Browsing by Author "Protopopova, Alexandra"
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Item A multi-site feasibility assessment of implementing a best-practices meet-and-greet intervention in animal shelters in the United States(2020) Protopopova, Alexandra; Brown, Kelsea M.; Hall, Nathaniel J. (TTU)Animal shelters must incorporate empirically validated programs to increase life-saving measures; however, altering existing protocols is often a challenge. The current study assessed the feasibility of nine animal shelters within the United States to replicate a validated procedure for introducing an adoptable dog with a potential adopter (i.e., “meet-and-greet”) following an educational session. Each of the shelters were first entered into the “baseline” condition, where introduction between adoptable dogs and potential adopters were as usual. After a varying number of months, each shelter entered into the “experimental” phase, where staff and volunteers were taught best practices for a meet-and-greet using lecture, demonstration, and role-play. Data on the likelihood of adoption following a meet-and-greet were collected with automated equipment installed in meet-and-greet areas. Data on feasibility and treatment integrity were collected with questionnaires administered to volunteers and staff followed by a focus group. We found that a single educational session was insufficient to alter the meet-and-greet protocol; challenges included not remembering the procedure, opposing opinions of volunteers and staff, lack of resources, and a procedural drift effect in which the protocol was significantly altered across time. In turn, no animal shelters increased their dog adoptions in the “experimental” phase. New research is needed to develop effective educational programs to encourage animal shelters to incorporate empirical findings into their protocols.Item Behavioral predictors of subsequent respiratory illness signs in dogs admitted to an animal shelter(2019) Protopopova, Alexandra; Hall, Nathaniel J. (TTU); Brown, Kelsea M. (TTU); Andrukonis, Allison S. (TTU); Hekman, Jessica P.Individual variability is evident in behavior and physiology of animals. Determining whether behavior at intake may predict subsequent illness in the animal shelter may influence the management of dogs housed at animal shelters and reduce overall disease. While normally associated with mild disease and low mortality rates, respiratory disease nevertheless poses significant challenges to the management of dogs in the stressful environment of animal shelters due to its highly infectious nature. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore whether behavior at intake can predict subsequent occurrence and progression of upper respiratory disease in dogs at animal shelters. In a correlational study, 84 dogs were assessed throughout their stay at a city animal shelter. The dogs were subjected to a behavioral assessment, 1 min in-kennel behavioral observations across two observation periods, and the collection of urinary cortisol:creatinine (C:C) ratio. The occurrence and progression of upper respiratory disease was monitored through repeated clinical exams (rectal temperature and the occurrence of nasal and ocular discharge, and presence of coughing and sneezing). A basic PLS Path regression model revealed that time in the shelter (estimate = .53, p < .001), and sociability (estimate = .24, p < .001) and curiosity scores (estimate = .09, p = .026) were associated with increased illness. Activity and anxiety scores, however, were not associated with illness. Urinary C:C, taken on the first full day, did not predict subsequent illness when accounting for time. Limitations included attrition of dogs, a small percentage receiving vaccinations, and continuous and non-systematic rotation of dogs in the kennels. Understanding if behavior can predict subsequent illness may improve shelter management practices, and in turn, result in improved live-release outcomes.Item Behavioral, physiological, and neurological influences of pheromones and interomones in domestic dogs(2018-05) Pirner, Glenna M; McGlone, John J.; Garcia, Arlene; Hall, Nathaniel J.; Protopopova, Alexandra; Mechref, YehiaPheromones provide a crucial method of information transfer for many species; however, this type of communication is not well understood in the domestic dog. Beyond intraspecific communication, evidence suggests that some molecules, known as interomones, may act as a pheromone in one species but elicit unpredictable effects in a different species. 