RESEARCH - Participate in Cat and Wild Bird Study

The issue of bird mortality caused by cats has long been a concern for people involved with birds around the world.

In an effort to understand people’s experience with and perception of wild birds and cats, the University of Guelph (U of G) has created a new study.

This new study is part of a larger body of research by the U of G.

They recently released an outdoor cat population study they completed in the city of Guelph.

Based on 145 surveys, the city has about 7,600 outdoor cats, up to 50 per city block. Guelph is home to 120,000 people.

The researchers counted cats on city streets, paths and alleys, and estimated totals for each survey area. The approach uses information readily available in most urban areas in North America, they said.

“The study was done using techniques that are easy, quick and cheap, providing an opportunity to apply the method to any community that is interested in knowing their number of free-roaming outdoor cats,” lead author Tyler Flockhart, a Liber Ero post-doctoral researcher at U of G, said in a release.

“The hope is that we can bring together cat supporters and bird advocates to take actions to improve cat welfare and reduce the effect of outdoor cats on birds.”

You are invited to participate by taking the study which examines perceptions of wild birds and outdoor cats.

Participants can enter for a chance to win $100 (odds are 1 in 250)!

Participation involves the completion of two short online surveys and the viewing of a short interactive online video, all done in one sitting.

The survey will take approximately 20 minutes in total and all participants must be 18 years of age or older.

If you are interested in participating please click on this link.

You are invited to widely distribute/ pass on this survey link to your contacts.

Contact Kenlyn Ramsey with any questions or concerns regarding this study. Research Ethics Board Approved (REB# 16JN033)

Do You Own a Dog? Interested in Dog Behaviour? Take This Survey

Researchers at the University of Guelph are looking for dog owners to complete a 20 minute survey on dog behaviour.

Upon completion you will entered into a draw for a chance to win $50!

This survey aims to assess how well dog owners can recognize fear in dogs, and if this can be improved with training. The results will help improve the validity of future dog temperament studies.

Visit http://fluidsurveys.com/s/OwnerFearRecognition/ to participate.

Emotional Shopping - Current Online Shopping Trends

AOL Research has shown that 66% of online shopping behaviours include an emotional component. The Millennial generation has the highest proportion of emotional shoppers and the data suggest that these people are prone to impulse buying. Emotional shopping was given three categories:

• Expertise Browsing: shoppers want knowledge of the latest trends and products. This knowledge can be shared with others for a feeling of belonging.
• Boredom Browsing: shoppers browse and purchase items to fill their time.
• Dopamine Browsing: shoppers feel inspired and rewarded when purchasing items.

AOL Research partnered with Insights Now to survey 11,000 online consumers in an effort to determine what motivated shoppers. 30% of the time it was found that online shopping had a specific intent or purpose. Intent-based shopping occurs by people that are looking for good deals and those that have a problem that needs solving.

Online shopping carts were also found to be used for purposes other than making immediate purchases: These purposes include:

• Creating a shopping list.
• Creating a list to allow for easy comparison between products.
• Saving a list of products that inspire them.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

What Effects Do Pets Have on Human Health?

A team of researchers at the Markham Stouffville Hospital will begin studying the link between pet ownership and human health. The research is funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI). HABRI has provided $55,000 USD to Dr. Alan Monavvari to measure how pets factor into the doctor-patient relationship. Monavvari said, “There are several studies that show a good relationship with your primary care physician leads to better health.” When doctors are able to discuss pets with their patients it may allow doctors to evaluate their patients better.

Over 200 Canadian primary care practitioners will participate in the study. Practitioners include doctors, nurses, social workers, and psychologists. Each practitioner will ask the following questions:

1. Who lives in your home including companion animals?
2. How many, and what species?

Practitioners will complete surveys at the beginning and end of data collection. They will also be provided with support material during data collection.

Veterinarian and co-investigator, Dr. Kate Hodgson said, “They’re important questions because you’re actually asking about something I care about a lot. For patients with pets it might be the question you never asked before that really opens the door.” People are likely to share more information about their lives when their primary care practitioner shows an interest in what is important to the patient. Knowing more about the patient’s life also helps practitioners better tailor the approach they take with their patient. Dr. Hodgson said, “We now know that people who smoke are more likely to try to stop smoking to protect their pet. For some patients it’s by far the most powerful motivator you could tap into.”

