Search Results (280)

Empathy toward animals has received increasing attention because of its relationship to prosocial attitudes, conservation engagement, and environmental concern. Despite growing interest, the way empathy toward animals is measured varies widely across disciplines and applied contexts, making it difficult to compare findings or assess the strength of existing instruments. This paper examines the measurement landscape of empathy toward animals by identifying and describing tools used in both academic research and conservation practice. A search of Web of Science yielded 2155 unique records, resulting in a final sample of 65 peer-reviewed studies with empathy assessment instruments published between 2000 and 2025. These were supplemented by 42 instruments shared by members of the Advancing Conservation through Empathy for Wildlife (ACE for Wildlife^®) Network, one of the largest known networks of professionals focused on enhancing and evaluating empathy toward animals. Across these sources, we observe substantial variation in how empathy is operationalized, including differences in construct emphasis, focal species, intended audiences, and attention to reliability and validity. Academic studies primarily use surveys emphasizing affective empathy toward mammals, whereas practitioner-developed tools are more diverse and often assess cognitive and motivational dimensions across cohort groups. In mapping differences in approaches, we identify persistent gaps and provide suggestions to better align scholarly and applied assessment tools. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dog tethering remains a common containment practice in several regions despite increasing concerns about its implications for animal welfare. This study aimed to assess veterinary professionals’ perceptions in Portugal about the impact of dog tethering on canine health, behavior, and welfare, as well as their views on its regulation. Methods: An anonymous, structured questionnaire was distributed online to veterinary professionals to collect data on clinical exposure to chained dogs, observed health and behavioral outcomes, and attitudes toward criminalizing the practice. Results: A total of 331 veterinarians participated, of whom 71.9% reported encountering chained dogs during their professional activities, particularly in rural areas. Most respondents perceived the tethering conditions as inadequate, particularly regarding freedom of movement and the fulfillment of behavioral needs. Frequently reported consequences included alopecia at the restraint site, poor muscle condition, physical injuries, fear-related behaviors, reduced socialization, and increased aggression. Preventing escape was identified as the primary perceived motivation for tethering. The majority of veterinarians supported some degree of criminalization, particularly when welfare impairment was evident. Conclusions: These findings reflect veterinary professionals’ perceptions of the welfare risks associated with prolonged tethering and underscore the need for integrated strategies combining regulation, education, and accessible, humane containment alternatives. Full article

Attitudes towards animal welfare depend on people’s lifestyles and education levels, yet little is known about the attitudes of nomadic people. We distributed a questionnaire and collected 1660 valid responses, representing individuals with or without nomadic connections and varying education levels and genders. We used ordinal logistic regression to analyze the impact of these two factors on perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions related to animal welfare. Women and those with higher education levels tended to hold more positive attitudes toward animal welfare, but for farm animals, this was only extended to common female reproducing animals, such as cows, sheep, goats, and laying hens, but not other farm animals, such as beef cattle and broiler chickens. This may reflect a greater sensitivity towards reproducing animals. The influence of nomadic connections on attitudes towards animal welfare was not linear—respondents with nomadic connections themselves or family members of the same generation generally had more negative attitudes, while those with grandparents with nomadic connections had more positive attitudes on several animal welfare issues. This may reflect a generational change in the attitudes of nomadic people towards animals. Full article

Children’s affinity for natural elements, or biophilic preferences, has gained increasing recognition as a cornerstone of family-centered sustainability. This study examines how parental factors, specifically environmental attitudes and in-home biophilic design plus guidance, directly shape children’s preference for nature-infused environments. A cross-sectional survey (N = 397) for parents collected data on household greenery, animal care, parental attitudes toward environmental responsibility, and the degree of child involvement with natural elements. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the analysis identified proactive parental mindsets and frequent biophilic home modifications as significant predictors of stronger child affinity for plants, water features, and other nature-inspired components. The findings highlight several key parental and environmental factors that contribute to the development of children’s biophilic preferences, underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts among families, communities, and policymakers to nurture children’s environmental consciousness. By highlighting how indoor greenery, small-scale animal care, and intentional parental support can foster early engagement with nature, this research offers fresh insights into the synergy between biophilic design and sustainable family practices. Emphasizing the potential role of home-based natural elements in enhancing children’s environmental awareness, the study concludes that nature-rich living spaces and holistic sustainability interventions are essential for empowering the next generation to shape a more sustainable future. Full article

