Use of accelerometers to measure stress levels in shelter dogs.

Stress can compromise welfare in any confined group of nonhuman animals, including those in shelters. However, an objective and practical method for assessing the stress levels of individual dogs housed in a shelter does not exist. Such a method would be useful for monitoring animal welfare and would allow shelters to measure the effectiveness of specific interventions for stress reduction.

Co-occurrence of potentially preventable factors in 256 dog bite-related fatalities in the United States (2000-2009).

Objective: To examine potentially preventable factors in human dog bite-related fatalities (DBRFs) on the basis of data from sources that were more complete, verifiable, and accurate than media reports used in previous studies.

Design: Prospective case series.

Sample: 56 DBRFs occurring in the United States from 2000 to 2009.

Obtaining a pet: realistic expectations.

Millions of dog-human relationships fail each year-some from simple and preventable mismatches. False or unrealistic expectations of a dog's behavior are a common reason for failed human-animal bonds. Veterinarians can reduce the incidence of false expectations and thereby increase the likelihood of successful adoptions by offering preadoption counseling to help clients sort through the many factors involved in the process of successful pet selection, by preparing clients to take on the important tasks of puppy socialization and the management of the home learning environment, and by educating new owners about the needs and behavior of dogs.

Long-term outcome after treatment of feline inappropriate elimination.

Urination and defecation outside the litter box is one of the most common behavior problems reported by cat caretakers and the most common behavioral reason that results in the relinquishment of cats to shelters. A physical examination, laboratory tests, and a thorough behavioral history are necessary to differentiate between the diagnoses of disease, marking, and inappropriate elimination. This study followed up on the outcome of cats who were treated for inappropriate elimination.

Assessment of stress levels among cats in four animal shelters.

Objective: To measure stress levels among cats in traditional and enriched shelter environments via behavioral assessment and urine cortisol-to-creatinine ratios.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Animals: 120 cats in 4 Boston-area animal shelters.