9.2: Let's Compare Welfare Activity

Compare Welfare \(\PageIndex{1}\)

In this activity, your group will examine two real-world animal care scenarios side by side. The goal is to observe, question, and reflect — thinking critically about the conditions and practices in each setting. As you work through the scenarios, connect your observations to the two foundational frameworks used in animal welfare science: the Five Freedoms and the Five Domains. These frameworks will help you move beyond surface-level observations toward a deeper understanding of what good animal care truly requires.

Your group will be assigned a scenario by your professor from the scenarios used in past Animal Welfare Assessment Contests.

As your group examines each scenario, use the guiding questions below to structure your thinking. For each question, record your observations for both scenarios, noting similarities and differences.

1. How were the animals obtained?
2. Did they receive care there, or were they healthy before they were obtained?
3. Who owns or pays for the animals and their care?
4. Could funding impact animal care and welfare?

1. How is the animal fed?
2. What is the animal fed?
3. How is water provided?
4. How much is the animal fed?
5. How is feeding calculated?

1. How does the climate of where the animal is kept affect the animal’s care?
2. Is all the equipment working correctly?
3. Where does the animal originate? Does the provided environment support its natural habitat?
4. Is the animal housed with other species that would have the same environmental requirements?
5. Does the facility have certifications, inspections, or licenses? Are they required?
6. Ideally, how should the animals be housed? What is the ideal enclosure (substrate, ambient temperature, enrichment, ventilation, sleeping areas, eating areas, access to water, etc)
7. Is appropriate housing provided for the animal? How do you know? Could the animals be exposed to parasites or other things that could impact their health?
8. How often is everything cleaned? What is it cleaned with? Is the cleaning sufficient?
9. Do the animals act differently after their enclosure is cleaned?

1. Who is guiding health care decisions? (Should be a DVM).
2. What does pain look like in this species?
3. If an animal is injured, how are they treated? Is there a protocol?
4. Is there a euthanasia plan?
5. If an animal can’t perform its duties, what happens?
6. Is the animal given time to heal after an injury?
7. Who or how decides that an animal is healthy again after an illness or injury?
8. Is there a quarantine plan?
9. What happens when an animal is sick?
10. What regular vet care does the animal receive? (deworming, bloodwork, etc.)
11. What is the quarantine period for this species?
12. What should a quarantine space look like?
13. How are the animal’s health parameters tracked?
14. Is preventative healthcare provided?
15. Is there a DVM available? On premises? As needed? Only occasionally?
16. What common diseases may this species get?

1. What is normal behavior for the species?
2. Can the animal express normal behavior?
3. What are the animals doing in the scenario? How are they spending their time?
4. What are the adverse behaviors for this species? What do they look like?
5. What is agonistic behavior for this species?
6. What is affiliate behavior for this species?
7. What does stress in this species look like?
8. Compare the ideal behavioral outcomes with what is being described or observed.
9. Is the animal being trained? (Schedule, appropriate behaviors, etc.)

1. Is enrichment provided?
2. How does the animal react when interacting with caretakers?
3. How does the animal react to handling?
4. What causes stress in this animal?
5. Are there other species of animals around that can cause stress in the target animal?

1. Who is taking care of the animals?
2. Do they have training?
3. What is their experience with that type of animal?
4. Is training ongoing?
5. What are the safety protocols for dangerous animals?
6. Are only trained people handling the animals?
7. How are the animals handled? Should they be handled?
8. Is any equipment shared between animals or species?