Acorus gramineus is a herb used frequently in oriental medicine. Clinically, the effects of Acorus gramineus are known as awakening of one’s consciousness, removal of sputum, and relief of autism. Experimentally, Acorus gramineus root(AGR)-induced cerebral blood flow increase depending on the concentration causes diverse responses of blood pressure and regional cerebral blood flow and possesses strong inhibitory effects of apoptosis in the nervous system. We investigated the effects of AGR water extract on the adipose tissue status. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed high fat diet and a total of 35 mice were divided into 5 groups: normal group, control group, and groups treated with AGR water extract at concentrations of 20, 100, and 500 mg/kg. The mice were treated by oral administration once a day for consecutive 6 weeks, and their weight changes were monitored. As the results, the groups treated with AGR water extract showed weight loss. Also, the weights of liver, epididymal fat, retroperitoneal fat and peri-renal fat were decreased in the groups treated with AGR water extract. In histopathological examination, the sizes of adipose tissues decreased in liver, epididymal fat, retroperitoneal fat, and peri-renal fat. These results indicate that AGR water extract have an anti-obesity activity, which could be used as an useful material to decrease body adipose tissues.

로드 킬 현황에는 기간과 주기가 명확하지 않아 자료에 신뢰성이 낮기 때문에 로드 킬 저감 연구에 왜곡될 가능성이 높았다. 따라서 이 연구로 현실적인 대안을 제시하고자 한다. 한국도로공사에서 제공받은 자료를 활용, 분석한 결과 최근 5년(2010-2014) 간 전북 권 고속도로에서 발생한 야생동물 로드 킬 사고를 분석하였다. 전북권을 지나는 고속도로 7노선을 선정하여 조사한 결과 중부선(1472개채, 46.90%)이 압도적으로 높았다. 로드 킬을 당한 야생동물 중에 고라니(Hydropotes inermis)가 2010년도부터 2014년까지 84.60%로 다른 동물과 비교가 안 될 정도로 높게 측정되었다. 그리고 계절별 사고 수는 4계절 중 봄(31.73%)과 여름(30.05%)이 가장 많은 것으로 나타났다. 2013년도와 2014년 사고발생 시간 중 오전 7시에 79건 (9.11%)으로 사고건수가 가장 많았고, 오전 04-08시 구간이 323건(37.25%)을 차지하였다. 2010년도부터 2014년도까지 월별 사고 수는 5월(20.36%), 6월(18.67%)로 높게 측정되었다. 향후 지속적인 유사 연구를 통해 고속도로 로드 킬 감소에 야생동물과 국민의 안전 증진에 기여할 수 있을 것이라 판단되며, 이를 위해 부족했던 오차 범위, 사고 주기, 로드 킬 시간, 사고 원인 조사결과 등 자세한 통계가 필요하다.

우리나라에서 동물등록제 의무화가 실시된 이래 유기동물 발생에 대한 감소가 뚜렷하게 나타나고 있지 않으며 동물등록제에 대한 정보가 충분하지 않고 동물등록제에 대한 부정적인 인식을 가지고 있다는 문제점을 인지되어 현황 및 인식조사를 실시하게 되었다. 설문조사는 온라인으로 진행되었으며 약 400여 명의 성인남녀를 대상으로 하여 설문조사의 정확성을 높였다. 또한 동물등록제의 현황을 조사하기 위해 관련 단체 ‘한국동물구조협회’와 인터뷰를 하였으며 외국과 비교하여 우리나라의 문제점을 개선하기 위한 방안을 모색하고 동물 등록제를 장려하기 위해 홍보 캠페인을 진행하였다. 연구결과, 반려동물등록제에 대해 과반수이상이 알고 있다고 응답하였지만, 등록제 시행은 절반도 이루어지지 않았다. 그 이유는 반려동물등록제에 대해 알지 못할뿐더러 내장형 식별장치(마이크로 칩)에 대한 부정적인 인식이 큰 부분을 차지하는 것으로 드러났다. 따라서 반려동물등록제에 대한 보다 적극적인 홍보와 인식개선이 필요한 것으로 생각된다.

In this article, we reviewed how the therapy animals for animal assisted intervention (AAI) could be treated ethically in the aspects of animal welfare. Our goal is to reexamine the animal-human partnership from the animal's viewpoint to see what the benefits might be for the animal, or to see if the raising, training, and deployment of assistance and therapy animals is causing significant degradation in animal welfare. Also, we want to make an impression for AAI therapists to examine their ethical responsibility for the welfare of their therapeutic assisting animals. Animal assisted psychotherapist must respect the integrity of the animals and recognize that their rights and safety are safeguarded. In this article, we intend to provide recent advanced knowledge on the animal welfare and ethical reference in the filed of animal-assisted intervention.

