Animal Welfare - Book Reviews

Volume 33 - 2024

Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People: A Practical Guide for Professionals Working with People and Animals

Edited by Gilly Mendes Ferreira and Joanne M Williams (2023). Published by Routledge, Oxon, UK. ISBN (paperback): 9780367761134. Price: £24.99 (paperback), £120.00 (hardback), £18.74 (eBook)

I felt honoured when asked to review this book, because it deals with such immensely important topics, which I spend a considerable proportion of my time talking about to vets and professionals from a range of other disciplines. The stated aim of this book is to be a practical toolkit for professionals working with people and/or animals, to help them understand, prevent, and intervene in cases of animal abuse.

This book has ten chapters that can be read either in succession or as stand-alone texts. Each chapter ends with questions to consider, conclusions, and key messages. The first five chapters present background information on animal abuse (Chapter 1), psychological risk factors for animal abuse (Chapter 2), the links between animal abuse and domestic violence (Chapter 3), definitions of animal cruelty (Chapter 4), and finally investigation and intelligence sharing (Chapter 5). The next two chapters summarise what can be done about animal abuse, depending on your role: as either a veterinary surgeon (Chapter 6), or a parent or professional working with children (Chapter 7). Chapter 8 describes approaches to deal with both intentional and unintentional animal abuse. Chapter 9 describes how animal welfare interventions can (and should) be evaluated, while the final chapter summarises what we know, what we can do, as well as the knowledge gaps.

The first chapter, Animal abuse: A concern for all, is written by the editors, Gilly Mendes Ferreira from the Scottish SPCA, and Joanne M Williams, professor of applied developmental psychology at the University of Edinburgh. This chapter defines animal abuse and outlines who has a role in animal abuse cases. The answer is, as the title suggests; this book is for all who might come across animal abuse in their work. Ferreira and Williams review research that has highlighted an important concern; that child protection workers rarely ask questions about companion animals in the families they encounter. Key terms are defined and the Scottish SPCA’s ANIMAL approach, which can be used in animal abuse incidents is described. The Animal WISE Footprint Framework (promoting positive human-animal relationships) is also introduced (https://www.scottishspca.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/AnimalWISE%20roadmap%20Oct%202021.pdf) but unfortunately, the Animal WISE figure in the paperback version has a font size and colour that is almost illegible. The authors describe how animals may come to harm due to complex situations for owners, and the roles of each of the relevant professions are explained.

Chapter 2, Psychological risk factors for animal harm and abuse among children and young people, is written by Joanne M Williams and Laura M Wauthier (Clinical Psychology, University of Edinburgh). They describe the different roles that companion animals play in children’s lives and discuss how fine the balance can be between positive interactions and inadvertently negative interactions with the potential for harm. The authors then go on to explain how childhood animal abuse can be part of a spectrum of possible interactions, nested in social contexts. Animal abuse conducted by children can be associated with a wide range of factors, and we are presented with current research on the matter. This gives a thorough background for understanding the phenomenon, and the authors encourage a compassionate approach to both the children and the animals.

Chapter 3, The links between animal abuse and domestic violence/abuse, is written by Phil Arkow, the co-ordinator of the National Link Coalition and editor of a monthly LINK-Letter. His amazing work within this field will be well-known by many. He describes succinctly how the emotional attachment of abuse victims to their companion animals make the animals “soft targets” for manipulation and can be used to coerce and control family members. He presents the scope of domestic abuse in the US (and the numbers are staggering!). In this chapter, readers will also learn how threats against animals’ safety may be a barrier against leaving a dangerous home or may make abuse victims return to the abuser. The shortage of refuges/shelters that accept companion animals is therefore a threat not only to animals’ safety but also to the safety of the human family members. The role of a companion animal as emotional support for abuse victims is sadly also a vulnerability that abusers can exploit, as Arkow explains. The dynamics of how companion animals become part of different aspects of coercion and abuse is illustrated with The National Link Coalition’s Power and Control Wheel and a review of the related literature. Arkow also describes how devastating domestic violence and witnessing animal abuse is for children. At the end of the chapter there is a long list of implications for each of the professional sectors that may be involved.

In the fourth chapter, Angus Nurse, head of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Nottingham Trent University, describes how animal cruelty is defined within an international framework. Notions of what constitutes animal abuse are socially constructed, and thus, inevitably vary, as he points out. Nevertheless, in most jurisdictions, animal abuse is now a legal offence. Legal definitions of animal abuse often have deliberate, physical harm as the core element, but readers are reminded that unintentional harm also has the potential to cause severe suffering. The term “unnecessary suffering” is discussed, and both physical harm and psychological stress may fall within the definition of this. The author maintains that although animal welfare legislation may be strong, its enforcement is often more challenging.

