Bellenger C. The use of pound dogs in teaching and
research. Australian Veterinary Journal 1996 Dec;74(6):473-475.
Pro-pound dog usage in veterinary
education. Includes some statistics re: the numbers of animals killed in
Australian pounds and shelters and the numbers of dogs used in teaching and
research at the University of Sydney in 1994.
Clevenger J. Kass PH. Determinants of adoption and euthanasia of shelter dogs
spayed or neutered in the university of california veterinary student surgery
program compared to other shelter dogs. Journal of Veterinary Medical
Education 2003. 30(4):372-8.
Limited economic resources and pet overpopulation force
animals shelters to consider euthanasia of adoptable animals every day.
Veterinary medical schools can play a positive role in increasing pet adoption
and combating overpopulation by providing free neutering for shelter animals.
This retrospective cohort study illustrated that the cooperative efforts of a
veterinary medicine surgical teaching program and local animal shelters
decreases euthanasia of adoptable pets. At the University of California, Davis (UCD),
shelter dogs are neutered by veterinary students and then returned to the
shelter for adoption. The rates of adoption and euthanasia of the dogs neutered
at UCD were contrasted with a comparison shelter group to determine the effect
of pre-adoption neutering. The UCD-neutered dogs had a lower rate of euthanasia
than the comparison shelter group at the shelters investigated. At Sacramento
County Animal Care and Regulation, 73% of the UCD group but only 36% of the
comparison group were adopted. At Yolo County Animal Services, 71% of the UCD
group and 45% of the comparison group were adopted. The sex of an animal did not
significantly affect the rate of euthanasia. Dogs that were predominantly pit
bull, rottweiler, or chow chow breeds had higher rates of euthanasia than other
breeds, independent of neuter status. Also, juveniles (less than one year old)
had lower rates of euthanasia than adults, independent of neuter status. UCD
adult dogs had lower rates of euthanasia than comparison adults. Post-surgical
UCD dogs spent a longer average time in the shelter before adoption (15 days at
Sacramento; 16 days at Yolo) than the comparison dogs (11 and 12 days,
respectively). UCD dogs also spent a longer average time in the shelter before
euthanasia (18 and 25 days, respectively) than the comparison dogs (13 days at
both shelters). Lower probabilities of euthanasia for behavioral or medical
reasons were found for UCD dogs than for the comparison dogs. The probability of
euthanasia for reasons of space limitations increased with time in shelter for
both groups. In this study, pre-adoption neutering increased adoptions without
increasing the probability of medical or behavioral euthanasia.
Howe LM
& Slater MR. Student assessment of the educational benefits of a prepubertal
gonadectomy program (preliminary findings). Journal
of Veterinary Medical Education
1997;24(1):12-7.
Texas A&M
University recently established two prepubertal gonadectomy programmes in
association with area humane organizations as an addition to its required
elective surgery rotation for 4th-year veterinary medical students. Results of a
student questionnaire indicate that the addition of these programs enhances
their education experience in several ways including: refinement of surgical
skills in certain areas including gentle tissue handling and hand-eye
coordination, exposure and practice in perioperative and anaesthetic management
of paediatric patients, increased awareness of the functions, goals, and
activities of humane organizations and increased understanding of the pet
overpopulation problem and the unique role of the veterinarian in combating
Knight A. 2002. The use of pound dogs in
veterinary surgical training. In Knight A. (Ed.) 2002. Learning Without
Killing: A Guide to Conscientious Objection. Unpublished.
www.LearningWithoutKilling.info. 2 pp.
A summary of the arguments against the use of
pound dogs in veterinary surgical training, and of the elements ideally
comprising an alternative veterinary surgical program.
Richardson EF, Gregory CR & Sucre E. Enhancement of the
surgical education of fourth year veterinary students by participation in
juvenile ovariohysterectomy and castration program. Veterinary Surgery
1994;23(5):415.
Quain A. 2000. The real thing: A discussion
on the use of pound dogs in the veterinary science curriculum. In Knight A.
(Ed.) 2002. Learning Without Killing: A Guide to Conscientious Objection.
Unpublished. www.LearningWithoutKilling.info. 12 pp.
Provides the cases for and against the use of
pound dogs in veterinary surgical training, and an examination of the extent to
which both traditional and alternative surgical programs can provide
satisfactory training. The author concludes that the use of pound-sourced or
purpose-bred animals is neither necessary nor desirable.