Previous research has also shown that companion animals can lower human blood pressure, help people make healthier lifestyle choices, and owners have fewer medical appointments and faster recovery after surgeries. While there have been over 75 research studies published regarding the health benefits of pets, this is the first study to examine the relationship between patients and their pets.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Pet Sales - What Do Americans Prefer?

In a survey conducted by Harris Poll Online, Americans wanted to see higher dog breeding standards with enforcement (67%) versus banning the sale of animals in pet stores (33%). 2,025 adult Americans participated in the poll. 89% of participants believe that tougher breeder standards will decrease puppy mill operations. 81% believe that banning dog sales at pet stores will not end puppy mills.

National Alliance for Dog Breeding Reform founder and Senior Vice President, Ron Sturgeon said, "We would all like to see a world where dogs bred for profit are treated humanely, shown kindness and bred using medically sound principles. The American Pet Council's survey shows that the American pet owners understand the limitations of pet store sales bans. Working toward higher standards for dog breeding is the best long-term approach to improving the lives of dogs being bred for profit. Banning puppy sales at pet stores does not solve the problem of bad breeding practices.” Sturgeon continues, "I would like to see pet stores selling more puppies and even adding dogs from local shelters into the mix. When they do sell dogs from a breeder, they should chose local reputable breeders and display full information so that consumers can meet the breeder and visit the kennel.”

At the 2015 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies specialists from across North America will be participating in a discussion and brainstorming event regarding rescue dogs (Forum 2015.C). As dog overpopulation decreases in North America and negative pressure is increased on dog breeders potential dog owners are finding it more difficult to find a good dog. Shelters have fewer dogs to adopt out and many are participating in humane relocation. Humane relocation, or the importation of dogs, poses risks to dog owners and the public.

What is the solution to safe and positive pet acquisition in Canada and the United States?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Key Findings of a Consumer Survey Focusing on Technology and Its Impact

Blackhawk Engagement Solutions surveyed approximately 2,500 people to examine how they pre-shop, filter information, their path-to-purchase influencers, and how marketers can impact these paths. Blackhawk’s GVP of Marketing, Rodney Mason said, “Today, the key to winning at retail is keeping up with your customers. By charting where shoppers are landing as they explore new shopping territories, retail marketers can position their businesses in front of the competition and closer to targeted and underserved customers.”

The main trends from the survey are:

• 71% of people use a smartphone daily. Internet shopping and TV watching are positively correlated.
• 19% will purchase a competitor’s product on their smartphone while in a store. 38% of people compare prices using Amazon, Google, and retail websites.
• 63% would allow retailers to send offers to their smartphone and 59% would allow retailers to know their personal location and identity for financial savings.
• Financial savings are the main reason people follow brands on social media. 89% of people that follow brands want special offers.
• The main digital promotion media is email.
• A price difference of 10% makes online sales more favourable. Most people prefer to purchase items at a physical location that price matches.
• Mobile wallets are increasing in popularity. 54% of people would use a mobile wallet versus a traditional wallet if a mobile wallet was wides accepted.

Blackhawk’s full report may be found here.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

U of Guelph Seeks Input from Animal Shelter Management

Dr. Tyler Flockhart is performing research on understanding the capacity of animal shelters for cats and dogs,  the length of time animals stay in the shelter, and the size of the municipalities/towns/cities that the shelter serves.

All shelter managers/operators are asked to participate in this one-time survey, comprised of 9 questions that should take 5-10 minutes to complete, about your organization and the geographic area that you service.

The purpose of this survey is to gain valuable information to more effectively and accurately estimate the current shelter capacity for dogs and cats to address overpopulation of companion animals. The information gained from this survey will be used in statistical models of companion animal populations that concurrently consider owned animals, unowned (feral, stray) animals and the movement of animals through the shelter system. Information gained from the models will be used to help inform responsible and cost-effective solutions to address companion animal overpopulation.

