Jessica K Walker

• BAppSci, GDipHE, MSc, Ph.D.
• National Science Manager at SPCA New Zealand

A lack of national legislation for cat management in New Zealand poses challenges for ensuring that practices are consistently humane and effective. In this paper, we review the current cat management policies in New Zealand and the implications they have on the welfare of free-roaming cats (from here on, referred to as ‘cats’). Our review demonstr...

Companion animals are at risk of psychological (and physical) harm if outdated, incorrect or aversive methods of training or equipment are used during training and behavioural modification. Companion animal guardians often engage professional animal behaviour and training services, yet this industry is not regulated in New Zealand. A voluntary nati...

AIMS To describe the opinions of respondents to an online survey on desexing, microchipping and pet registration, and the management of cats, and aggressive dogs in New Zealand. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted online from 18–22 June 2015 using a permission-based panel of New Zealand residents aged ≥18 years. Questions included demog...

AIMS To describe the demographics of and predictors for pet ownership, reasons for visiting a veterinarian, and pet-related expenditure in pet owners in New Zealand. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 18–22 June 2015 using a permission-based panel of New Zealand residents aged ≥18 years. Questions included demographics of r...

Free-roaming cats are at increased risk of injuring themselves as well as other domestic and fauna species, yet relatively little is known about the frequency at which risk and predation behaviors occur in a typical day. In this study, cat risk, and predation behavioral information was collected using animal-borne video cameras and global positioni...

Aims To provide updated results on the adverse behavioural effects of fireworks on companion animals in New Zealand, measures that owners use to mitigate these effects, and opinions on a ban on the sale of fireworks. Method A cross-sectional survey of companion animal owners in New Zealand was conducted between 02 November and 05 December 2016 usi...

AIMS: To assess the prevalence of obesity in adult dogs and cats presented to first-opinion veterinary clinics in the North Island of New Zealand for routine vaccination appointments, using electronic medical records. METHODS: Ten first-opinion veterinary clinics across the North Island of New Zealand provided electronic medical records for all rou...

Free-roaming cats are a polarizing issue in New Zealand and there is strong need for a comprehensive evaluation of their welfare to better inform population management decisions. In this study, a 5-component visual health-related welfare assessment scale was developed and piloted on a convenience sample of 213 free-roaming companion cats (CC), 210...

Cat predation is a prominent issue in New Zealand that provokes strong and opposing views. We explored, via 1011 face-to-face questionnaires, public opinion on (a) support for a National Cat Management Strategy (78% support); (b) concern regarding predation of wildlife by owned and un-owned cats (managed stray, unmanaged stray, and feral cats); (c)...

The loss of a companion animal is recognised as being associated with experiences of grief by the owner, but it is unclear how other animals in the household may be affected by such a loss. Our aim was to investigate companion animals' behavioural responses to the loss of a companion through owner-report. A questionnaire was distributed via, and ad...

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) was utilised to examine the behavioural expression of dogs in different housing environments and the results were compared to measurements of quantitative behaviour and physiology. Firstly, quantitative behavioural and physiological differences were investigated between dogs in 3 housing environments (short-te...

There is a growing body of scientific evidence supporting the existence of emotions in nonhuman animals. Companion-animal owners show a strong connection and attachment to their animals and readily assign emotions to them. In this paper we present information on how the attachment level of companion-animal owners correlates with their attribution o...

Adverse social and welfare implications of mixing dairy cows or separating calves from their mothers have been documented previously. Here we investigated the behavioral and physiological responses of individuals remaining after conspecifics were removed. We conducted a series of 4 experiments incorporating a range of types of different dairy cattl...

Dogs (Canis familiaris) are a highly social species and within a shelter environment pair-housing is recommended to prevent the stress associated with social isolation. Separation of individuals which may have formed bonds in this environment is a usual occurrence, as a result of rehoming or euthanasia. To investigate the impact of separation, the...