2-methylbut-2-enal (2M2B), the rabbit maternal-neonatal pheromone, is one such molecule. To determine the behavioral and physiological effects of 2M2B on chronically stressed domestic dogs two stress-induction models were used: a simulated thunderstorm and car travel. In both models, 2M2B elicited a faster return of elevated heart rate (HR) to baseline compared to control (CON). During the thunderstorm dogs treated with 2M2B spent 15.9% more time lying down compared to when treated with CON (p = 0.04). Heart rate variability measures, leukocyte differentials, and adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulation tests were recorded from the dogs used in these studies to understand how acute stressors affect chronically stressed dogs, and how 2M2B might ameliorate this response. Average R-R interval was negatively, but not significantly, correlated with the magnitude of difference in heart rate between placebo and 2M2B ointment during the simulated thunderstorm. There is limited research on domestic dog pheromones, and there are notable inconsistencies in the literature that does exist. To identify urinary volatiles that may act as pheromones, urine was collected from five individuals in each of six groups: juvenile intact male (JIM), adult intact male (AIM), adult castrated male (AXM), juvenile intact female (JIF), adult intact female (AIF), and adult ovariohysterectomized female (AXF). Headspace sampling yielded six molecules with significantly different peak areas between groups. Octanal, 2-methyl-quinoline, methyl propyl sulfide, and 2-heptanone appear to be closely linked to male sex hormones as they had significantly higher peak areas in intact adult males. 3-ethylcyclopentanone appears to be associated with intact adult females and castrated or subordinate male animals. No sex or life stage patterns could be divulged from the data on 2-pentanone. For a molecule to elicit a behavioral or physiological response, it stands to reason that regions of the brain corresponding to the effect should be activated. 5α-androst-16-en-3-one elicits behavioral and physiological effects in women, especially during the time of ovulation. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) contrast were employed to determine which areas of the brain might be responsible for these effects. Ten women received an fMRI scan with ANDRO, 2M2B, rose odor (ROSE), and fresh air (CON) in a 15 s on / 45 s off block design, with three randomized repetitions. ANDRO activated the left insular region compared to CON (p = 0.04). 2M2B elicited activation in the somatosensory association cortex (p < 0.01), premotor cortex (p < 0.01), and Brodmann’s area 8 (p = 0.03) compared to CON. 2M2B also elicited activation in the posterior cingulate and angular gyri compared to ROSE (p < 0.01, both). The insula and amygdala are regions associated with olfactory processing and so were expected. 2M2B elicited activation mainly in motor processing regions, suggesting a motor response to the molecule. Evidence that either molecule activated the hypothalamus, as would be expected by a priming pheromone, was not observed.Item Comparing demand and preference assessments for food products in dogs(2019-05) Wyant, Rachel L.; Hall, Nathaniel J.; Protopopova, Alexandra; McGlone, John J.Canine food preference is commonly measured using two-bowl and one-pan tests. These methods measure preference in a free-choice format. Free-choice, however, can be a poor measure of reward value. The aim of this study was to compare and contrast typical free-choice based methods of food preference to recently developed behavioral economic models of reward value to see how preference and reward value measures relate. Ten dogs were tested on a demand assessment and a preference assessment. Four food products were used, with the subjects tested first on the demand assessment, followed by a two-bowl device for the preference assessment. Dog responding in the demand assessment on a lever was evaluated on a fixed ratio schedule (FR 1, FR 2, FR 5, FR 10, FR 20). Comparing the results of the demand assessment to the preference assessment, the dogs’ preferences are more clearly defined in the latter. The preference assessment identified differences both across food category and within category, the value of the products, as measured by demand, revealed only differences in product type, but not statistically significant differences within type. Measuring canine food preferences is important for measuring flavor and palatability. Not only is it important for the pet food industry, this information is valuable in identifying appropriate reinforcers for training. The applications of this study could have benefits for both pet food companies and trainers.Item Compassion fatigue in animal care employees(2018-08) Andrukonis, Allison; Protopopova, Alexandra; McGlone, John J.; Schmidt, AdamAnimal shelter workers are at a high risk for compassion fatigue, burnout, and even suicide. The aim of the first study was to test the “caring-killing paradox” model which suggests that animal shelter staff who partake in husbandry as well as euthanasia have the greatest likelihood of compassion fatigue. Animal shelter staff who partake in constant husbandry and euthanasia, veterinary staff who partake in some husbandry and euthanasia, and university employees who harvest livestock but do not partake in husbandry were included in Experiment 1. Blood pressure was collected pre- and post- euthanasia/harvest and heart rate variability (HRV) was measured throughout. Following euthanasia/harvest, the Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and a work/personal history questionnaire were administered. In Experiment 1, IES-R was significantly different across jobs (animal shelter M = 26.9, SD = 17.4: harvest M = 9.4, SD = 10.3), but compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress were not. This supported the “caring” aspect of the “caring-killing paradox,” but suggested