Please share this information with your peers so Dr. Flockhart may include information from across North America and the world in this study.

If you are interested in participating, please TAKE THE SURVEY

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about this research please contact Dr. Flockhart

What are the Results of the 2015-2016 Nation Pet Owners Survey?

Bob Vetere, President and CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), has announced the results of their biennial 2015-2016 National Pet Owners Survey. The survey reached 79.7 million households with pets. One important survey discovery was that there are increased numbers of new and young pet owners. New pet owners populate approximately 10% of the total pet owner population. This represents an increase of almost eight million new pet owners. Vetere states, “These numbers demonstrate huge potential for the industry to grow with up-and-coming, new pet owners.”

The newest generation of pet owners purchase more expensive animals, seek veterinary care more often, and buy more items for their pets. “This generation also likes high-tech gadgets like pet cams and electronic health monitoring collars, and convenience products to take their pets with them or care for them while they’re gone,” said Vetere. “This opens the door for innovation in products and services as well.” Pets and pet products are increasingly being sourced online and by using social media networks.

In previous surveys, the largest population of pet owners was the Baby Boomers. However, Baby Boomers are reaching life stages where they are reducing pet ownership. Vetere is not worried, he states, “In fact, the growing incidence of pet owners among the younger generations is so encouraging, we are extremely optimistic about the future of pet ownership and the industry that stands to serve those pets and their owners.”

The Survey also found that more businesses are becoming pet-friendly. 

• 8% of pet owners are allowed to bring their dogs to work. 
• 28% of pet owners have taken their dog to a hotel. 
• 9% of pet owners have taken their pet to a restaurant.

More people also believe that pets are good for their health. In fact, for 64% of pet owners, owning a pet has positive health benefits that are important to the owner. Vetere states, “Studies now exist that show pets can help improve our cardiovascular health, improve immunity in young children and assist with therapy for autistic children and people suffering from PTSD. Our desire to take better care of our pets and the joys and benefits they provide are continuing to work together to grow pet ownership and keep this great industry strong.”

  READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

U oF Guelph survey seeks dog owner input

Researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, are conducting a survey to investigate the effect of a dog's environment and personality on their behaviour. We are interested in hearing about you and your dog's life.

Please note the following:

• In order to participate you must be 18 years of age or older and be a dog owner
• We anticipate this survey to take approximately 30 minutes to complete
• In appreciation of your time, you will be entered into a draw to win one of four $150 Visa gift cards. Estimated chances of winning are 1 in 1000.
• All information provided will be kept confidential

Take the Survey!

To purchase or adopt - that is the question

A new study from PetSmart Charities found that more than two-thirds of Americans surveyed said they would rather adopt a pet than buy one from a pet store or breeder. 

Nearly 3,000 people participated in the 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report. A large number of those surveyed (81%) said they own a dog and/or cat, a large increase from 63% three years ago. 

READ MORE: MOST PET PARENTS NOW CHOOSE TO ADOPT BUT MORE LOCAL ACTION IS NEEDED TO END PET HOMELESSNESS 

The study also found that while a growing number of people say they care about pet homelessness, more than half still don't provide any support for solving the issue. 

"Unlike other causes, we are not hampered by a lack of cure or technology," said Jan Wilkins, PetSmart Charities executive director. "If all of the pet lovers in the United States simply took action in their communities today, our grandchildren would not have to live in a world where thousands of healthy pets are euthanized daily." 

Survey highlights: 

• Pet homelessness is an important cause. Forty-six per cent of people surveyed view the het homelessness problem as very important. The number of people who say they donated their time or money to help pets increased by 11%.
• Pet owners underestimate the problem. Most people (85%) underestimate the number of pets who are euthanized annually in the U.S. An estimated four million pets every year are euthanized because there are not enough homes.
• Misperceptions about shelter pets still exist. The study found that among new pet owners, the main barrier to adoption was that people said shelters did not have the type of pet they wanted (36%). 
• Spay/neuter rates have increased. Survey responses suggest that 86% of pets have been fixed, compared to 79% in 2011 and 80% in 2009.
• Cost is a barrier to spay/neuter. Fewer than half of pet parents knew that low-cost spay/neuter options were available. That's a problem because 30% of people whose pets were unaltered said they chose not to spay/neuter because it was too expensive. 