Gender plays a significant role in influencing people's attitudes toward animals, however, little is known about how it influences their attribution of emotions to animals. To investigate the role that gender plays in public attitudes toward animals' experience of emotions and beliefs about whether animals can grieve, a face-to-face survey of 1,000...

This paper investigates public attitudes towards emotional experiences in animals. We surveyed 1,000 members of the public to investigate how companion animal ownership affects the attribution of emotions to animals and beliefs about whether animals can grieve. Respondents who owned a companion animal were more likely to believe that some animals c...

The Certificate in Animal Welfare Investigations at Unitec is a vocational training program run in partnership with the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Ministry of Primary Industries, that teaches students to become animal welfare inspectors that can be warranted under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Traditio...

The loss of a companion animal is well accepted to result in a significant experience of grief for the owner (e.g., Zilcha-Mano 2011; Hunt et al 2008) although, at present, little is known about how other animals in the household are affected by such a loss (Schultz 1996). This paper discusses how companion animals’ respond to the loss of a conspec...

Animals under human management are often separated from conspecifics, which may lead to behaviour indicative of separation distress or grief. For the purposes of this paper, grief is considered as a biological response to separation, indicated by a bi-phasic 'protest-despair' behavioural response. It is reasonable to assume that only animals which...

Animals under human management are often separated from conspecifics, which may lead to behaviour indicative of separation distress or grief. For the purposes of this abstract, grief is considered as a biological response to separation, indicated by a bi-phasic “protest-despair” behavioural response. It is reasonable to assume that only animals who...

This study aimed to identify behaviours that could be used to assess post-operative pain and analgesic efficacy in male rabbits. In consideration of the 'Three Rs', behavioural data were collected on seven male New Zealand White rabbits in an ethically approved experiment requiring abdominal implantation of a telemetric device for purposes other th...

To establish reliable information regarding the behavioural responses of dogs and cats to fireworks in New Zealand; record interventions used by owners, and their perceived efficacies; and establish the prevalence of firework-related injury, and quantify owners' attitudes towards fireworks. A questionnaire targeting dog and cat ownerswas distribute...

This study explores the use of Free Choice Profiling (FCP) methodology for the qualitative behaviour assessment of emotional expression in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Qualitative behaviour assessment is based upon the integration of many pieces of information that in conventional quantitative approaches are recorded separately or not at al...

Little research has been conducted into the use and efficiency of assorted dog training techniques. A web-based questionnaire investigated dog training techniques used by the general public within New Zealand. 566 dog owners completed the questionnaire comprising of 1028 dogs. Owners of dogs belonging to different NZ breed categories indicated sign...

The use of fireworks is reported to have aversive effects on animals’ behavioural, psychological and physical welfare. A New Zealand survey was conducted to ascertain the occurrence and severity of dogs’ and cats’ behavioural responses to fireworks. These behavioural responses were then ownercategorised as to the level of fear they were considered...

Worldwide, animal welfare investigations result in the discovery of commercial farming operations where large numbers of animals are suffering requiring quick and humane euthanasia. These events called “depopulation” operations are likely to be a traumatic experience for the personnel involved. In 2008, 13 Animal Welfare Investigation students volu...

Electric training collars are a common dog training device used worldwide. The use of these collars is controversial from a welfare perspective. Correct usage relies heavily on understanding learning theory and there is much anecdotal evidence to suggest that misuse of these collars is frequent. A questionnaire was conducted into the use of, and at...

The importance of animal welfare has led to an increase in animal welfare legislation being adopted by increasing number of countries and improvements being made to those countries that have established animal welfare legislation. This research investigates the importance of animal law and compares several different countries current animal welfare...

Electric training collars are a common dog training device used worldwide. The use of these collars is controversial from a welfare perspective. Correct usage relies heavily on understanding learning theory and there is much anecdotal evidence to suggest that misuse of these collars is frequent. A questionnaire was conducted into the use of, and at...