@article{park_royal_gruen_2021, title={A Literature Review: Pet Bereavement and Coping Mechanisms}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1532-7604"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2021.1934839}, DOI={10.1080/10888705.2021.1934839}, abstractNote={The loss of a companion animal results in millions of pet owners grieving annually. To date, little information has been synthesized on the grief response and coping mechanisms of bereaved pet owners. The aim of this review was to examine the relationship between pet loss and owner grief response. Major themes included: factors that influence the grief response, the disenfranchised nature surrounding pet loss, ambiguous pet loss and coping mechanisms used. Across the 48 studies included in this review, bereaved pet owners frequently reported feelings of embarrassment and loneliness following the loss of their pet. Types of coping mechanisms used by bereaved pet owners were identified and included: isolation, social support, continuing bonds, memorialization, religion, and relationships with other animals. Overall, this review was able to identify a consensus among the literature that bereaved pet owners are likely to experience disenfranchisement surrounding their loss. Based on the present findings, suggestions for future research include a focus on the effectiveness of coping mechanisms used by bereaved pet owners.}, journal={JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE}, author={Park, Rachel M. and Royal, Kenneth D. and Gruen, Margaret E.}, year={2021}, month={Jun} }
 @article{cunningham_park_knazovicky_lascelles_gruen_2021, title={Assessment of Sensory Thresholds in Dogs using Mechanical and Hot Thermal Quantitative Sensory Testing}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1940-087X"]}, DOI={10.3791/62841}, abstractNote={Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is used to evaluate the function of the somatosensory system in dogs by assessing the response to applied mechanical and thermal stimuli. QST is used to determine normal dogs' sensory thresholds and evaluate alterations in peripheral and central sensory pathways caused by various disease states, including osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, and cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Mechanical sensory thresholds are measured by electronic von Frey anesthesiometers and pressure algometers. They are determined as the force at which the dog exhibits a response indicating conscious stimulus perception. Hot thermal sensory thresholds are the latency to respond to a fixed or ramped temperature stimulus applied by a contact thermode. Following a consistent protocol for performing QST and paying attention to details of the testing environment, procedure, and individual study subjects are critical for obtaining accurate QST results for dogs. Protocols for the standardized collection of QST data in dogs have not been described in detail. QST should be performed in a quiet, distraction-free environment that is comfortable for the dog, the QST operator, and the handler. Ensuring that the dog is calm, relaxed, and properly positioned for each measurement helps produce reliable, consistent responses to the stimuli and makes the testing process more manageable. The QST operator and handler should be familiar and comfortable with handling dogs and interpreting dogs' behavioral responses to potentially painful stimuli to determine the endpoint of testing, reduce stress, and maintain safety during the testing process.}, number={176}, journal={JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS}, author={Cunningham, Rachael M. and Park, Rachel M. and Knazovicky, David and Lascelles, B. Duncan X. and Gruen, Margaret E.}, year={2021}, month={Oct} }
 @article{park_gruen_royal_2021, title={Association between Dog Owner Demographics and Decision to Seek Veterinary Care}, volume={8}, ISSN={["2306-7381"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8010007}, DOI={10.3390/vetsci8010007}, abstractNote={(1) Background: An important aspect of dog ownership is providing veterinary care. However, features of dog ownership differ across demographic groups and these may influence veterinary client decision making and behavior. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate relationships between American dog owner characteristics and willingness to seek veterinary care. (2) Methods: A total of 858 dog owners completed an online questionnaire asking participants to rate their level of likelihood to seek veterinary care for different medical conditions, answer supplemental questions about their previous veterinary barriers, and indicate barriers that prevent them from seeking veterinary care. (3) Results: Dog owners did not differ by demographics in their willingness to seek veterinary care. However, dog owner demographic groups varied in their relationship with their dog(s), previous behaviors accessing veterinary care, and barriers that make seeking veterinary care challenging. (4) Conclusions: Education, outreach and community-based veterinary medicine efforts should allocate resources to underserved communities identified within the context that they are affected by barriers to obtaining veterinary care for their dog(s).}, number={1}, journal={VETERINARY SCIENCES}, author={Park, Rachel M. and Gruen, Margaret E. and Royal, Kenneth}, year={2021}, month={Jan} }