READ MORE: ADOPT OR PURCHASE A PET?

BMO Survey Shows Business Owners Confident about Prospects for 2015

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 29, 2014) - According to the semi-annual BMO Small Business Confidence Report released today, Canadian business owners' confidence in the state of the economy and their business prospects has risen compared to earlier this year, with more than half of entrepreneurs expecting 2015 will be a better year for their company.

"Small Business Month is around the corner, and according to the semi-annual outlook, Canadian small business owners believe their organizations are in good-health and are picking up momentum in order to rebuild the solid business foundation of previous years," said Steve Murphy, Head, Canadian Commercial Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal. "Of particular interest, business owners from nearly every province, have an increased level of optimism compared to earlier this year."

Results cited come from a Pollara telephone survey with 502 Canadian business owners, conducted between August 11^th and 28^th, 2014. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 4.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Access the Report

Animal Cruelty top priority for BC residents

"Investigating complaints of animal cruelty" was identified as the number one priority by respondents to a recent BC SPCA online survey.

More than 6,000 individuals took part in the survey designed to pinpoint priorities that will be used to guide the development of services and programs for animals in need in the BC SPCA's 2014-2018 Strategic Plan. 

In order of importance, the top then priorities were: 

• Investigating complaints of animal cruelty
• Programs to reduce pet overpopulation, including low-cost spay/neuter initiatives
• Sheltering of homeless and stray animals
• Advocating on issues that impact the welfare of animals
• Raising the standards of care and welfare for animals raised for food
• Increasing adoptions
• Providing low-cost veterinary services for the public
• Humane education for youth
• Addressing issues related to animals used in research
• Addressing the slaughter and care of unwanted horses

BC SPCA

U.S. study finds behavioral concerns linked to retail sales

A new study conducted by Best Friends Animal Society and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine links abnormal behavior to dogs sold in pet stores. 

The research compares a wide array of psychological and behavioral characteristics of 413 dogs purchased from pet stores with the same characteristics of 5,657 dogs obtained from small-scale, private breeders. Results show that dogs obtained as puppies from pet stores showed significantly more aggression toward human family members, unfamiliar people and other dogs.

This study may reiterate the importance of breeder care standards like those introduced in a Private Member's bill - Standards of Care for Breeders of Companion Animals - by North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite earlier this year. This bill outlined standards that breeders in British Columbia must meet to ensure the welfare of animals. The legislation intended to strengthen British Columbia’s reputation in animal welfare and support reputable breeders while giving animal agencies new tools to shut down irresponsible breeding operations. 

READ THE NEWS RELEASE

Survey finds purchase preferred to adoption in young adults

A survey conducted by Best Friends Animal Society of Kanab, Utah, concluded that 46% of people aged 18-34 were more likely to purchase a pet from a breeder or store rather than consider adoption. In addition, the same percentage believed that shelter animals were less desirable than those obtained from breeders. 

The survey also identified that nearly half of the young adults surveyed thought homeless animals would remain in shelters until their adoption rather than face euthanasia. 

Other numbers revealed in the survey (based on 1,000 surveyed by telephone in November 2012): 
90% consider themselves pet lovers
86% believe showing affection to a pet is important
66% believe in regular veterinary check-ups 
65% believe their pet should be spayed/neutered
33% are aware that spaying/neutering can improve behavior
28% are aware that spaying/neutering can improve pet health 

READ THE ARTICLE

YourSAY™ 2012.3 - Canada's Thought Leaders Ponder the National Companion Animal Coalition

The third public opinion poll of 2012 is reported. This report summarizes the YourSAY™ survey Powered by PetLynx™ that fielded March 1-8, 2012. Forty respondents participated in the PetLynx YourSAY™ forum for 2012.3 featuring opinions about the National Companion Animal Coalition (NCAC). Participants included thought leaders representing all sectors of the industry in Canada. 