Chapter 5, written by Mike Flynn (Chief Superintendent of the Scottish SPCA) and editor Gilly Mendes Ferreira, covers the investigative stage of animal abuse cases. They focus on the work of the SPCSs around the world, with the Scottish SPCA and RSPCA as examples. There are multiple case examples, some of which demonstrate the links between animal abuse and domestic abuse, thus emphasising the need to share intelligence between agencies. Multi-agency tools, such as the Dash Risk Checklist are briefly described.

Chapter 6, which is written by Freda Scott-Park (veterinary surgeon and former Chair of The Links Group UK) moves on to what can be done about animal abuse from a veterinary perspective. The history of how the understanding of the diagnosis of non-accidental injury (NAI) developed, from the pioneering work of Helen Munro and Mike Thrusfield (2001), through collaboration with human health professionals and the founding of The Links Group UK, is provided. Scott-Park explains that veterinary teams all over the UK now have access to a training programme, and many courses are online and therefore available internationally. IVC Evidensia’s profession-wide support network for vets with concerns about abuse is also mentioned (this is a great initiative that I would love to see adopted in other countries as well). The diagnosis of NAI is inherently difficult, and Scott-Park reminds us that the most important step in diagnosing NAI is thinking about it in the first place. She goes through the indicators of animal abuse, then provides advice on how to approach cases. The chapter includes examples of practice protocols for both animal abuse and disclosure of human abuse and presents the A R D R-approach (Ask, Reassure, Document, and Refer). There is also a discussion of the potential dilemmas between codes of professional conduct and doing the right thing, which may sometimes involve breaching client confidentiality. The last part of this chapter is about the role vets can play in animal abuse investigations, then it ends with a useful role-play exercise.

The seventh chapter is written by editor Joanne M Williams and covers what parents and professionals working with children can do to prevent childhood animal abuse, and how to intervene, with emphasis on inter-agency efforts. Children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect are very vulnerable, yet views on what is important to these children, Williams explains, rarely includes pets, despite pets often playing a key role in emotional support. I particularly liked the author’s suggestion about how primary school teachers can make animal abuse prevention a natural part of teaching across the existing curriculum. We also learn why social workers should care about animal abuse, and how they can prevent and intervene. Health professionals play a role whenever an animal is implicated in a child’s health condition, and mental health professionals may pick up on worrying behaviours towards animals. However, this presupposes that this subject is specifically asked about, which – unfortunately – often is not the case. Maybe this book will contribute towards a change.

Chapter eight is authored by co-editor, Gilly Mendes Ferreira, and aims to highlight available intervention programmes, particularly for children, also describing the gaps in this area. The chapter also provides recommendations about how to prevent abuse from happening in the first place. The differences between intentional and unintentional animal abuse mean that they need to be dealt with differently – the latter often possible to address through educational programmes, whilst the former requires more targeted intervention. The reader is challenged to consider whether three cases of abuse are correctly categorised as intentional or unintentional (the table’s rightmost column is wrongly headed as “Intervention response”, though). Ferreira explains that animal welfare education should include the exposure of children to positive interactions with animals, rewarding positive behaviours, and correcting negative ones. The four key principles of the Scottish SPCA’s Animal WISE initiative are described (Watch, Inform, Support, and Encourage) with the aim of tackling both intentional and unintentional abuse. The AniCare® model which is offered in parts of the US is also introduced as the only example of a psychological intervention programme, and targets both adults and children. For children, the approach includes highly supervised animal assisted therapy, puppet role-play, and emotion-based exercises. The last part of the chapter emphasises the need to evaluate the impacts of intervention programmes. This creates a bridge to the penultimate chapter, which provides a toolkit for the evaluation of interventions – and I would recommend reading these two chapters together. This is written by Janine C Muldoon, University of Edinburgh, together with editor Joanne M Williams. They recommend evaluating an intervention’s reach/engagement and how it works in practice, in addition to the impact in terms of change. The benefits of planning interventions and evaluations together are explained well. Indeed, a logic model of how change is expected to come about is an important part of the development of an intervention. The outcomes of such a model are what you want to measure changes in, in order to assess impact. A crucial problem is finding appropriate and standardised measures, which the authors also discuss briefly. Thus, the chapter provides a useful, albeit not very specific toolkit regarding how to measure changes, e.g. in psychological traits, such as attitudes and empathy.