This study investigates European citizens’ perspectives on farmers’ roles, highlighting gender, age, education, political orientation, community size, social class, and attitudes towards the EU. This study was developed using 21,002 interviews with European Citizens from all 27 EU countries. A quantitative data analysis methodology was used from the European Eurobarometer 97.1 survey. Seven models were formulated and tested. It is shown that men prioritise economic growth and food stability, while women emphasise environmental protection and animal welfare. Younger individuals focus on rural job creation, whereas older citizens value food security. Higher education levels correlate with environmental and animal welfare concerns. Right-leaning citizens favour economic development, whereas left-leaning individuals prioritise ecological issues. Larger communities emphasise economic growth, while smaller ones focus on environmental preservation. Social class influences priorities, with higher classes concerned about sustainability and lower classes about job creation. Pessimistic views about the EU correlate with food safety concerns, while optimistic views align with environmental and animal welfare priorities. These findings suggest that aligning agricultural and food policies with citizens’ diverse needs can foster a more sustainable and resilient European food system. Full article

The use of animals in biomedical research and university teaching remains socially sensitive, shaped by ethical concerns, regulations, and public expectations. While animal models are still essential for basic and translational research, society increasingly demands transparency, strong welfare protections, and the development of alternative methods. This study investigated Spanish university students’ attitudes toward the use of animals in basic research, translational research, and educational settings, and examined their acceptance of different species for addressing human health problems. It also assessed how sociodemographic variables, personality traits, empathy, and anthropomorphism relate to these views. The sample included 653 students, predominantly women, heterosexual, and urban residents. Most participants supported the use of animals in research, whereas opinions regarding teaching uses were more divided. Attitudes toward the use of laboratory animals consistently differed by gender and field of study, with men and students in science-related disciplines showing higher acceptance. Of the psychological variables assessed, only anthropomorphism showed moderate negative correlations with support for the use of laboratory animals across all contexts. Species strongly influenced attitudes: companion animals generated the most opposition, primates and livestock elicited mixed responses, and rodents, invertebrates, and aquatic species received the highest support. Overall, students generally accept animal use but vary substantially by species, gender, and academic background. Full article

Located in northeastern Anatolia, Çıldır and Ardahan serve as a gateway to the Caucasus for political entities such as the state and mobile groups such as the tribe. Due to this geopolitical characteristic, the region has fallen under the dominion of numerous states and civilizations throughout history. With its fertile highlands, Lake Çıldır, and natural water resources like the Kura River, the area constitutes an attractive living space for hem settled agriculturalists and nomadic tribe groups subsisting on animal husbandry. These features have profoundly influenced the ethnic, demographic, socio-economic, and cultural fabric of the region. Following the establishment of Ottoman sovereignty in the 16th century, Çıldır and Ardahan assumed a vital role in the state’s Caucasian and Eastern policies. This research addresses the Turkmen tribe and other ethnic communities residing around the eyalet of Çıldır and the sanjak of Ardahan. It further examines the banditry activities carried out by these groups, the attitudes of central and local administrators toward such activities, migration and settlement patterns, and the economic and political pressures exerted by the Russian State upon these tribes. The political and economic pressures exerted by the Russian State on these tribes reflect a broader imperial strategy of frontier making, as discussed by Khodarkovsky in the context of Russia’s expansion into its southern borderlands. By positioning the region as a negotiated frontier, this study moves beyond a descriptive narrative to analyze how tribal mobility and settlement functioned as tools of sovereignty and resistance within the broader context of Ottoman state formation and trans-imperial rivalry. The methodology employed in this study is the Qualitative Research Method; accordingly, documents from the Presidential Ottoman Archives (BOA) were transcribed, and the relevant sections were interpreted and incorporated into the study. The archival findings are contextualized within recent historiographical debates concerning the shifting definition of the state versus nomadic agency during the transition from the 18th to the 19th century. While existing literature contains academic studies aiming to elucidate the archaeological, geographical, economic, and administrative structures of Çıldır and Ardahan, it has been determined that no academic research has been conducted to analyze the ethno-socio-demographic structure of the region specifically focusing on the 18th and 19th centuries in a historical sense. With this focus on the interplay between imperial frontiers and tribal identity, this study provides a critical analysis of how local dynamics shaped the grand strategies of the Ottoman and Russian Empires. Full article

This study examined general attitudes toward animals among staff working in licensed animal hospitals in Türkiye. Using the 10-item Animal Attitude Scale (AAS-10), an online survey was administered to animal hospital staff; 193 questionnaires were completed from 17 provinces. Because total scores deviated from normality, group comparisons were conducted using non-parametric tests, and a multiple linear regression model was fitted to examine joint associations with demographic and professional variables. Overall, participants reported generally positive attitudes (mean AAS-10 = 36.7 ± 5.85; range 10–50). Women scored higher than men (p < 0.001), and respondents aged 20–29 years scored higher than those aged ≥40 years (p = 0.029) in unadjusted comparisons; however, the age pattern was small and did not persist after adjustment for gender and other covariates. Professional variables, including occupational role and length of service, were not meaningfully associated with total scores. Exploratory item-level analyses suggested gender-related differences in acceptance of specific forms of animal use, but these should be interpreted cautiously given multiple comparisons. These findings provide a descriptive baseline of AAS-10 scores in a heterogeneous animal hospital workforce and support hypothesis generation for future research that incorporates practice-specific measures. Full article