 @article{meneses_park_ridge_daigle_2021, title={Hourly activity patterns and behaviour-based management of feedlot steers with and without a cattle brush}, volume={236}, ISSN={["1872-9045"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105241}, abstractNote={Environmental enrichment (EE) can increase the environmental complexity of feedlots by providing mental and physical stimulation. The objectives of the study were to 1) identify hourly patterns of feedlot steer behaviour and 2) evaluate the impact of EE on these behavioural patterns. Predominantly British and British continental crossbred steers (n = 54) were shipped to Texas A&M AgriLife Feedlot in Bushland, Texas, blocked by weight, and assigned to pens. Pens were randomly assigned to one of two treatments 1) No enrichment (CON; n = 3 pens at 9 steers/pen) and 2) BRUSH (Cattle brush; n = 3 pens at 9 steers/pen). Video recordings were decoded using continuous observation to determine the hourly frequency of headbutting, mounting, bar licking, tongue rolling, allogrooming and brush usage from 08:00 h to 17:30 h on d -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 relative to brush implementation. All ten research days were combined for analysis. The impact of time (hour), treatment, and their interaction on cattle behaviour were evaluated using a General Linear Mixed Model (PROC MIXED) in SAS. All behaviours were affected by time of day (P < 0.05). A treatment effect was observed for allogrooming (P = 0.0448), headbutting (P = 0.0038), and bar licking (P = 0.0002). No treatment by time of day interactions were detected (P> 0.05). Knowledge of behavioural patterns is critical to advancing feedlot cattle welfare research and provides information to husbandry technicians regarding cattle behavioural expectations. Training stockpeople to incorporate behavioural observations into daily health checks can improve feedlot cattle wellbeing by facilitating the prompt detection and treatment of sick or injured cattle.}, journal={APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE}, author={Meneses, Xandra Christine A. and Park, Rachel M. and Ridge, Emily E. and Daigle, Courtney L.}, year={2021}, month={Mar} }
 @article{robles_park_cramer_wagner_moraes_viscardi_coetzee_pairis-garcia_2021, title={Technical contribution: use of continuous recording video monitoring of maintenance and pain behaviors in piglets after surgical castration to validate six continuous time sampling periods for behavior scoring}, volume={99}, ISSN={["1525-3163"]}, DOI={10.1093/jas/skab310}, abstractNote={Abstract Castration is a painful procedure routinely performed on piglets. Specific periods relative to castration and time sampling rules are used widely to quantify deviations in piglet’s behavior associated with castration rather than assessing behavior for the entire trial period. However, very limited work has evaluated time sampling recording rules to quantify behavioral changes to piglets undergoing castration. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate the accuracy of six continuous time sampling periods (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 min), to quantify piglet behavior post-castration when compared with a full 60-min observation period. Sixteen Yorkshire-Landrace x Duroc piglets were surgically castrated. Data were collected using continuous observation (recording rule) of each individual male piglet per litter for 60-min post-castration. The 60-min continuous behavioral data set was then subdivided into six data subsets for each defined continuous time sampling period (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 45 min). Data from each continuous time sampling period and the full period data were analyzed using both a generalized linear mixed model and linear regression analysis. For the generalized linear mixed model, 30- and 45-min continuous time sampling periods were not different (P > 0.05) when compared with the full observation period data for all behaviors. For the linear regression analysis, affiliative interaction, sitting, walking, huddled up, prostrated, scratching, spasms, and trembling behaviors met the pairwise comparison accuracy criteria: [1) the coefficient of determination (R2) was > 0.90, 2) the intercept did not differ from 0 (P > 0.05), and 3) the slope did not differ from 1 (P > 0.05)] at the 45-min continuous time sampling period compared to full observation period. Results from this study suggest that a 45-min continuous time sampling period would be necessary to accurately investigate piglet behavior during the acute pain sensitivity time post-castration when considering both maintenance and pain-associated behaviors.