Techniques and Tactics for the Exceptional Animal September 19, 2011 Lori Swenson Aurora Animal Care CVMF Convention, Keystone, CO Colorado Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps
Objectives Safety Animal Behavior Interpretation Tools, Techniques and Tactics Hands On
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.
Self Team members and coworkers Public Animal
Physical Reasonably capable Recognize limitations Familiarity with tools Mental Alert Focused Knowledgeable
Situational Awareness Scene Evaluation Re-evaluation Receive information with open mind Pre plan Have a back up plan Be prepared NOT to act
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
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.
Generally display offensive behaviors Prefer low light or dark Binocular vision, eyes forward Increased olfactory sense More likely to fight before flight
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
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
Sporting breeds Herding dogs Hounds Terriers Working breeds Toy Non Sporting
Soft mouthed Trainable High energy Social Can be destructive if bored
Very high energy Nip and run Typically approach from rear Lower leg bites Stare and stalk
Slower moving High endurance Sight hounds Scent hounds Prey drive Difficult to read
Prey driven Hold and shake Dominant Tenacious
Often difficult to read Strong High prey drives Often used for guard dog purposes Independent and aloof Stubborn
Most vicious of all Small and fast Can inflict multiple bites quickly Often display defensive aggression
Diverse group Chow Chow Dalmation Lhasa Apso Poodle Stoic breeds
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
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
DOMINANT BEHAVIORS Demanding Assertive Controlling Offensive SUBORDINATE BEHAVIORS Yielding Submissive Appeasing Defensive
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
Display mostly defensive aggression towards humans Pain elicited Overstimulation Fear motivated Avoidance failures Offensive Predatory Territorial Redirected
Level of attention Approach Apparel Movement Eye Contact Tone of voice Reactions Stop, Drop, and Roll
Visual clues Auditory signals Olfactory information Prior knowledge Intuition Experience
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
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
Body Language and Motion Appearance Voice Interventions Hardware
Slow down but be quick Get down Get up The chase The follow Let s play I can t see you Patience Indirect routes
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
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
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
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
Biohazard repellant Slash resistance Puncture resistance Wrist length to Gauntlet Disposable slip leads ACO leads Cable leads Snap leads
CAT SNAFFLERS SNAKE TONGS
Throwable Launchable Collapsible
Fixed length Telescoping Inflexible
Basket, nylon, quick
Flat faced dogs and Cats Quick Muzzle
Contact Sedation Squeeze Panels Squeeze cages Clamshell nets Chemical Capture Non contact Pneumatic Incendiary
Chemical Repellants OC spray (Pepper) Mace Citronella spray Bite sticks (ASP or baton) Tasers Firearms
General Handling American Veterinary Medical Association: http://www.avma.org/ American Humane Association: http://abrionline.org/ http://www.petfinder.com/for-shelters/animal-handling-safetytips.html http://www.viddler.com/explore/mdcmedical/videos/21/ Google video small animal restraint