Dog welfare assessment app
Information about the Dog Welfare Assessment app, including how to download it, registration process, further resources and getting started.
Based on findings and recommendations put forth in the Canine Welfare Grant report (2015), the smartphone app was one of the key recommendations, along with the development of educational resources. The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) has developed a smartphone app and a range of educational resources. The smartphone app will enable dog handlers and veterinary medical staff to capture data on the various stages of the process. This will generate a scorecard which links to resources and guidance to improve animal welfare.
Spay-neuter programmes are recognized as being an essential tool in the control of global dog populations. However in any situation where a dog is experiencing capture, transport, surgery and release, there is the potential for significant welfare problems to arise. A Canine Welfare study has used a range of welfare indicators, from expert consensus and literature, to produce a simple welfare audit for use in canine spay-neuter programmes. Crucially, this study has also highlighted the requirement for training in dog behaviour of staff in these programmes. Currently there are misconceptions and confusion over the recognition of behavioural signs of key canine welfare indicators such as pain or fear, and the steps that may be taken to mitigate these negative states.
The app has been developed by EDINA in collaboration with JMICAWE.
The Dog Welfare Assessment app has been developed to allow you to self-assess the welfare of dogs in your dog population management (DPM)/catch-neuter-return (CNR) programme. This is important in order to identify potential problems and take corrective action, to ensure that dog welfare is as positive as it can be.
The aim of the data collected is to identify steps where negative-welfare items are commonly recorded, or where positive-welfare items are not recorded.
Download the Dog Welfare Assessment app
Registration
You will be asked to complete a short registration survey for eligibility purposes.
End User License Agreement (EULA)
The End User License Agreement (EULA) can be reviewed from our website here.
Resources
Resources and further information can be found in the app. In addition, you can also access a range of resources from this website, including the guidelines (PDF).
Guides for using the app
Getting started
Within the app, there is a getting started section that you need to progress through (only once), to familiarise yourself with the app prior to use.
Research
Please note that the data collected will also be used for research purposes and to create educational resources by the University of Edinburgh. The data collected is anonymous and does not identify individuals, only spay-neuter centres. The research will comply with the Data Protection Act (1998) and the University of Edinburgh Data Protection procedures
Contact us
If you have any queries, comments, or technical issues with the Dog Welfare Assessment app, please contact:
Email: Dog.Welfare@ed.ac.uk
In the news
The app has been featured in the media, including the Vet Times (April 2018).
Development
The app has been developed by EDINA for the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare. EDINA is a world-class centre for digital expertise based at the University of Edinburgh, who work with partners to innovate, deliver and inspire, we transform new ideas into robust solutions.