If a pig can learn to play video games, is it more than a neat trick?  If playfulness seems associated with a capacity social bonds, then this reflects some level of social awareness.  Playfulness also often evidences aspects of communication, whether through sound, physical movements (think tail wags), or other indicators. Moreover, play suggests a capacity for independence and creativity. Yet many researchers are careful to guard against anthropomorphic pronouncements and label animal play as instinctive.

What’s the big deal about something that is engaged in primarily “for the fun of it”?  If taken as accurate, playfulness suggests animal sentience. Such indicators would confirm that degrees of personhood may be applicable to nonhuman animals. The assertion may bring with it profound implications, legally and morally, as evident in Farm Sanctuary’s Someone Project.  From bioethics to animal rights, debates continue about what traits indicate sentience and what constitutes personhood. 

“Play, laughter, and friendship burst across the species barrier” ~Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, When Elephants Weep

For humans, play behaviors have long been been associated with learning and are valued for social, moral, intellectual benefits across all stages of development. Yet researchers often debate the purpose of play behaviors when exhibited by animals, careful to resist comparisons between humans and nonhumans.  In fact, many intellectual projects seem to aim deliberately at establishing criteria for “personhood” that exclude non-human animals. For a provocative interdisciplinary analysis of human-animal relationships and the theoretical divide, see Beyond Boundaries (Barbara Noske, 1997, Black Rose Books). The implications of “play time” may well challenge the status quo by raising questions about the choices we make every day, from what we eat to what we wear.

With something new for animal lovers every week, the blogs have covered animal advocacy topics; resources; companion animal care tips; take action alerts; and Paws for the Cause, an ongoing monthly article highlighting the work of animal rescue and advocacy organizations and initiatives all over the country.  2016 also marked the launch of another new regular feature with the U-Turns: Meatless Monday blog, showcasing veg-food delights all over the U.S.  So far, U-Turns has shown off more than 30 destinations from Texas to Connecticut and reached more than a dozen states.  We love exploring delicious veg-food and sharing inspiration for compassionate living! What’s next?  Coming soon, a new online store for t-shirts, giclee prints, stickers, and more, with a portion of proceeds donated to featured rescue, advocacy, and sanctuary nonprofit organizations.

• Talk to your veterinarian: Many behavior issues may indicate underlying health issues, so a call or visit to your vet may help deal with an underlying health concern!
• The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: The AVSAB is an organization for veterinarians and doctoral level research professionals focused on understanding animal behavior.  Their online resources include a tool to find a behavior consultant.
• The Ethology Institute: In addition to on site classes, The Institute also offers online certification programs and courses online for those interested in pursuing formal study of animal behavior, behavior modification, and animal learning; they also offer a number of free resources to assist people at all levels of learning in the field!  A great resource for those who want to improve canine
• Read Up: Of course, there are also oodles of books dedicated to understanding cats, dogs, and other companion animals to explore at a library or bookshop near you.
• The Basics: Many nonprofit organizations also offer a wealth of online information about companion animal care.  Check out the available animal care resources from the HSUS  and the ASPCA.
• Troubleshoot: You may find tips to solve common behavior problems with the resources from the National K-9 dog Trainers Association (NK9DTA) or the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).
• Call for Backup: You may find that you want to work with a behaviorist or dog trainer.  To get a first hand recommendation, you may want to start by asking your veterinarian or the organization where your animal was adopted for suggestions.  You may also look to the AVSAB to find a professional behavior consultant, or search through the NK9DTA or  APDT  to find member dog trainers. (Since training methods, programs, and teaching standards vary: CLAWtheory makes no representations or guarantees regarding the accuracy or quality of the information or services provided by the individuals, organizations, or companies listed).

Whatever challenges you face, we hope this quick list of resources helps you to start to navigate them successfully.  Some issues may take a little longer to solve than others, but the loving companionship you’ll have makes it worth the effort.

Don’t give up on your dogs because they won’t give up on you!

Whether helping communities develop solutions that are dog specific and moving “beyond breed specific” responses to aggression, or shining a light on violence, prevention, ALDF is at the forefront of improving the lives of animals through legal gains.  Like the significant moment establishing “goldfish as animals,” ALDF in once case provided “a reminder that for a community to effectively address interpersonal violence, it must have tools which allow it to focus on the conduct of the abusers and not be distracted by the social status of the victims” (ALDF).  Check out the many victories ALDF has led with their important work!

ALDF programs and campaigns work from local and state levels to national efforts to  advance animal interests.  ALDF offers lots of ways to get involved and stay connected to their groundbreaking work.  You can get active through action alerts and petitions ; stay informed by following current news and events; and  shop for the cause, where you’ll find one of a kind items to help raise awareness- like Dogs in Hot Cars materials (from sunshades to window clings!).  ALDF also provides tools and tips to sharpen animal advocacy skills when communicating to law enforcement, legislators, the public, or others, so you can make the most impact when speaking up about issues that matter most to you.  For parents, the ALDF also launched a “Young Advocate Action Kit” with resources for the budding activists and lawyers in your household.  All the incredible projects at ALDF promote greater understanding and improved lives, and the ALDF continues its work with the dedication of thousands of attorneys and more than 200,000 members and supporters.

Built with user driven ratings, Does The Dog Die  offers evaluations of more than 3,700 movies and counting.  They utilize a five dog rating system that’s simple to grasp.  If you see the “smiley face dog,” keep watching.  You will very likely find spoiler alerts as you review DTDD content, but it’s worth it. Since the loss of a companion animal can be traumatic, it follows that watching injury or harm come to an animal may be painful.  Even when you know the animal was not actually harmed, watching and reliving that is something many people prefer to avoid, and Does The Dog Die is there to help viewers navigate.

DTDD is not a critical review site, nor does it claim to have addressed all instances of animal deaths on screen.  The site focuses on those films that involve pets, and you can learn more about their project here.  Users can rate films listed with a question mark, and the website includes a “V” to indicate which movies have been verified by their staff.  The films are listed alphabetically to make it easy and quick to use.