that employees were not experiencing compassion fatigue, but some other form of trauma. In Experiment 2, HRV of animal shelter staff who do not euthanize regularly were compared to those that do as well as pet hotel employees. The Moral Injury Event Scale (MIES) was also added. The psychometric and physiological measures did not differ across job, rejecting the “killing” aspect of the “caring-killing paradox.” MIES was significantly correlated with IES-R, but no other measure, supporting the idea that employees are not suffering from compassion fatigue. The second study, a survey sent to shelters nationwide, aimed to look at the impact of Live Release Rate (LRR) and choice on IES-R, compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and MIES. Compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress, moral injury, and burnout were positively correlated with LRR. MIES had a significant negative correlation with whether or not an employee euthanizes. This further supports the idea that animal care employees may be morally injured. Secondary traumatic stress was correlated with deciding which animal will be euthanized. This suggests that choice is important when it comes to specific animal chosen for euthanasia.Item Consumer attitudes toward bacteriophage applications to pet food(2022) Eagan, Bailey H.; Wang, Siyuan; Hall, Nathaniel J. (TTU); Protopopova, AlexandraThis study used a two-part questionnaire to investigate consumer knowledge and attitudes toward bacteriophage applications in pet food, pet food safety, and environmental sustainability. Part 1 included questions about pet food safety, sustainability, and knowledge and attitudes toward bacteriophages. Next, participants reviewed educational materials about each, and Part 2 assessed if this increased knowledge of, or changed attitudes toward, bacteriophage application. Participants (n = 80), were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MT) (n = 45) and Social Media (SM) (n = 35). Mean responses in Part 1 and Part 2 were compared by paired t-tests, and mean responses between MT and SM were compared by t-tests. Participants reported pet food safety was important to them (combined proportion strongly agree or agree, mean ± SD) (75/80, 94%, MT 4.66 ± 0.60, SM 4.71 ± 0.95) and were most concerned with raw pet food safety (51/80, 64%, MT 3.88 ± 0.80, SM 3.17 ± 1.40). Participants rated environmental sustainability as important (61/80, 76%, MT 3.86 ± 0.94, SM 3.97 ± 0.66); however, it was not a strong driver of pet food purchasing (26/80, 33%, MT 3.31 ± 1.25, SM 2.82 ± 0.82). Overall, data showed an increase in knowledge of bacteriophages following a review of educational material. However, in the SM group, no statistically significant difference was observed in the comfort eating food with bacteriophage additives (SM Part 1 3.37 ± 1.05, SM Part 2 3.48 ± 1.12, p = 0.279), whereas the MT group did show an increase (MT Part 1 3.57 ± 1.01, MT Part 2 4.08 ± 0.92, p < 0.001). In the SM group, no statistically significant difference was observed in comfort feeding their pet food with bacteriophage additives (SM Part 1 3.40 ± 1.03, SM Part 2 3.45 ± 1.14, p = 0.571), whereas the MT group did show an increase (MT Part 1 3.57 ± 0.98, MT Part 2 4.31 ± 0.84, p < 0.001). The strongest objections related to safety concerns (20/53, 38%, MT 2.83 ± 0.96, SM 3.27 ± 0.84). These results demonstrate that despite increasing knowledge, there is still hesitancy among some consumers toward bacteriophage applications in pet food.Item Effect of direct-fed microbial supplementation on dietary nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of dogs(2019-08) Soto, Stephanie; Hall, Nathaniel J.; Sarturi, Jhones; Protopopova, Alexandra; Schroeder, KatyThe nutritional composition of a diet influences gut microflora, which in turn influences digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Direct-fed microbes are often supplemented in the diet to improve the health of animals; however, the effect of direct-fed microbial supplementation on nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics in dogs, as well as how it affects palatability, is not well known. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a direct-fed microbial supplementation in dogs on the following characteristics: dry matter, organic matter, apparent total tract nutrient and energy digestibility, fecal pH, and fecal score. Twelve dogs, fed a premium commercial diet, were divided into two groups which were randomly assigned the following treatments: a) Control (no Direct Fed Microbes [DFM]), and b) DFM (Bacillus subtilis (2×109 CFU/g), Bifidobacterium bifidum (2×109 CFU/g), Enterococcus faecium (4×109 CFU/g), Lactobacillus acidophilus (3×109 CFU/g), and Lactobacillus casei (4×109 CFU/g). Dogs underwent their assigned treatment for 33 days. Overall, the supplementation of the direct-fed microbes did not affect dry matter, organic matter, or gross energy digestibility, as well as fecal scores or fecal pH. Our results did show a clear food preference for the food with the direct-fed microbes. These results highlight that the DFM had a positive impact on palatability, but in our sample of healthy dogs fed a high-quality diet, enhancements in digestibility were not evident.Item