Which of the following best describes "humane handling practices"?

Humane handling practices emphasize the importance of minimizing stress and pain experienced by animals during care and procedures. This involves implementing techniques that promote the well-being of animals, ensuring they are treated with kindness and respect throughout their interactions with humans. By reducing fear and discomfort, humane handling helps maintain the physical and psychological health of the animals, aligning with the principles set forth in the Animal Welfare Act.

Practices such as positive reinforcement, gentle handling, and ensuring suitable living conditions are all integral to this approach. Effective humane handling contributes to better health outcomes for the animals and fosters a safer environment for both the animals and the caregivers.

In contrast, using tranquilizers may be necessary in some situations but does not inherently reflect humane handling since it may not address the underlying causes of stress or pain. Keeping animals confined to small spaces is contrary to humane treatment as it can lead to distress and poor welfare, while using physical restraints on all animals could lead to unnecessary stress and discomfort, which contradicts the key objective of humane handling.