}, number={11}, journal={JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE}, author={Robles, Ivelisse and Park, Rachel M. and Cramer, Catie M. and Wagner, Brooklyn K. and Moraes, Luis E. and Viscardi, Abbie V. and Coetzee, Johann F. and Pairis-Garcia, Monique D.}, year={2021}, month={Nov} }
 @misc{park_foster_daigle_2020, title={A Scoping Review: The Impact of Housing Systems and Environmental Features on Beef Cattle Welfare}, volume={10}, ISSN={["2076-2615"]}, DOI={10.3390/ani10040565}, abstractNote={Housing systems and environmental features can influence beef cattle welfare. To date, little information has been synthesized on this topic. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the relationship between housing and welfare status, so that beef cattle producers and animal scientists can make informed decisions regarding how their housing choices could impact beef cattle welfare. Housing features were categorized by floor type, space allowance and shade availability, as well as the inclusion of enrichment devices or ventilation features. Evaluation of space allowances across feedlot environments determined behavioral and production benefits when cattle were housed between 2.5 m2 to 3.0 m2 per animal. Over 19 different flooring types were investigated and across flooring types; straw flooring was viewed most favorably from a behavioral, production and hygiene standpoint. Veal calves experience enhanced welfare (e.g., improved behavioral, physiological, and performance metrics) when group housed. There is evidence that the implementation of progressive housing modifications (e.g., shade, environmental enrichment) could promote the behavioral welfare of feedlot cattle. This review presents the advantages and disadvantages of specific housing features on the welfare of beef cattle.}, number={4}, journal={ANIMALS}, author={Park, Rachel M. and Foster, Margaret and Daigle, Courtney L.}, year={2020}, month={Apr} }
 @article{park_cramer_wagner_turner_moraes_viscardi_coetzee_pairis-garcia_2020, title={A comparison of behavioural methodologies utilised to quantify deviations in piglet behaviour associated with castration}, volume={29}, ISSN={["0962-7286"]}, DOI={10.7120/09627286.29.3.285}, abstractNote={Abstract Surgical castration is a painful procedure that is routinely performed without pain relief on commercial pig ( Sus scrofa domesticus ) farms. Previous research has focused on quantifying piglet pain response through behaviours. However, to date, behavioural sampling methodologies used to quantify pain associated with castration have not been validated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate scan sampling methodologies (2-min, 3-min, 5-min, 10-min and 15-min intervals) to quantify piglet pain responses expressed by castrated piglets’ behaviour. A total of 39 Yorkshire-Landrace × Duroc male piglets (five days of age) were surgically castrated using a scalpel blade. Behaviour frequency and duration (scratching, spasms, stiffness, tail wagging and trembling) of each piglet were continuously collected for the first 15 min of the following hours relative to castration (-24, 1-8 and 24). To determine if the sampling interval accurately reflected true duration and frequency for each behaviour, as determined by continuous observation, criteria previously utilised from other behavioural validation studies were used: coefficient of determination above 0.9, slope not statistically different from one and intercept not statistically different from zero. No scan sampling interval provided accurate estimates for any behavioural indicators of pain. The results of this study suggest that continuous sampling is the most appropriate methodology to fully capture behaviour specific to pain associated with castration. Using validated behavioural methodologies in future research can assist in the development of objective, science-based protocols for managing pig pain.}, number={3}, journal={ANIMAL WELFARE}, author={Park, R. M. and Cramer, M. C. and Wagner, B. K. and Turner, P. and Moraes, L. E. and Viscardi, A. V. and Coetzee, J. F. and Pairis-Garcia, M. D.}, year={2020}, month={Aug}, pages={285–292} }