Effects of additional walks and social play on physical activity and rest in shelter(2020-05) Cordova, Eduardo; Hall, Nathaniel J.; McGlone, John J.; Machado, Eila; Protopopova, AlexandraDogs entering the shelter experience stress upon admission and throughout their time in the shelter. Different enrichment interventions have been used to mitigate the adverse effects of stress and promote physical and psychological well-being of these dogs. The objective of the current study was to evaluate two enrichment strategies, walk and social play, and identify differences in physical activity and rest during and after enrichment sessions. To evaluate walks and social play, twenty-five shelter dogs housed at two locations were tested in a within-subject design. Dogs wore accelerometers (Whistle Activity MonitorTM) for 16 days. Analysis of in-kennel rest and physical activity revealed that, on average, dogs at the Canine Olfaction Research and Education (CORE) lab received significantly more physical activity from an additional walk than an additional play session (est.=0.86, z=9.8, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between each event for The Shelter dogs (est.=0.08, z=1.01, P=0.31). Moreover, dogs from the CORE lab had more in-kennel rest than dogs at the Shelter (est.=0.21, z=4.04, P<0.001), and rested more during daylight active times (est.=0.83, t=2.6, P=0.016). On average, dogs across both locations rested more during days in which they received an additional walk (est.=0.021, z=6.2, P<0.001; est.=0.026, z=8.98, P<0.001). There were individual differences observed between dog pairs, both in physical activity and rest. Physical activity and rest may be useful measures of welfare in shelter dogs, but these two factors may not be directly related. Differences in physical activity and rest between locations and individuals indicates the dog’s social partner during sessions. there may be several factors that cumulatively influence whether a dog receives more physical activity from a walk or play session with a companion. Moreover, there may be several factors that influence the amount of rest a dog receives.Item Enrichment strategies that modify cat behavioral pattern: Their applications in improving welfare(2019-05) Zhang, Lingna; McGlone, John J.; Protopopova, Alexandra; Hall, Nathaniel J.; Conover, William J.; Schmidt, Kenneth A.This dissertation aimed to identify effective environmental enrichment strategies for cats over both the short- and long-term. In study I, preferences of scratchers differing in shapes and covering materials were evaluated in adult household cats. Preference indexes (PI) calculated based on the frequency and duration of scratching and interactions were shown to be significantly higher with the standing cardboard scratcher compared to the laying S-shaped cardboard (N = 7 houses, P < 0.01). Standing scratchers covered with rope and cardboard received more scratching and interactions (N = 14 houses, P < 0.05) compared to scratchers covered with sofa fabric, and scratchers with carpet were intermediate. Standing scratchers covered with cardboard and rope are preferred scratching devices for adult cats. In study II, fecal and urinary samples were compared between adult intact male and female cats for volatiles using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to identify sex-related semiochemicals that might attract cats. Males had higher concentrations of 3-Mercapto-3-Methyl Butanol (MMB, N = 7/sex, P < 0.001) in the urine and butanioc acid (N = 8 females, 10 males, P = 0.02) in the feces than females. Standing cardboard scratchers treated with the mixed solution of MMB and butanoic acid (i.e., estimated amount from one elimination) through hanging sock had aversive effects on the use of scratcher in cats (N = 28), as indicated by the significantly decreased scratching duration and frequency, as well as the interaction duration compared to the placebo scratchers. The male-representative mix of MMB and butanoic acid may reduce inappropriate scratching in cats. In study III, cat attractants such as catnip (CN) and silver vine (SV) that known to induce active responses in cats, were tested for their efficacies of modifying the use of scratchers. The feline interdigital semiochemicals (FIS) shown by other study to increase the scratching behavior in cats, was also included. Each treatment (i.e., CN, SV, and FIS) was delivered to a standing cardboard scratcher through a hung sock, which was compared to a control scratcher with an empty/placebo sock. Cats had access to both the control and treated scratcher at same time in each treatment group and cats from different households were exposed to all the three treatment groups in a randomized order. Both CN and SV significantly increased (P = 0.02) the interaction duration and frequency compared to control. Catnip also increased (P = 0.02) the scratching duration. The treatment of FIS only tended to increase the interaction frequency (P = 0.06). Catnip and silver vine are effective in increasing the use of scratchers in cats. In study IV, the effects of cardboard standing scratchers treated with CN and SV on activity and weight management were evaluated in household cats. Animals from the treatment group (N = 12) received