The editors summarise in the final chapter what we know, what we can do, and what we need to know. The importance of inter-agency working is yet again emphasised; we all have a role to play. The authors point to increasing challenges with online exposure to animal abuse footage, potentially normalising violence and highlight that few interventions are designed specifically for adolescents. Of new directions for research, they call for more knowledge about psychological risk factors that are amenable to intervention, as well as validated measures that are predictive of behaviour towards animals.

Overall, the authors have based their texts on up-to-date research from this growing field, bridging disciplines such as social sciences and psychology with animal welfare science. This book does not provide an in-depth review of all aspects, which is fine; it is meant to be a practical guide, and as that, it certainly succeeds. The readers are provided with sufficient information to find out more elsewhere. One minor drawback, from an international perspective, is that the book focuses much on the UK in terms of relevant agencies, investigations, available intervention programmes etc. Nevertheless, I am certain that readers from other countries and a range of professions will find the book both useful and inspiring – I know I did!

Karianne Muri
Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway

Wildlife Ethics: The Ethics of Wildlife Management and Conservation

C Palmer, B Fischer, C Gamborg, J Hampton and P Sandøe (2023). Published by Wiley Blackwell; part of the Wiley Blackwell UFAW Animal Welfare series. Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK. 304 pages. Paperback (ISBN: 978-1-119-61121-9), eBook (ISBN: 978-1-119-61126-4). Price £99.99 (Paperback), £89.99 (eBook).

In an ever-shrinking world for wildlife, be this through loss of habitat due to direct human encroachment or resource acquisition, or habitats becoming unsuitable because of anthropogenic climate change, people are increasingly juxtaposed with wildlife species resulting in significant tensions on both sides; what to do to address these concerns?

This exciting new book helps us to frame our thoughts about dilemmas such as these. Moreover it perhaps, at least partly, provides a degree of solace in that while solutions are often not easily crafted or mutually advantageous, we do at least have some ethical tools to address them conscientiously.  Indeed, there may often not be an obvious resolution to a wildlife management or conservation issue and even the best options may include substantial disbenefits to some, but adopting an informed ethical stance at least allows us to make the best attempt at a just outcome, based on the information and knowledge available.    

The book is written by a team of five well-known, eminent thinkers in animal ethics and comprises nineteen chapters in two complementary halves.  (Chapters are not attributed to individual authors and it is fun to consider who may have taken the lead!).  The first half of the book takes the reader through and gives a sound grounding in the theoretical aspects of wildlife ethics from how we value wildlife to wildlife management and conservation models, punctuated with and often centred around real world issues, including overexploitation and when to intervene to prevent suffering.  There is a comprehensive coverage of issues at stake and a good flow of ideas with some inevitable but necessary overlap; the division between the chapters allows the reader to approach the subject in a systematic way.  Based on this theoretical background, the second half of the book applies this knowledge to a diverse range of practical case studies from fixing problems on the ground and paying due regard to human cultural practices and beliefs to wildlife research scenarios.  This is a very persuasive way to demonstrate the central importance of due ethical consideration in people’s interactions with other species.  The book is eminently readable, even I believe by those without particular experience in the field, attesting to the practical ability to apply ethical considerations in a meaningful way to real world wildlife management and conservation concerns.  Each chapter includes many pertinent references should the reader wish to delve more deeply.

Attempting to address these issues from an ethical stance is all the more important given the “One World” realisation that on a planet of finite resources, the fates of people, animals and the environment are interlinked at a range of scales from the impact of global climate change to the importance of local habitats in influencing individual animal interactions.  This plays out in the considerations of the welfare of species – where the conservation drive remains strong, but the concept of the welfare of a group is not easy to articulate – to the generally held view that welfare is a property of the individual that is part of that species. 