We are aimed to conduct the survey research to evaluate the university students's awareness pn the care systems of abandoned animals. We deals with the findings obtained from extensive interviews with a representative samples. The objectives of interviews included 546 students in Wonkwang, Keimyung and Chosun University. Questions focused on how students were recognized the need and policies of the care systems of the abandoned animals. Questionnaire and technical data are analysed and summarized. As the results of the survey research, the objectives of interviews had well understood about the policies of adoption of the abandoned animals. Conclusionally, the promotions of adoption of the abandoned animals were need. The effective promotions of the adoption of the abandoned animals will be desirable for the establishment of abandoned animal welfare.

Environmental enrichment is the process of providing stimulating environments for zoo animals in order for them to demonstrate their species-typical behavior, to allow them exercise control or choice over their environment, and to enhance their well-being. We are aimed to provide the available knowledges about the animal enrichment programs for zoo animals through literature review. As the results, we reviewed the design of stimulating and naturalistic enclosures, the housing etc. Enrichment includes the design of stimulating and naturalistic enclosures, the housing of appropriate social groups in zoo, and the introduction of objects, sounds, smells or other stimuli in the animal’s environment. Conclusionally, environmental enrichment is just as critical to Zoo animal welfare as nutrition and veterinary medicine. At the zoos, enrichment will be an integral part of the daily care of the species in the collection.

There are so many animals, mostly dogs, that have been abandoned by their families to roam around the streets of Korean cities and towns. These animals often die in a miserable way such as being run over or being killed and eaten. It is a terrible site to see these dogs, lost and confused in a world without kindness. One solution to the problem is adoption, as it can save life and by example become a driving force to fundamental change in the thinking of other and in society. We are aimed to conduct the survey research to evaluate the university students's awareness of the adoption of the abandoned animals. We deals with the findings obtained from extensive interviews with a representative samples. The objectives of interviews included 789 students in Wonkwang, Keimyung and Chosun University. Questions focused on how students were recognized the need and policies of the adoption of the abandoned animals. Questionnaire and technical data are analysed and summarized. As the results of the survey research, the objectives of interviews had well understood about the policies of adoption of the abandoned animals. Conclusionally, the promotions of adoption of the abandoned animals were need. The effective promotions of the adoption of the abandoned animals will be desirable for the establishment of abandoned animal welfare.

Canine herpesvirus (CHV) is a member of the alphaherpesvirus subfamily, which can cause severe hemorrhagic diseases in neonatal pups as well as mild or subclinical respiratory infections in adult dogs. We examined the effects of cold stress on disease progression of CHV, an alphaherpesvirus, in neonatal puppies. Eight puppies were challenged intranasally with CHV suspension and divided into a cold stress treatment group and a hyperthermal group. Four pups were left uninoculated as controls and divided into cold and hyperthermal groups. In the challenged cold treatment group, all pups showed CHV-related disease within 5 days; pathological changes were observed in organs of puppies showing clinical symptoms. Grossly, numerous petechial red foci were scattered throughout lungs, kidneys, livers, and intestines of all CHV-infected puppies exposed to cold stress. Most puppies showed typical clinical signs and macroscopic lesions, and CHV infection was confirmed by isolation of the virus. However, in the challenged hyperthermal group, only one of the pups showed mild symptoms of CHV-induced disease. None of the puppies in the uninoculated group showed abnormal signs, although they were exposed to cold stress. These findings indicate that cold stress can cause rapid disease progression of CHV, an alphaherpesvirus.

Trap-neuter-return (TNR), also known as trap-test-vaccinate-alter-release (TTVAR), is a method of humanely trapping unaltered feral cats, spaying or neutering them, and returning them to the location where they were collected. TNR is promoted by the some regional province governments as a humane and more effective alternative to euthanasia for managing and reducing feral cat populations. We are aimed to conduct the survey research to evaluate the recognition of status about TNR. We deals with the findings obtained from extensive interviews with a representative sample of 301 persons. The objectives of interviews included 20~50 year-old ages lived in Incheon, Goyang, Seosan, Iksan and Nonsan city. Questions focused on how people were recognized the need and policies of TNR. Questionnaire and technical data are analysed and summarized. As the results of the survey research, the objectives of interviews had poorly understood about the policies of TNR. Conclusionally, the promotions of TNR policies were need. The development of TNR policies were desirable for the establishment of animal welfare.

Cats form social groups in which individuals recognize each other, and the cohesiveness of the group is maintained by a variety of amicable behaviors. We are aimed to provide the available knowledges about the prevention and correction methods for the behavior problems in cats through literature review. As the results, The behavior problems of cats may occur between group members and between group members and non-group members. Within the domestic environment, the behavior problems of cats may become a problem when it is directed at house-mates or humans. Differential diagnosis and treatment of various problems of the behavior problems of cats are discussed.