It has been said that one of the challenges in learning a new language is our inability to hear our own voices accurately. Due to the position of our ears relative to our mouth distortion is inevitable. No matter how hard we try, we don't hear ourselves the way others do (which is why we so often dislike the sound of our own voice on tape!) This is also why we require feedback from others to continually improve our language skills.

In the same way, the faculty at the Animal Behavior Institute need feedback from you - our students - to continually hone our content and our skills. Only in working together via mutual feedback and constructive criticism can we continue to improve teaching and learning at ABI. This fall you'll notice new student surveys at both the midterm and the end of each course. Your responses will help us to "hear" ourselves as teachers and to give you the best experience possible. We look forward to hearing from you!

The disaster of September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten. The people that responded, including search and rescue teams, were truly amazing. In addition to the immediate physical risk the rescuers - both canine and human - were exposed to huge quantities of toxic dust.  Was the health of the dogs compromised from this exposure? Will their health predict what would be seen in the people who were also exposed?

Dr. Cynthia Otto, who was deployed to the World Trade Center site, has been tracking the health of the search and rescue dogs for the past 6 years.  Initial finding published in 2004 and additional information released in 2006 indicate that the animals have not suffered from major illnesses related to the exposure.  Yes, animals have died but the rates are no different from a control group of dogs that did not participate.  Scientists find this to be very interesting because reportedly 70% of the people who worked the site have suffered significant respiratory problems. Many thought the dogs would show illnesses earlier, forecasting what might occur in people, since they have a shorter life span and worked without respiratory protection.

A number of reasons have been suggested to explain the unexpected results. One reason suggested is that dogs have longer noses that may work better to filter air. Exposure time is the second reason. Most of the search and rescue dogs were only present for a short period of time where as humans who worked at the site were there for months. More information on the 9/11 study can be found at http://www.9-11dogs.org/index.htm

Rabbits are great animals for Animal Assisted Activities, Therapy, and Education. The small size of the rabbit, its soft fur, novelty, and gentle nature make the rabbit an excellent species for AAA/T/E programs. Their primary caveat, however, is that they are fragile and must be handled properly (the back end must always be supported!) or injury can occur. While rabbits make great animals for visiting, they are also easier to keep as a permanent resident then either dogs or cats.

It is important to understand the behavior of the rabbit to make sure the animal (as well as the client) is safe and comfortable. The rabbit will tell you how it is feeling, but only if you can read the signs! Body, ear and whisker posture are the easiest to watch.  In this article we will briefly review relevant rabbit behavior.

Rabbits are social animals and get along with other rabbits.  They can also be trained to get along with other species.  A comfortable, relaxed rabbit (left) will lie quietly on all four legs or on its side. The ears will usually be loosely upright or out to the side and the nose and whiskers will be moving rhythmically and slowly. Rabbits will normally investigate their surroundings and may nibble on novel items such as a finger or an electric cords. Thus, a rabbit out of its enclosure must be supervised at all times. You might notice a rabbit rubbing its chin on its cage or on an item in the room when she is allow out.  Rabbits have scent glands on their chin and they are marking their territory with this behavior. Rabbits will run and jump in play. They also like to perch and will climb up on and into anything they can.

Rabbits are a prey species, so when they are threatened they will try to hide by running very quickly to a hiding place and boy are they fast! They also freeze in place. A fearful rabbit will lay very flat and be extremely rigid. The ears will be flat back and the whiskers will move very rapidly. Some people will interpret this as a friendly rabbit when it is actually frozen in fear!  Rabbits will shed incredible amounts of hair when stressed and prolonged stress can lead to health problems.

Rabbits are rarely aggressive (although intact males will fight) and infrequently bite; however, they do scratch. Nails should be kept clipped and filed; aggression is usually defensive. It is displayed initially by the thumping of the back feet (warning), followed by standing on the back legs and/or charging. The ears will be flat back against the body. Her goal is to intimidate you!   

For pleasant visual and tactile stimuli rabbits can't be beat.  They are entertaining to watch and incredibly soft to the touch. They can be a bright addition to any AAA/T/E program, however, any rabbit incorporated into an AAA/T/E setting must be well socialized. The rabbit should be evaluated for appropriate temperament by a knowledgeable professional prior to starting with a program and re-evaluated on a regular basis.