Glossary of Terms

As Used in the Policy Statements of the Prince Edward Island Humane Society  

Animal Shelter 
A facility that provides shelter for homeless, injured, abandoned, unwanted or ownerless animals. The shelter will arrange care, attempt to find new homes or perform euthanasia as appropriate to the circumstances.
  
Animals 
All creatures excluding human beings.
  
Animals in Entertainment 
Animals displayed for commercial or entertainment purposes or used to perform before an audience. 

Boredom 
A condition resulting from lack of physical, environmental, social and/or behavioral stimulation.  

Circus 
An arena or other facility usually enclosed by tiers of spectator seats, used for live performances of tricks or feats of physical skill or daring by animals and/or humans.  

Cruelty 
The deliberate or reckless causing of avoidable (a) physical pain, suffering or injury; (b) psychological suffering; or (c) distress.
  
Deprivation 
To be denied one or more of the basic physiological and/or psychological needs, including but not limited to food, water, shelter, medical care, exercise and/or social contact. 

Dissection 
To cut apart or expose body tissue of a dead animal or plant. See also vivisection.
  
Distress 
A state of pain, suffering, undue anxiety or fear.

Euthanasia
The act of causing a humane, quiet and painless death in a manner appropriate to the species. 

Exotic Pet 
An animal, non-indigenous (not native) and also wild by nature, kept for amusement, commercial purposes or companionship of humans.  

Fear 
A state of anxiety, panic, fright or anticipation of danger.  

Genetic Engineering 
A technology used to alter the genetic makeup of living cells to render them capable of producing new substances or performing new functions. Inserting, removing or altering individual genes does this. The process can be applied to animals or plants.  

Humane 
Showing compassion, respect and kindness toward all living creatures to prevent or alleviate pain and suffering.
  
Humane Education 
Teaching the principles of compassion, justice and respect for all life.  

Marine Environment 
The area within and along the shores of the earth’s water.  Marine Life 
Animal and plant life living in a marine environment.  

Marine Mammals 
Mammals living in a marine environment, e.g. seals, whales, sea lions.
  
Mutilation 
The alteration of appearance by the removal of all or part of a limb or other body part, or by otherwise disfiguring or maiming. 

Neutering 
The surgical procedure performed by accepted veterinary practice, to render an animal incapable of reproduction. See also Spaying.  

Puppy Mill 
A commercial dog breeding operation that mass-produces puppies for sale either directly to the public or through agencies or pet stores.
  
Rodeo 
A public exhibition emanating from western American heritage featuring contests between humans and animals, generally horses and cattle. Events include, but are not limited to calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding and bronco riding. Chuck wagon racing and other events, while note official rodeo events, are sometimes run in conjunction with rodeos.  

Sealing 
The process of killing seals for commercial purposes.  

Spaying 
The surgical procedure performed by accepted veterinary practice, to render a female animal incapable of reproduction. See also Neutering. 

Trapping 
Catching and holding or killing animals, by means of a device.  

Vivisection 
To cut apart or expose body tissue of living animals. See also Dissection. 

Wild Animals in Captivity 
Animals that are wild by nature held captive by humans or otherwise prevented from roaming free. 

Wild by Nature 
Captive native or exotic wild animals or their hybrids, whether wild-caught or born and raised in captivity, are classified as “wild by nature” for reasons including the fact that their inherent physical, psychological or social attributes do not make them adaptable, docile, tractable, reliable or predictable for purposes of domestication; their size and strength renders them extremely dangerous when handler control fails; and they have not achieved domesticated status through many generations of selective breeding for preferred attributes.

Wildlife 
Wild animals living in a natural environment.  

Xenografting 
The process of surgically transferring animal tissue or organs between animal species including humans. 

Approved by Board of Directors June 28, 2000
Amendments approved AGM June 19, 2002