lucrative pet owing trend by opening specialist referral exotic pet hospitals. These are staffed by veterinary surgeons who have seen the opening in the market and obtained a certificate qualifying them to treat exotic animals and even an extra three year course to be able to call themselves specialists. Many vets are taking this pathway because the numbers being kept and requiring treatment are constantly rising and there is a great demand for their services.

Treating exotic pets doesn’t come cheap and although it is laudable for vets to step in and alleviate the suffering, treating exotic pets doesn’t come cheap and it could be argued that many animals are left to die or are abandoned because owners cannot afford the fees. Of course the insurance companies want a part of the action and were quick to provide policies. None of this though is of help in the long-term as it only encourages the trade to continue.

There is no legitimate reason for these animals to be kept captive in a home environment and there is more than adequate scientific evidence available to warrant the banning of their ownership, particularly in the case of reptiles.  The potential for suffering and neglect is extreme and the numbers dying or being discarded is immense.

Why is it then that authorities worldwide are so slow at making any attempt to ban or restrict trade in them? Could it be anything to do with the fact that the trade composes a large part of the huge money-making pet industry which has a powerful lobby behind it to defend its continuance and because governments earn a lot of tax dollars and pounds because of it. What is needed is action rather than more research and compiling lists. Why can’t we stick to owning genuine companion animals – we have enough problems regulating them.