the treated scratcher and were compared with cats on the control group (N = 4), which did not receive the scratcher over a 4-week period. Weekly activity levels recorded by PetPaceTM monitor collars and body weights were not significantly affected (P > 0.10) by time, treatment or time by treatment interaction. Cats on the treatment group habituated to the enrichment as scratching and interaction related measures decreased significantly over time (scratching duration and frequency, P = 0.002; interaction duration, P < 0.0001; interaction frequency, P = 0.0004). The long-term effects of enrichment on cat activity and body weight requires future study and obese cats in more controlled settings may serve as better subjects.Item Equine-assisted activities and therapies for military veterans: Results from an exploratory survey and pilot intervention study(2019-08) Cazenave, Kandis Renee; Schroeder, Katy; Hall, Nathaniel; McComb, Jacalyn; Protopopova, AlexandraPreliminary studies have shown that Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) may provide unique benefits for U.S. military veterans returning from service with psychological and physical wounds. In particular, recent studies suggest EAAT may be effective in reducing veterans’ symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (Lanning et al., 2017). However, more research is needed to understand why veterans might seek out EAAT, and under what conditions EAAT interventions may be the most effective for veterans with PTSD. Therefore, two investigations were developed with aims to generate new knowledge about EAAT for veterans. Study 1 involved a cross-sectional survey to investigate college-going veterans’ (N = 29) interest in EAAT, as well as factors that may influence their interest in EAAT. Results of this study indicated that access to nature was not associated with interest in EAAT. Correlational analyses showed that PTSD symptomology was associated with lower levels of wellbeing, as well as higher levels of interest across, all EAAT categories. Women veterans reported significantly higher levels of interest in all EAAT modalities, and student veterans of both genders indicated higher levels of interest in Therapeutic Riding. Experiment 2 involved the evaluation of a six-week therapeutic riding intervention for veterans experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic (n =3). Results indicated veterans experienced reductions in symptoms of PTSD, as well as increases in self-reported wellbeing; however, participants did not experience meaningful changes across physiological measures of stress. These data provide new insights regarding the effects of EAAT for veterans, as well as informs the design of more rigorous experimental research studies and the development of effective EAAT programs for veterans.Item Intake Vaccinations Reduced Signs of Canine Respiratory Disease During an Outbreak at an Animal Shelter(2021) Andrukonis, Allison; Brown, Kelsea M.; Hall, Nathaniel J.; Protopopova, AlexandraAnimal shelters provide an ideal environment for the spread of disease. Dogs are often housed in close quarters with others of unknown vaccine histories, and experience high levels of sustained stress. As a result, Canine Infection Respiratory Disease (CIRD) is often prevalent and difficult to control. The aims of this study were to (1) identify specific pathogens responsible for CIRD in a city shelter in West Texas, USA, and (2) determine whether intake vaccinations decrease proportion of dogs exhibiting signs of CIRD even during an outbreak. A laboratory analysis of conjunctival, pharyngeal, and nasal swabs (n = 15 dogs) and fecal samples (n = 6 kennels) showed prevalence of various CIRD pathogens (e.g., canine adenovirus-2, canine parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus). All fifteen dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen, with the most prevalent pathogen being Canine Distemper Virus (CDV; n = 12). All of the kennels (n=6) tested positive for Canine Distemper Virus. Health data on dogs (n = 1,258) over the age of 6 weeks were assessed from May to August 2017. Beginning in July, both stray and owner-surrendered dogs were vaccinated with Nobivac® Canine 1-DAPPv 5 Way and Nobivac® Intra-Trac® 3 upon intake, which differed from the previous policy. For each day in the study, we calculated the proportion of dogs in each nasal discharge category, the proportion of dogs observed coughing, and the mean fecal score across all dogs. We conducted a linear regression between the proportion of the shelter vaccinated and the proportion of dogs coughing. At the beginning of the vaccination phase, ~25% of the dogs were coughing. However, as the proportion of the dogs vaccinated increased, the proportion of dogs coughing decreased. There was a significant decrease of 7% of the proportion of dogs coughing when vaccination was at least at 90% compared to when it was <90%. These data suggest that the shelter in this study was experiencing a CIRD outbreak, with CDV being primary pathogen, and that it is possible to substantially reduce illness by implementing a vaccination on intake protocol. The current study provides support for the importance of vaccination in animal shelter welfare.Item The role of artificial