Indeed, the recurring debate about individuals versus species or populations is well covered, for example in terms of the possession of moral status and the responsibility this places on people to pay due regard to an animal’s well-being.  Deploying these and other arguments makes the reader think hard about their own position, even if a particular solution is not advanced.  In fact, in some of the cases covered where a number of outcomes present themselves, in tune with the whole book, the reader is implicitly invited to challenge their own views.  We can’t know, of course, what having moral status or intrinsic value (or indeed being sentient) means to any particular wild animal.  Historically there has been, as the authors describe, more consideration given to species where our aesthetic preferences favour certain anatomic features.  The same is perhaps critically reflected as we attribute sentience to animals other than humans and debate how far this should be extended.  If there is to be an argument that some species are more sentient than others (in a quantitative way; this is not a widely held view of course) this may mask the possible debate about the importance of sentience to the individual in question: thus, the level of sentience of a frog may be as relevant to him/her as the level of sentience of a baboon is to that individual.  The same could be applied to the attribution of moral status as the authors debate.  From my own perspective, I was pleased to see adequate coverage of the importance and possibly centrality of the individual animal and what he/she experiences.

The book also made me reflect on the actual meaning of terms such as “intrinsic value” or “moral status” and here in many cases we are looking at subtleties of terminology.  Such issues are covered well in the text but for readers dipping in and out, and particularly if doing so for the case study section of the book, it may have been useful to have provided a glossary of such terms as the authors interpret them.  The same applies to more fundamental terms where it is important to know the authors’ exact meaning – sentience, ethics (vs morals), cognition, consciousness and even welfare itself.  This may have seemed all too obvious to the authors (and possibly also to some readers of this review) but for many readers it may have been a useful reference point.  Of course, boiling down an understanding of such terms and what they mean to the possessor to just a few words is no easy task; they have to mature in one’s mind: Daniel Dennett, the philosopher and cognitive scientist, has spent his whole life thinking about consciousness for example!

From the start, I was engaged with the discussive nature of the book and wished the authors were sitting in front of me so I could explore and debate further with them on many of the topics presented, not only in the theoretical part of the book but also the interesting case studies they selected.  One of the particular time-consuming debates with myself, that the book provoked, centred on the analysis of the Epicurean view about harm to an individual that has died or been painlessly killed.  The authors conclude that such death is a harm in that it causes a welfare loss, not only in comparative terms (i.e. the individual has lost the opportunity to have potentially positive experiences – though this could never be predicted and for many wild animals this is always uncertain, even in life) but also in non-comparative accounts of satisfying desires in a more hedonistic approach.  Readers need to be aware of this conclusion as it colours aspects of the case studies presented in the second half of the book. Whether we should reflect on the loss of potential life opportunities to the individual is important when decisions are made to kill animals for conservation or wildlife management reasons; I personally remain conflicted in so far as (to the best of my understanding) the (dead) individual (which possessed a welfare state when alive) will be entirely unaware of this future foregone.  It is elements such as this that make the book such a treat to read!

The chapter on whaling and the Makah People also caused me particular pause for thought.  It highlighted that in some areas, consensual solutions may evade even the best deliberation.  For some issues, we can expect change across time as attitudes to wildlife evolve, and views of different constituent groups coalesce with the maturity of absorbing others’ positions.  Indeed, I read the book and wrote this review, as the authors describe, from a traditional Western viewpoint which, I accept, may hamper a more universal perspective: if one thing, the authors have encouraged me to become more aware and tolerant of others’ views, honed from long-held beliefs.

You don’t need to read the book from cover-to-cover to get a lot from it.  The chapters on case studies and the exploration of wildlife ethical issues in the real world could be tailored to act as templates for thinking through potentially wide-ranging implications in a variety of different situations.  Solutions may also include doing nothing, but only by working through the ethical review process might this be advocated as the best rather than the lazy or cheapest solution!  When thinking about wildlife management models and real-time actions too, particularly in the chapter on moral disagreement, the authors made me consider the balance between dealing with issues that immediately and practically face us, and evolving processes to achieve a potential or yet undetermined solution, re-emphasising the sometimes elusive nature of universally agreed outcomes. 

To end, if you are directly or indirectly interested in wildlife management and conservation and the ethical issues these throw up, rather than consider why you should read this book (or at least make forays into it), I would ask, more importantly, why you wouldn’t, appealing as it does to a broad readership in the emerging field of wildlife ethics?  It contains so much useful consolidated and clearly worked through background material and sound ethical theory and puts these to work in very practical ways that can be broadened out to be used in numerous other situations.  While this book probably won’t directly answer your individual wildlife management or conservation dilemma (it doesn’t set out to explicitly do this and in fact it often doesn’t even do so for the cases presented), it will certainly equip you to take an ethical view of potential options and open your mind to wider consequences from the basis of sound contemporary understanding.  It is an easily readable book but, as noted above, be prepared, as I often had to be, to pause to consider how the views expressed match your own ideas and motivations – not necessarily from a point of disagreement but from one of having due regard for a wider range of circumstances that might otherwise not be considered; to me this itself was a useful and sometimes salutatory experience!  For all these reasons and many more, it is a pleasure to recommend this book to you; I know that it is one that I will keep coming back to!

