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Research aims to help detect suffering in cats
Facial expressions analysed before and after treatment

Scientists at the University of Lincoln are hoping to make a major breakthrough in the early detection of suffering in cats, by using computer-based technology to analyse their facial expressions before and after treatment.

Professor Daniel Mills, a leading veterinary behaviourist at the university, has been developing a clinical technique to help identify the emotions of companion animals.

Meanwhile, his colleague, computer vision expert Dr Georgios Tzimiropoulos, has been working on a method which automatically detects human emotions.

The new project, which has received a £400,000 grant from Derbyshire-based charity Feline Friends, will combine the skills of Prof Mills and Dr Tzimiropoulos to specifically assess feline expressions.

Prof Mills said: "This is a rare opportunity to systematically explore the emotional aspects of suffering in animals in new ways, with a view to developing more efficient early detection mechanisms.

"The multidisciplinary approach we will be using is ambitious, but has the potential to produce enormous rewards not just for those interested in feline welfare, but also animal welfare more broadly, as the methods we will be developing could be applied to any species."

Dr Tzimiropoulas is a pioneer of self-learning computer systems which aid the detection of facial expressions. According to the university, this will involve feeding the computer images of cats before and after treatment, so that it will eventually start to pick out key differences between the two.

It is hoped that the collaborative study could allow researchers to define different types of suffering, and help owners to detect problems and seek veterinary advice at an earlier stage.

Prof Mills explained: "The translation of our findings into a usable resource is a major part of the project, so we can maximise the impact of our research…

"We anticipate the project will take nearly five years to complete, but hope to be making useful contributions from an early stage within the research."

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.