photo backgrounds of shelter dogs on pet profile clicking and the perception of sociability(2021) Lamb, Fiona; Andrukonis, Allison (TTU); Protopopova, AlexandraWith the increasing prevalence of technology, the internet is often the first step for potential pet owners searching for an adoptable dog. However, best practices for the online portrayal of shelter and foster dogs remain unclear. Different online photo backgrounds appearing on adoption websites for shelter dogs may impact adoption speed by influencing viewer interest. Online clicking behaviour on pet profiles and human-directed sociability, broadly defined, has been previously linked to increased adoption likelihood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between photo backgrounds of shelter dogs and online clicking as well as perceived human-directed sociability. In a virtual experiment, 680 participants were asked to rank the sociability and friendliness of four different adoptable dogs on a scale from 0–10. The photo background of each dog was digitally altered and randomly assigned to four experimental background conditions: 1) outdoor, 2) home indoor, 3) in-kennel, and 4) plain coloured. As a proxy for adoption interest, a link to the dog’s adoption profile was presented on each slide and the clicking behaviour of participants on this link was recorded. Mixed logistic regression and Poisson models revealed that background did not affect participants’ link-clicking behaviour (chisq = 3.55, df = 3, p = .314) nor perceptions of sociability (statistic = 6.19, df = 3, p = .103). Across all backgrounds, only 4.74% of presented slides culminated in participant link-clicking. Sociability scores also did not predict link clicking. Assessment of participant-related factors and dog ID revealed that link-clicking and sociability scores of photographs were influenced by differences between dogs themselves and unaffected by participants’ awareness of study hypotheses. We conclude that artificial background types did not affect participant responses. The results demonstrate the importance of empirical data in making marketing decisions in animal shelters. Understanding which aspects of online marketing materials impact viewer interest will provide guidance for both animal shelter personnel and foster families to improve the speed of adoption of the animals in their care.Item The impact of caring and killing on physiological and psychometric measures of stress in animal shelter employees: A pilot study(2020) Andrukonis, Allison (TTU); Hall, Nathaniel J. (TTU); Protopopova, AlexandraAnimal shelter employees are in a unique position where they care for, and later kill, the same animals. The aim of our exploratory study was to assess whether “caring” and/or “killing” evokes physiological and psychometric indicators of stress in employees. Experiment 1 compared three careers that kill regularly, but involve varying degrees of husbandry (n = 28). Blood pressure (BP), salivary cortisol, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) were collected; data showed higher HR and lower HRV during the process of killing. Psychometric scales showed that burnout and Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scores were higher in careers with higher contact with animals. Experiment 2 compared three careers that involve husbandry, but varying exposure to killing (n = 41). BP, cortisol awakening response, HR, and HRV were measured as well as Professional Quality of Life Scale, IES-R, and Moral Injury Event Scale were administered. There were no significant differences across careers in any measures. The data suggest that the process of killing may be physiologically stressful to the person, and higher levels of animal contact in a euthanasia context may be associated with burnout and traumatic stress, but that the act of euthanasia is not a unique predictor of overall occupational distress.Item The Sociable Dog: A Systematic Experimental Investigation of Canine Social Behaviors(2019-04-30) Brown, Kelsea Marie; Protopopova, Alexandra; Hall, Nathaniel J.; Feuerbacher, Erica N.; Young, Alice; Hohman, ZacharyA growing number of studies make claims about canine sociability in both applied and basic contexts. Despite the prevalence of sociability assessments, it remains unclear what exactly these tests can tell us about a dog and how they do or do not relate to other concepts such as social cognition, behavior synchronicity, and learning. Additionally, multiple types of tests exist, with procedural variations within and between tests; there is currently no standard for measuring sociability in dogs. The purpose of these six experiments was to systematically investigate the concept of canine sociability. First, we examined whether procedural differences among canine sociability tests would affect dogs’ behavior. In Experiment 1, we used a mixed-subjects design to assess whether experimenter posture (standing, sitting, or kneeling) and presence of attention (petting and praise or none) affected leashed dogs’ social behavior. Mixed-effect logistic regression modeling showed statistically significant main effects and interactions between posture and social contact. On average, dogs were more social when the experimenter knelt and provided social