Pete Goddard, Chair of the UK’s Wild Animal Welfare Committee, Aberdeenshire

Halal Slaughter of Livestock: Animal Welfare Science, History and Politics of Religious Slaughter

Awal Fuseini (2023). Animal Welfare Series, Volume 22. Eds Clive Phillips and Moira Harris.
Published by Springer, Cham, Switzerland., 180 pages. eBook (ISBN 978-3-031-17566-4),
Softback (ISBN 978-3-031-17568-8), Hardback (ISBN 978-3-031-17565-7). Price £79.50 (eBook), £99.99 (Softback), £99.99 (Hardback)

As the second published title for the author in an increasingly diverse repertoire, this book should be regarded as a formative exploration into the technical aspects of all slaughter practices, and as a contemporary discussion of religious slaughter in modern food systems. Both topics are individually complex yet clearly described in the book, and their fundamental interdependency explored through the examination of halal slaughter practices from across the globe. Approached as a holistic guide, capturing both the historic and contemporary position, it is wholly relevant to readers from all backgrounds – of any faith or none. This meets the author’s stated aim of informing all stakeholders, including consumers, veterinarians, policy-makers, religious authorities and industry colleagues.

As a concise work, covering an especially complex area of animal welfare and ethics, the book is sensibly divided into four chapters which independently address the fundamental aspects of halal slaughter. These are 1) the science of conscious perception and death, 2) impact of preslaughter handling on welfare, 3) religious slaughter, and 4) sociopolitical aspects of religious slaughter. Each chapter is written in the style of a literature review, beginning with an abstract of key points and concluding with a comprehensive reference list to support the concepts discussed. Readers unfamiliar with scientific writing should not be deterred however, since the author is extremely comfortable in employing non-technical language wherever possible and using explanatory figures to illustrate more complex points outside the main text. Consequently, the book can be readily used as a reference text for technical and theological enquiries by readers of any level, as well as a narrative account of the evolution of contemporary halal slaughter practices, and their wider reception as a prominent aspect of the Islamic religion. The final chapter succeeds in delivering a conclusion to this narrative, as well as considering the relevance of non-faith food concerns – including veganism, and climate crisis – to halal principles, reflecting current secular and societal interests.

Of note, the exploration of conscious perception and death is an essential foundation and of particular relevance to the later discussions, regarding slaughter practices. These discussions require an understanding of how beliefs surrounding the states can influence slaughter practices and their acceptance by faith and non-faith stakeholders. The subject is complex, but the author explains concepts simply and with the aid of explanatory figures which can be readily referred to when revisited in later chapters. Some readers more familiar with the subject matter may have hoped for more context to be provided as to how practices vary across the globe, since these are influenced by domestic legislation, societal expectations, cultural beliefs, and market requirements. Equally, those seeking to understand the practical challenges or potential solutions to innovation and advancements in contemporary halal slaughter may need to pursue further dialogue with the author. The author rightfully recognises the contributions of welfare charities such as The Humane Slaughter Association and Eyes on Animals to such advancements and a wider understanding of animal welfare by Muslims, as well as the nascent role of farm assurance in halal production systems.

The chapters are generally well balanced in their approach to the subject in question, and sufficiently concise for them to be read in one sitting. However, some may find chapter four, which covers religious slaughter, a more lengthy and challenging read, since it covers both the historical relevance of stunning equipment development and the origins of halal slaughter. The rationale behind incorporating both these subjects into one larger chapter is understandable, since it reminds the reader that there are many parallels between the evolution of both faith and non-faith slaughter practices. A consonant history and future is one of the key messages which the author is seeking to convey through the overarching narrative and should be recognised by readers as the foundation of a unified approach to the advancement of welfare at slaughter. This objective is echoed in the foreword, written by Rizvan Khalid, a highly regarded Muslim meat industry expert, and the Animal Welfare series preface, written by series editors Moira Harris and Clive Phillips. The contributors all recognise that a unified industry, where animal welfare is at the forefront of all advancements, and where market requirements or preferences are recognised and respected, will not only help the agri-food sector maximise the opportunities, but ultimately bring about greater understanding and consensus.

Claire White
National Farmers Union, Kenilworth