Exploring Children’s Perspectives on the Welfare Needs of Pet Animals

Muldoon, Janine; Williams, Joanne; Lawrence, Alistair B.

doi:10.1080/08927936.2016.1181359

Cited by 30 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While most children had had some contact with farm animals and the countryside and understood the basic need for food and shelter, species-specific knowledge of welfare needs was lacking, and misconceptions were plenty. Similar findings have been reported in other focus group research (Muldoon et al, 2016). These results highlight the need for education on farm animals and their welfare needs in order to reconnect urban children with their natural worlds and give them further insights into agriculture and the source of their food.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The extent to which animals are regarded as sentient (e. g. capable of feeling pain, discomfort and emotion) is crucial to the way humans view animals and their moral responsibilities towards them (Herzog & Galvin, 1997;Knight et al, 2004). The few studies that have considered children's and young adults' beliefs in animal sentience conclude that sentience varies by species, with some animals being perceived as more sentient than others (Bowd, 1982;Fonseca et al, 2011;Hawkins & Williams, 2016;Muldoon et al, 2016). Animals that are emotionally close to humans, such as pets, and animals who are morphologically close to humans, such as monkeys, are perceived as most sentient, while fish and "pest" animals such as rats are considered the least sentient (Phillips & McCulloch, 2005).…”

Section: <Insert Figure 1>mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Children’s Welfare Knowledge of and Empathy with Farm Animals: A Qualitative Study

Burich

Williams

2020

Anthrozoös

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Public concern for farm animal welfare is increasing in the UK, as is evidenced by recent legislation. Calls have been made to enhance awareness of food, farming and farm animal welfare among school children, yet educators have very little research available to aid meaningful design of farm animal welfare education. This paper uses an interdisciplinary approach to investigate Scottish children's welfare knowledge and perspectives on farm animals. The study set out to explore: a) children's knowledge of the welfare needs of cows, lambs and chickens, b) beliefs about farm animal sentience, c) the extent to which children empathized with farm animals, and d) the impact of first-hand experience on attitudes towards farm animals. Data was collected from six focus group interviews with children aged 6 to 11 years and allowed both developmental and gender comparisons. While children were not indifferent to the welfare and treatment of farm animals, the study identified very large gaps in children's knowledge of farm animal welfare needs. While children endorsed animal sentience and readily took the perspective of cows, chickens and sheep, empathy was cognitive rather than affective. Most children had had little contact with farm animals and perceived of them in a more abstract sense than they did pet animals. Our study highlights the potential of direct interaction with farm animals to enhance children's welfare concern and compassion for farm animals. Findings also identified an interest in discussing the ethical aspects of killing animals for human consumption among children aged 10 years and older.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: <Insert Figure 1>mentioning

confidence: 99%

Children’s Welfare Knowledge of and Empathy with Farm Animals: A Qualitative Study

Burich

Williams

2020

Anthrozoös

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Almeida et al [33] suggest that children aged 8-10 years tend to misinterpret the meaning of particular animal behaviours. Muldoon et al [34] also found younger children in the 7-13 age group to be focused mostly on facial expressions of CA while being capable of recognizing only if their animal is hungry, whereas older children emphasized emotional distress associated with experiences such as loneliness or homesickness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Opinions towards Companion Animals and Their Welfare: A Survey of Croatian Veterinary Students

Mikuš

Ostović

Sabolek

et al. 2020

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This survey was the first one investigating opinions of veterinary students in Croatia towards companion animals and their welfare, with special reference to dogs and cats as the most popular companion animals in the European Union. The study included students of all six years of the integrated undergraduate and graduate veterinary medicine study programme in Croatia. First-year students were surveyed twice, before and after having attended the course on animal welfare. Student opinions were assessed on the basis of their mean responses to five-point Likert scale questions and frequency of responses to Yes/No/I do not know questions and ratio scale questions. Study results revealed students to have strongly positive opinions towards companion animals and their welfare. The majority of student statements did not differ significantly between the first and sixth study years or before and after having attended the animal welfare course in the first study year, mostly yielding a straight, non-fluctuating line. Students were not sure whether welfare of companion dogs and cats was compromised. Study results pointed to reliable and reasonable opinions of veterinary medicine students in Croatia towards companion animals and their welfare, as well as to the welfare issues these species may be facing nowadays.

show abstract

“…The finding that caring behaviours (such as spending time with pets, cuddling, stroking, and playing with pets) and friendship behaviours (such as telling secrets to, crying with when sad, and talking to pets) were significantly associated with attachment to pets is consistent with previous findings [ 71 ]. Although we cannot ascertain causation, these findings suggest that children’s participation in pet caring roles at home may possibly foster attachment to their pets, which may have positive outcomes for the child (e.g., improved well-being and quality of life [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]) as well as the animal (e.g., better care and welfare [ 27 , 37 , 72 ]). From direct experience, children learn to be nurturing, and develop the ability to recognise, understand, and share the feelings of others [ 73 , 74 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood Attachment to Pets: Associations between Pet Attachment, Attitudes to Animals, Compassion, and Humane Behaviour

Hawkins

Williams

2017

IJERPH

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Attachment to pets has an important role in children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, mental health, well-being, and quality of life. This study examined associations between childhood attachment to pets and caring and friendship behaviour, compassion, and attitudes towards animals. This study also examined socio-demographic differences, particularly pet ownership and pet type. A self-report survey of over one thousand 7 to 12 year-olds in Scotland, UK, revealed that the majority of children are strongly attached to their pets, but attachment scores differ depending on pet type and child gender. Analysis revealed that attachment to pets is facilitated by compassion and caring and pet-directed friendship behaviours and that attachment to pets significantly predicts positive attitudes towards animals. The findings have implications for the promotion of prosocial and humane behaviour. Encouraging children to participate in pet care behaviour may promote attachment between children and their pet, which in turn may have a range of positive outcomes for both children (such as reduced aggression, better well-being, and quality of life) and pets (such as humane treatment). This study enhances our understanding of childhood pet attachment and has implications for humane education and promoting secure emotional attachments in childhood.

show abstract

Exploring Children’s Perspectives on the Welfare Needs of Pet Animals

Abstract: Children are increasingly viewed as important recipients of educational interventions

Cited by 30 publications

References 37 publications

Children’s Welfare Knowledge of and Empathy with Farm Animals: A Qualitative Study

Children’s Welfare Knowledge of and Empathy with Farm Animals: A Qualitative Study

Opinions towards Companion Animals and Their Welfare: A Survey of Croatian Veterinary Students

Childhood Attachment to Pets: Associations between Pet Attachment, Attitudes to Animals, Compassion, and Humane Behaviour

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About