Highlights from YourSAY™ 2012.3:

• Sixty percent of the participants had heard about the NCAC prior to this survey. Of the remaining participants, 35% had never heard of the NCAC and 5% did not respond.
• About half of all participants felt that the NCAC was essential, about half felt NCAC was non-essential, and the remaining 5% did not respond.
• The vast majority of participants felt that promoting public education should be a top priority for the NCAC. Other top priorities include: lobby government on behalf of the industry (51%), coordinate communications efforts of industry players (41%), act as a spokesperson for the Companions Animal Industry (35%).
• The most common changes participants would make to the NCAC were: expansion of membership (61%), formal governance structure (53%), establishment of administration to carryout NCAC mandate (50%), and establishment of membership (50%).
• About half of participants supported 'majority rules' and 43% support the current NCAC practice of 'consensus.'
• Of the 19 participants who supported 'consensus', 42% preferred to obtain additional facts until consensus was secured, 37% preferred to send the issue to an Urban Animal Summit OpenSpace session and 21% had other suggestions.
• Of the 22 participants who supported 'majority rules', almost three out of every four preferred to send the majority decision to the Urban Animal Summits to gather wider consensus.
• The vast majority of participants do not believe that the NCAC has a broad base of support among their industry peers.
• While almost three out of every four participants have not been assisted by NCAC actions, one in every five participants has had NCAC actions help their industry activities.
• Primary resources NCAC would require include: industry donations (53%) and third-party contributions (39%).

Demographics of YourSAY™ 2012.3:

• Gender: 59% Female, 41% Male
• Age: 15% 21-35 years old, 38% 36-50 years old, 45% 51 and older
• Region: 40% Central, 25% Prairie, 20% Pacific, 10% Atlantic
• Pets: 76% Dog owner, 58% Cat owner
• Industry: 38% Animal Welfare, 28% Animal Services, 18% Animal Control and Enforcement, 13% Animal Health and Wellness
• Executive Level: 20% C-Level Executive, 40% Senior Management, 13% Middle Management, 8% Individual Contributor, 15% Other

YourSAY™ public opinion polls are owned and Powered by PetLynx™. Copies of the complete survey report are available for a nominal cost. Contact Sheena.Neel@petlynxmail.com if you wish to procure a copy.

KPMG Survey Confirms Acceleration of Digital

KPMG’s fifth annual global Consumers and Convergence survey – “The Converged Lifestyle” – confirms the trend of accelerated pace of consumer adoption of new digital business models. The survey reveals both consistencies and anomalies in consumer preferences year over year – in online shopping, content, device use and mobile payments – all of which hint at new directions for the future of digital commerce and those who compete in the space, according to KPMG authors of the report. 


Key Canadian-specific highlights include: 23% of respondents used their mobile device at retail outlets to access coupons and one in six used their mobile to scan barcodes; when selecting a mobile operator, consumers were most influenced by the operator’s coverage (75%), quality of customer service (75%) and price (86%), rather than the availability of a specific device (60%); while 79% of respondents reported downloading an app to their mobile, 61% did not pay for any of them and 24% paid for only around one in four of their downloads; 32% said they had used some form of mobile banking in the past six months; almost a quarter of respondents had no landline telephone; and 51% store some level of personal information in the Cloud. 


Access the video or the complete survey

MASTERCARD SURVEY: CANADIAN WOMEN AND MOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Nearly half (46%) of Canadian women admit they could not go without their mobile devices for even a week, according to MasterCard Canada's "2011 MasterIndexT on Women and Technology". The report, which examines how Canadian women are adopting and using mobile technology such as cellphones, smartphones, MP3 players and digital cameras, reveals Canadian women over the age of 18 would rather give up coffee (24%), spa treatments (42%) and chocolate (24%) than part with their mobile gadgets.

The research was conducted by Environics Research Group from July 22 to August 4, 2010, via a national online survey of 2,000 adult Canadian women aged 18+. The complete report is available at:

http://mastercard.com/ca/company/en/press/pdf/MasterIndex_Jan_2011_EN.pdf.