Frontiers of Animal Protection

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Policy, Politics and Law".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2022) | Viewed by 18192

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Management and Organizational Studies, Huron University College at Western University, London, ON N6G 1H3, Canada
Interests: animal protection work and policy; animals and care work; the plant-based economy; and human-horse work

Special Issue Information

I am pleased to announce a Special Issue of Animals on the frontiers of animal protection. This Special Issue will assemble high-quality social science research that considers the social, legal, political, and employment dimensions of animal protection. Despite its importance for protecting diverse kinds of animals from human harm and the complementary benefits for vulnerable people and public safety, the animal protection landscape remains underexamined. To enrich scholarly understanding and offer insights of value to practitioners, organizational leaders, and policy makers, this Special Issue will highlight and assess the current state and future of animal protection work, policy, and practice globally. The species at the heart of these papers may be companion, farm, wild, or captive animals. Papers on the following topics are especially welcome:

  • The legal context shaping animal protection;
  • The politics of animal protection and its connection to other social challenges;
  • Case studies of front-line programs and their strengths and weaknesses;
  • Innovative approaches to animal protection;
  • The place of gender, race, and/or class in animal protection;
  • Emerging challenges and opportunities for animal protection.

Dr. Kendra Coulter
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal protection
  • animal welfare
  • animal rights
  • animal ethics
  • the human-animal violence link
  • animals and the law
  • animals and public policy
  • animal cruelty
  • conservation
  • humane law enforcement

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 340 KiB  
Article
Animal Control and Field Services Officers’ Perspectives on Community Engagement: A Qualitative Phenomenology Study
by Liana R. Moss, Sloane M. Hawes, Katherine Connolly, Morgan Bergstrom, Kaleigh O’Reilly and Kevin N. Morris
Animals 2023, 13(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010068 - 24 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5230
Abstract
Very little is known about the prevalence, scope, and methods of community engagement employed by animal control and field services officers to address the issue of animal cruelty and neglect. This study used a phenomenological approach to understand how officers defined community engagement. [...] Read more.
Very little is known about the prevalence, scope, and methods of community engagement employed by animal control and field services officers to address the issue of animal cruelty and neglect. This study used a phenomenological approach to understand how officers defined community engagement. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty-nine animal control and field services officers. The definitions of community engagement varied greatly across this sample of U.S. officers. However, most officers agreed that strategies such as relationship-building, providing assistance or information, and allowing time for compliance were among the most effective community engagement strategies. In addition, several barriers to incorporating community engagement strategies in the work of animal control professionals were identified. Future research and policymaking should seek to establish a consistent definition of community engagement in animal control and field services that can then be optimized for specific communities through rigorous evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers of Animal Protection)
15 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
Animal Welfare Underenforcement as a Rule of Law Problem
by M. B. Rodriguez Ferrere
Animals 2022, 12(11), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111411 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2823
Abstract
Many have decried the state’s underenforcement of animal welfare legislation because of the direct negative effects on animal interests. This article will advance the argument that such underenforcement has a much deeper societal effect because it undermines the rule of law. It does [...] Read more.
Many have decried the state’s underenforcement of animal welfare legislation because of the direct negative effects on animal interests. This article will advance the argument that such underenforcement has a much deeper societal effect because it undermines the rule of law. It does so by first, reviewing rule of law literature to advance the proposition that the state has a general obligation to enforce the law and, specifically, animal welfare legislation. It then looks to the practical issues that arise with the argument, specifically prosecutorial discretion and private prosecutions. Finally, it concludes that the state’s underenforcement of animal welfare legislation does indeed run contrary to the rule of law, and thus regardless of whether we have the interests of animals at the front of our minds, it is a matter that should concern us all. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers of Animal Protection)
16 pages, 633 KiB  
Article
Animal Protection, Law Enforcement, and Occupational Health: Qualitative Action Research Highlights the Urgency of Relational Coordination in a Medico-Legal Borderland
by Dawn Rault, Cindy L. Adams, Jane Springett and Melanie J. Rock
Animals 2022, 12(10), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12101282 - 17 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2696
Abstract
Across Canada and internationally, laws exist to protect animals and to stop them from becoming public nuisances and threats. The work of officers who enforce local bylaws protects both domestic animals and humans. Despite the importance of this work, research in this area [...] Read more.
Across Canada and internationally, laws exist to protect animals and to stop them from becoming public nuisances and threats. The work of officers who enforce local bylaws protects both domestic animals and humans. Despite the importance of this work, research in this area is emergent, but growing. We conducted research with officers mandated to enforce legislation involving animals, with a focus on local bylaw enforcement in the province of Alberta, Canada, which includes the city of Calgary. Some experts regard Calgary as a “model city” for inter-agency collaboration. Based on partnerships with front-line officers, managers, and professional associations in a qualitative multiple-case study, this action-research project evolved towards advocacy for occupational health and safety. Participating officers spoke about the societal benefits of their work with pride, and they presented multiple examples to illustrate how local bylaw enforcement contributes to public safety and community wellbeing. Alarmingly, however, these officers consistently reported resource inadequacies, communication and information gaps, and a culture of normalized disrespect. These findings connect to the concept of “medico-legal borderlands,” which became central to this study. As this project unfolded, we seized upon opportunities to improve the officers’ working conditions, including the potential of relational coordination to promote the best practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers of Animal Protection)
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19 pages, 290 KiB  
Article
Trauma in Animal Protection and Welfare Work: The Potential of Trauma-Informed Practice
by Rochelle Stevenson and Celeste Morales
Animals 2022, 12(7), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070852 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4370
Abstract
Those who work in the animal protection and welfare (APW) sector are consistently exposed to human and animal suffering, particularly those who witness animal surrenders and seizures. Continued exposure to suffering can result in stress, anxiety, burnout, and compassion fatigue, which are detrimental [...] Read more.
Those who work in the animal protection and welfare (APW) sector are consistently exposed to human and animal suffering, particularly those who witness animal surrenders and seizures. Continued exposure to suffering can result in stress, anxiety, burnout, and compassion fatigue, which are detrimental to individual and organizational well-being. The aim of this study was to understand the challenges experienced by Canadian APW workers, and to explore how trauma-informed approaches can be implemented to help mitigate these challenges. To achieve this, we utilized purposive sampling to seek workers in the APW sector who had experience with animal surrender and/or seizure. Telephone interviews were conducted with 11 participants. Participants reported experiencing many challenges that negatively impacted their mental health; this article summarizes them by focusing on two key themes drawn from the narratives of the participants: feeling unprepared and forced strength. Trauma-informed practices are explored as a means to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout, and to increase the resilience of individuals and organizations. We suggest trauma-informed practices help APW workers manage job-related stressors while also providing a more compassionate experience for animal guardians. Further, we propose that trauma-informed practices are a crucial component in facilitating respectful relationships with the communities that APW organizations serve. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers of Animal Protection)
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