India, the world’s largest producer and consumer of milk, deifies cows. Contemporary Hindu religious beliefs bestow upon the cow the status of a mother who provides humans with life-sustaining food—milk. However, the role of this culturally shaped human–animal dynamic in Indians’ routine dairy consumption remains largely unknown. This study aims to understand the role of cow-related religious beliefs in Indians’ intentions to consume cow dairy products using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. A quantitative survey was conducted involving 559 Indian adults, utilizing a snowball sampling method. Employing structural equation modeling, the findings indicated that Indians’ dairy consumption intentions are affected by their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control towards the dairy products (p < 0.001). Subjective norms had the most notable influence on dairy consumption intentions (β= 0.29, p < 0.001), and cow-related religious beliefs were a significant moderator of this link (Δβ= 0.11, p < 0.01). These findings show that consuming cow dairy products is a religiously shaped social practice in India. They reveal a conceptual and physical ‘culturalization’ of the cow in Indian society through which the animal is simultaneously sacralized and commodified. This highlights a paradoxical situation where the demand for cow dairy products, which arises significantly from the cow’s sacred, mother-like status, in turn perpetuates the growth and sustenance of the same dairy industry that compromises her wellbeing (Mother-Milk paradox). This irony, therefore, challenges the assumptions surrounding the use of cow dairy products as a normalized socioreligious practice in India, questions the abuse of the cow’s acclaimed sacrality for capitalistic purposes, and calls for further research on Indians’ awareness of the cow’s animality and of the implications of the cow’s religious commodification on the animal’s wellbeing. In this way, a deeper appreciation of the role of sociocultural dynamics in human–animal relations can be obtained, and generate culturally sustainable human–bovine relationships which promote both human and animal wellbeing. Full article

Rabies remains a fatal yet preventable zoonotic disease, and understanding population-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) is essential to guide national elimination strategies. This nationwide cross-sectional study assessed rabies-related KAP among 2116 residents across all major regions of Saudi Arabia. An online validated questionnaire measured sociodemographic characteristics and KAP indicators. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including logistic regression, were used to identify predictors of good KAP outcomes. Overall, more than half of participants demonstrated poor knowledge (54.9%), particularly regarding rabies etiology, transmission, and essential post-exposure wound care, while attitudes toward prevention were overwhelmingly positive (92%). Despite this, several unsafe practices persisted, including interaction with stray animals and use of traditional remedies. Good knowledge was significantly associated with higher income, pet ownership, and residency in the Central region, whereas younger age and Northern residency predicted poorer practices. Mediation analysis suggested that knowledge may partly explain (mediate) the association between sociodemographic characteristics and reported preventive practices; however, causal inference is limited by the cross-sectional design. These findings demonstrate substantial knowledge and behavioral gaps despite favorable attitudes and highlight the need for culturally tailored educational interventions, improved access to post-exposure prophylaxis, and strengthened One Health strategies to support rabies elimination in Saudi Arabia. Full article

Nail clipping can cause fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in dogs and cats and possibly long-term aversion to veterinary care. We conducted an anonymous, online, mixed-methods survey to characterise the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Australian veterinary nurses, technicians, and other veterinary staff regarding nail clipping in dogs and cats. Among 242 valid responses, 71.9% (n = 174/242) performed nail clipping multiple times per week. Dogs (72.4%, n = 165/228) and cats (59%, n = 134/227) frequently displayed FAS (score > 2/5) during nail clipping. Most respondents (79.8%, n = 193/242) reported being injured while performing nail clipping. Respondents reporting a negative attitude towards nail clipping were 5.5 times (95% CI = 1.7–17.8) more likely to report being injured during a nail clip compared to those with a positive attitude. Respondents reported feeling pressure to persevere with nail clipping when it was unnecessary or when animals exhibited severe FAS. Where used, pre-visit pharmaceuticals and sedation were reported to effectively reduce FAS (dog: p = 0.015; cat: p = 0.152), along with non-pharmaceutical interventions such as gentle handling and counter-conditioning. Respondents perceived nail-clipping to be a difficult, undervalued task. Increased training of veterinary team members regarding nail clipping could improve animal welfare and the safety of veterinary team members. Full article

