Techniques and Tactics for the Exceptional Animal

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1 Techniques and Tactics for the Exceptional Animal September 19, 2011 Lori Swenson Aurora Animal Care CVMF Convention, Keystone, CO Colorado Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps

2 Objectives Safety Animal Behavior Interpretation Tools, Techniques and Tactics Hands On

3 Learn to safely and humanely capture and handle challenging companion animals. Better evaluate companion animal behaviors. Anticipate animal actions and reactions. Learn and practice appropriate tool and adjunct use. Gain tactical advantage when capturing and handling animals. Optimize risk vs. reward decisions.

4 Self Team members and coworkers Public Animal

5 Physical Reasonably capable Recognize limitations Familiarity with tools Mental Alert Focused Knowledgeable

6 Situational Awareness Scene Evaluation Re-evaluation Receive information with open mind Pre plan Have a back up plan Be prepared NOT to act

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18 Wild, Domesticated, Tame or Feral? Nature vs. Nurture Predators and Prey Breed Characteristics Gender and Age Behavioral Development Types of Aggression Offensive Aggression Defensive Aggression External factors Learned behaviors Situational stress Illness or injury

19 Domestication occurs over a long period of time (generations or eras). Process of breeding and caring for animals resulting in physical and behavioral changes to benefit humans. Wild animals have not been domesticated as a species. Tameness is a measure of comfort around humans. Feral animals are ones which are considered domesticated but have little individual tameness.

20 Generally display offensive behaviors Prefer low light or dark Binocular vision, eyes forward Increased olfactory sense More likely to fight before flight

21 Defensive behaviors More comfortable in light environments Monocular vision, eyes to side of head Less depth perception Use countermeasures like camouflage or overly bright colors May freeze before flight

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23 Males are more aggressive in general Female aggression may be maternal or hormone influenced Neutering has more effect on males than females with respect to offensive aggression Defensive aggression less likely to be affected by spay/neuter Sexual maturity and hormone production

24 Sporting breeds Herding dogs Hounds Terriers Working breeds Toy Non Sporting

25 Soft mouthed Trainable High energy Social Can be destructive if bored

26 Very high energy Nip and run Typically approach from rear Lower leg bites Stare and stalk

27 Slower moving High endurance Sight hounds Scent hounds Prey drive Difficult to read

28 Prey driven Hold and shake Dominant Tenacious

29 Often difficult to read Strong High prey drives Often used for guard dog purposes Independent and aloof Stubborn

30 Most vicious of all Small and fast Can inflict multiple bites quickly Often display defensive aggression

31 Diverse group Chow Chow Dalmation Lhasa Apso Poodle Stoic breeds

32 Defined behavioral development periods Younger animals more malleable Exploratory and learning behaviors in puppies may be mistaken for aggression Hormones become more important during sexual maturity Dogs may become more aggressive with age Increase in pain, decrease in tolerance Decrease in cognitive and sensory function Increase in anxiety related disorders Habituation and learned aggression

33 Animals learn behaviors and social roles from parents and littermates Bite inhibition in puppies learned between 2 8 weeks Socialization period between 3 14 weeks Human/animal bond begins to form with positive contact Fear of unknown increases as socialization period ends Kittens have smaller window for socialization, 2 7 weeks

34 DOMINANT BEHAVIORS Demanding Assertive Controlling Offensive SUBORDINATE BEHAVIORS Yielding Submissive Appeasing Defensive

35 Fear Induced Redirected Pain Induced Punishment Induced Territorial, Protective or Possessive Guarding the yard (or block) Food or toy aggression (resource guarding) Maternal Dominance Prey aggression

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44 Display mostly defensive aggression towards humans Pain elicited Overstimulation Fear motivated Avoidance failures Offensive Predatory Territorial Redirected

45 Level of attention Approach Apparel Movement Eye Contact Tone of voice Reactions Stop, Drop, and Roll

46 Visual clues Auditory signals Olfactory information Prior knowledge Intuition Experience

47 Ear position Upright, flat, forward, back Eye condition Dilated pupils, whale eye, cloudy pupils Body stance Squared off vs crouched Forward vs back Piloerection Hackles up? Tail position and movement Flagging, sweeping, tucked

48 High pitched yelps and barks Looking for attention Pain elicited Low growls and vibrations Offensive warning No vocalization Trained dogs and feral cats often don t vocalize at all Purring May not be a sign of contentment

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71 Body Language and Motion Appearance Voice Interventions Hardware

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73 Slow down but be quick Get down Get up The chase The follow Let s play I can t see you Patience Indirect routes

74 Sunglasses Hats Uniforms Bulky coats Heavy boots Look like big, dilated, aggressive eyes Makes your head look bigger Not sexy to the animals Makes you appear bigger More of an issue for small animals

75 COMMANDS Questioning Tone Pitch Cadence Volume SIT Do you want to go for a ride? Authoritative vs. complacent Higher pitch less threatening Slow down Quiet is good for coaxing, calming, loud is good for getting attention and subduing

76 Less is best Start by coaxing with voice Add treats Slip leads and gloves Cable leads and Snappy snares Towels or blankets Tongs and Nets Control Pole Traps, squeeze cages, squeeze boards Muzzle Chemical Restraint

77 Slip leads, soft leashes, gloves. Easy to use, minimal control Cable leads and snappy snares. Special circumstances, minimal control Towels and blankets provide visual and auditory buffers Tongs and nets. More control, more stress. Less effective for large animals Control Poles. More control, can be stressful, not good for small animals Traps, squeeze apparatus. Control and confinement without direct contact

78 Biohazard repellant Slash resistance Puncture resistance Wrist length to Gauntlet Disposable slip leads ACO leads Cable leads Snap leads

79 CAT SNAFFLERS SNAKE TONGS

80 Throwable Launchable Collapsible

81 Fixed length Telescoping Inflexible

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83 Basket, nylon, quick

84 Flat faced dogs and Cats Quick Muzzle

85 Contact Sedation Squeeze Panels Squeeze cages Clamshell nets Chemical Capture Non contact Pneumatic Incendiary

86 Chemical Repellants OC spray (Pepper) Mace Citronella spray Bite sticks (ASP or baton) Tasers Firearms

87 General Handling American Veterinary Medical Association: American Humane Association: Google video small animal restraint