contact. However, there were individual differences in how dogs were affected by changes in procedure. In Experiment 2, we examined correspondence between leashed and unleashed dogs’ social behaviors including latency to approach, time in proximity, following patterns, eye gaze, body orientation, jumping, and touching. Individual differences were examined by calculating a binomial mixed-effect logistic regression with condition (leashed, off-leash, following) and subject ID as fixed effects. Interactions were statistically significant for all behaviors, indicating that individual differences were present. The results have implications for the validity of sociability tests. In two follow-up experiments, correspondence between seven assessments was evaluated: Sociability (open field), Synchronicity, Reinforcer Efficacy, Pointing, Landmark, Separation, and Reunion. Forty-four dogs from a municipal animal shelter served as subjects. Distinct paradigms were observed, with high correlation of behaviors within tests, and little or no correlation of behaviors between test types. The data have implications for the validity of sociability assessments and the ways in which we discuss canine social behaviors, social cognition, and attachment. Our fifth experiment delved deeper into the mechanisms that drive dogs’ abilities to follow human pointing gestures. Though the two-choice task has been used for decades, researchers still disagree on the mechanism that drives this skill. One hypothesis suggests that dogs’ sociable nature—selected for during domestication—allows them to better communicate with humans, including understanding human communicative gestures. The opposing hypothesis is that dogs, within their lifetime, have learned to follow pointing gestures by simply interacting with humans. To tease apart the underlying mechanism (sociability or learning propensity) of point following behavior, we measured dogs (n = 24) on a sociability assessment, then subjected them to three different two-choice tasks: pointing, novel landmark (difficult learning test), and familiar landmark (easy learning test). There was little to no correlation between pointing and the landmark controls, and pointing was weakly negatively correlated with sociability. Moreover, when dogs were divided into high-sociability and low-sociability groups, no statistical differences were found for performance on any of the assessments, including pointing. We consider that three distinct constructs were measured: sociability, learning propensity, and social cognition. In the final phase of our study, we investigated the heritability of canine sociability. To date, the heritability of sociable behaviors has not been widely studied. A unique population of dogs—retired racing greyhounds—may prove to be an astounding population with which to study heritability. Because the population is large and dogs’ lineages are meticulously traced back to the 1800s, and because racing procedures dictate a controlled rearing environment, heritability estimates can be determined for any conceivable phenotype. In this first-ever study of its kind, we mapped pedigrees for over 200 dogs and calculated relationships between genetic relatedness and owner-reported sociability behaviors as measured with C-BARQ. We calculated animals’ individual inbreeding coefficients as well as additive genetic relationship coefficients between all subjects in our sample. A statistically significant regression equation was found for predicting sociability based on inbreeding coefficient (F(1, 205) = 4.25, p < .05) with an R2 of .02. Between dogs, additive genetic relationship was a statistically significant predictor of similarity in human sociability, but not for dog friendliness. Results indicated that there is an element of heritability involved in social behaviors, but overall very little variation is explained (R2 ranged from .002 – 00001). This highlights a perhaps even more interesting finding that, when genetics are accounted for and environmental upbringing is controlled, there is still a great deal of behavior variation within our homogenous sample of dogs.Item The use of entomological samples as potential odor biomarkers for decomposition stages(2019-05) Blanar, Katie E.; Prada, Paola A.; Godard-Codding, Céline; Protopopova, AlexandraForensic Entomology is a growing discipline with very little scientific research regarding insects found on a dead body and how they can provide vital information that may not be found anywhere else. Along with the little research that has been done, there are also few experts in this discipline who look at odor profiles in connection with these insects. Emerging research has been looking at odor profiles of different animal cadavers as well as the odor emitted from beetles placed on a corpse. However, there are no studies that are specifically looking at the odor emitted by maggots feeding on a cadaver. The purpose of this study is to investigate the volatile odor profile within maggots found on decaying piglet cadavers as a function of decomposition stage and compare with previous literature the results obtained to see how an insect’s volatile odor profile compares to human/animal decomposition models. With this information from the maggots, the utilization