This study examined Croatian consumer attitudes towards fresh pork from the Black Slavonian pig, focusing on the following sustainability dimensions: environmental, social, economic sustainability, and animal welfare. A survey of 410 consumers was conducted in June 2021, using an online questionnaire assessing consumption habits, breed knowledge, and socio-demographic characteristics. Factor analysis identified four key dimensions: attention to animal welfare, support for local production and biodiversity, origin and information, and price and intrinsic quality. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct consumer segments: conscious consumers (32.4%), value-oriented consumers (37.3%), and uninvolved meat consumers (30.2%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that age, region, family economic status, and place of purchase significantly predicted cluster membership (Nagelkerke R² = 0.251, classification accuracy = 52.9%), while gender, education level, and household composition did not. Conscious consumers were characterised by older age, higher income, and a preference for direct purchasing channels, while value-oriented consumers favoured supermarkets and mid-range pricing. These findings highlight the need for improved consumer education, transparent labelling, targeted marketing strategies, and enhanced policy support to promote sustainable indigenous pig breed production and conservation. Full article

This study examines the impact of sociodemographic factors on the attitudes of EU citizens towards animal welfare and their implications for trade policy. Variations in animal welfare legislation across major commercial blocks create ethical and economic challenges, with the EU implementing stringent standards compared with other countries. Data were drawn from the Special Eurobarometer 533 survey, conducted between the 3rd and 26th March 2023, which employed a multistage, clustered sampling method across all 27 EU Member States, yielding a representative sample of 26,368 respondents. The survey collected detailed information on attitudes toward animal welfare alongside sociodemographic characteristics. The results revealed substantial public support for stricter regulations and informative labelling, with attitudes differing with age (p < 0.001), education (p < 0.001), income (p < 0.001), and political orientation (p < 0.001), according to the multinomial regression applied to each of the independent variables. These results emphasise the importance of these factors in shaping consumer expectations. The findings highlight the need for policymakers to integrate ethical and societal values into trade negotiations, ensuring that policies reflect public concerns, promote fair competition, and encourage higher animal welfare standards internationally. Additionally, understanding the perspectives and motivations of livestock industry stakeholders remains critical for implementing effective welfare strategies. By aligning EU trade policy with citizen values and stakeholder practices, it is possible to advance animal welfare globally while balancing economic and ethical considerations and promoting a fair trade. Full article

Plant awareness, which refers to the ability to notice, value, and understand the importance of plants, has emerged as a significant research field, particularly considering the growing concerns about sustainability and biodiversity loss. Acknowledging the crucial role of plants in sustaining life on Earth and human well-being, several studies highlight the need for educational interventions that can meaningfully enhance plant awareness. In this context, the present study aims to design, implement, and evaluate a Teaching–Learning Sequence (TLS) with university students in a Pedagogical Department. The TLS was grounded in the principles of transformative learning, an educational approach focused not merely on the transmission of knowledge but on fostering deep, personal shifts in learners’ perceptions and attitudes. To assess its impact, the Plant Awareness Disparity Index (PAD-I) was used before and after the implementation, supported by systematic observations and focus group discussions. Results indicate that the TLS effectively enhanced specific dimensions of plant awareness, particularly relative interest between plants and animals and attitudes toward plants. These findings position transformative learning as a promising pedagogical framework for promoting plant awareness in higher education and pave the way for its future application in earlier educational levels. Full article

Background: The global livestock industry faces pressure to reduce antimicrobial usage while maintaining animal health and productivity. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) including probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenics, essential oils, organic acids, and enzymes have emerged as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. Commercial success depends on consumer acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) for products from animals raised using these approaches. Objective: This systematic review synthesized peer-reviewed literature examining consumer knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and WTP toward animal products produced using NPIs or marketed as antibiotic-free (ABF) to identify a critical gap in existing research. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published from January 2020 to December 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed original research examining consumer perspectives toward NPIs or antibiotic-free (ABF) animal products. Narrative synthesis was employed due to study heterogeneity. Results: From 847 records, 15 studies met inclusion criteria. A critical finding was that virtually no peer-reviewed research directly examines consumer perceptions of specific NPIs such as probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenics, organic acids, or enzymes as feed additives. The included studies predominantly examined ABF production generally (60%) without specifying alternatives employed. Europe accounted for 80% of studies, while Asia accounted for 20%. Consumer awareness of agricultural antibiotic use was consistently low across contexts. Attitudes toward ABF products were favorable with one study reporting WTP premiums of 18–20%. Health consciousness was the strongest predictor of acceptance. Conclusions: The review highlights that while substantial literature exists on ABF products, no studies examine consumer perceptions of specific non-pharmaceutical interventions. Future research should investigate consumer responses to intervention specific labeling and communication strategies. Full article