of insects as a sample matrix can potentially be implemented by forensic scientists using volatile biomarkers as indicators of postmortem intervals. Knowing the volatile organic compounds emitted from the cadaver insect populations will also give cadaver canine teams more information to better their training procedures in hopes of enhancing and standardizing those procedures. This study used eight piglet cadavers: two for a pilot study, two for a summer sampling period, two for a fall sampling period, and two for a winter sampling period. Instrumental evaluation utilized Divinylbenzene/Carbon/Polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) coated Solid Phase-Microextraction (SPME) fibers that were injected into a Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) system for the identification of extracted volatile odor profiles of maggots at the different stages of decomposition. The pilot study recorded and sampled the decomposition process every twenty-four hours until the process was complete. The piglet cadavers from the summer, fall, and winter sampling periods were sampled once a day for optimum sampling. Decomposing tissue samples from the piglet cadavers were also collected to provide a correlation between the odors emitted from the maggots and the pig cadavers themselves. The findings include an assortment of chemical compounds emitted from each of the maggots collected exhibiting distinctive odor profiles as a distinction of the stage of decomposition. The benefit of this study is enhanced knowledge in the realm of optimal odor profiling of maggots from the different stages of decomposition. This research will fundamentally bridge the gap in knowledge regarding the odor profiles emitted by maggots at various decomposition stages and how this profile impacts criminal investigations, which may be lacking evidence, and provide it with a new upcoming technique.Item Therapy dog welfare: Stress behavior, preference, and choice(2018-12) Arant, Megan; Protopopova, Alexandra; Dotson, Wesley; Schroeder, KatyAs the application for therapy dogs expand, there is growing concern for their welfare. In this sequence of studies, I aim to provide data and scientific insight into how therapy sessions with children impact therapy dogs and determine which types of child activities may impact the dogs’ welfare. Four experiments were developed to target the evaluation of therapy dog welfare. Assessment of therapy dogs’ behavior, preferences, and choices during sessions with children were conducted. Dogs’ stress behavior varied across dog and across child. No evidence for habituation to the child over time was found. Dogs varied on preference for proximity to the child, but no dog avoided the child. Dogs also differed on their choice to escape the room. The data showed that specific behavior of the dog can predict preference for proximity of the dog to the child in a structured preference assessment. Information from the sequence of studies not only will call awareness to the global issue surrounding therapy dog use and their welfare, but also provide suggestions for updated screening practices for therapy dog organizations, the ultimate goal keeping programs viable and to preserve longevity of service of their therapy dogs.Item Wellbeing in animal shelters—a one welfare approach(2021-12) Andrukonis, Allison; Hall, Nathaniel J.; Schroeder, Katy; Protopopova, Alexandra; Schmidt, Adam; Vitale, KristynApproximately 6.3 million dogs and cats enter United States animal shelters annually. While in the shelter, animals experience extreme stress and some are ultimately euthanized. Animal shelter staff not only have to provide daily care for the animals, but also have to make quality of life decisions for them. Chapter 1 addresses how the interrelatedness of human and animal welfare inside and outside of animal sheltering has led to the development of the One Welfare framework. One Welfare refers to an umbrella that encompasses the interactions between animal welfare, human wellbeing, and the social and physical environment. In an attempt to address One Welfare in sheltering, Reeve (2004) described an animal shelter welfare triad. The animal welfare triad refers to the connection between human wellbeing, animal welfare, and organizational health. This dissertation aims to address each as aspect of the animal welfare triad. First the dissertation addresses human wellbeing by exploring the relationship between identifying as an animal shelter employee and perceived social support (Chapter 2). In an attempt to better understand canine in-kennel welfare, the dissertation explores the similarities and differences in how animal shelter employees, behavior professionals, and the public determine and improve welfare (Chapter 3). Finally, the dissertation explores organizational health by evaluating the feasibility of implementing motivational interviewing (MI) training in animal shelters (Chapter 4) . The dissertation also discusses the importance and benefit of taking a One Welfare approach in future animal shelter research. It is impossible to tease apart the interrelatedness of human and animal welfare in sheltering. Acknowledging the connection is essential to maximize welfare outcomes for both humans and animals.