Guest speakers Kathy Alm and Sandra McCune share their expertise in identifying and securing funding for research into human-animal interactions and what makes a good application.
29 February 2024 (3 pm UK time)
The event is free, but you need to register here to have access to the webinar.
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Dr. Rowena Packer from the Royal Veterinary College recently appeared as a guest on BBC Breakfast (link to broadcast) to share the most recent findings from their ‘Pandemic Puppies’ research programme. The Pandemic Puppies ‘The Pawfect Storm’ study, funded by Battersea, found high levels of problem behaviours and punishment-based training in the UK problem behaviours in a UK cohort of Pandemic Puppies aged 21 month.
Rowena’s study into Pandemic Puppies and children was funded by SCAS: ‘Pandemic Pals? Exploring the impact of puppy acquisition during the COVID-19 Pandemic upon the mental wellbeing of families with children‘.
In 2023 we awarded three Student Bursaries (fee waivers) to attend the SCAS2023 annual conference!
The 2023 annual Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) conference took place on Sunday 17 September 2023. The theme was ‘Are Pets Really Good For Us? The role of pets in mental and physical health’ and focused on the evidence-based research demonstrating how human-animal interactions support our physical and mental health.
Well done to Hindolii Gope, Praise Akobo, and Hallie Shean
Read their conference reports here:
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By Dennis C. Turner and Christine Olsen
Finally there is now a reliable and validated method to determine the personality and temperament of domestic cats. This will be useful for different purposes, including: increasing our understanding of the behaviour of our companion cats and our interactions with them (and of course for their welfare); for breeding programs; and especially to determine the suitability of individual animals for animal-assisted interventions.
Continue readingSAVE THE DATE for the Annual SCAS Conference #SCAS2024: Online, 22 September 2024. Click here for details.
| Mar 26-28, 2024 | My Dog Is My Home’s Co-Sheltering Conference 2024: Together We Thrive. Register here. | Online |
| June 18-22, 2024 | 18th Horses in Education Therapy (HEIT) International Congress: From Science to Practice. Register here | Budapest, Hungary |
| June 27-30, 2024 | International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) 2024 Register here. | Hartpury, UK |
| Sept 7-8, 2024 | IAHAIO Annual Conference. Register here. | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| Sept 22, 2023 | The Annual SCAS Conference: Are pets really good for us? The role of pets in mental and physical health. #SCAS2023 http://www.scas.org.uk/home/scas-annual-conference/ | Online |
| Nov TBC, 2023 | Anthrozoology as International Practice (AIP): A student conference in Human-Animal Studies. Register here. | Online |
The New Year Honours List recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK.
SCAS member Michelle Southern, founder of Street Paws, has been awarded the OBE in the New year Honours List. Founded in Newcastle in 2016, the charity provides free accessible veterinary care and support to homeless people and their pets across the UK. The charity helps both people and their pets by enabling them to stay together, protecting the human animal bond and ensuring the companion animals receive essential care. SCAS recognises the important of human-animal bond, especially for vulnerable persons. Furthermore, animal shelters are overwhelmed and many of the older animals would not be easily rehomed.
We are delighted that Michelle’s dedication and the important work of Street Paws is being recognised with this much deserved award.
On the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, people in our communities will die without a home.
Organised by the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Consumer Advisory Board, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NCHC), this is a day to “remember those who have died and strengthen our resolve to work for a world where no life is lived or lost in homelessness”.
SCAS recognises the devastating effects of vulnerable people being forced to choose between a roof over their head and their beloved companion animals. #Petsandhousing is an important issue, supported by SCAS and our partners (My Dog is My Home; AdvoCATSeastmids; and others) through supporting evidence-based research, education, policy change (The John Chadwick Pet Policy), and raising awareness.
#removebarriers
Read more about how to support the cause or organise a memorial for someone who died homeless:
International Volunteer Day (5 December 2023) raises awareness of the important role volunteers play in responding to challenges facing the world.
We would like to say a massive thank you to all the volunteers, past, present, and future who continue to support SCAS!
Continue reading‘It’s only an animal, get over it!’ is a cruel and heartless comment, but one that those grieving the death of a beloved companion animal are all too often confronted with. Even when friends, family, teachers, social workers, and colleagues are more tactful, it is often the case that many people simply do not understand the impact of losing a beloved pet.
2-8 December is National Grief Awareness Week, spearheaded by The Good Grief Trust who share many wonderful resources to raise awareness and provide support to the bereaved. In this post Kris Hill from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) raises awareness of companion animal loss and shares some resources that may help those suffering.
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Tuesday 12 Dec 2023, Committee Room 10, Palace of Westminster, House of Commons, London. 5.30-8.30pm. RVSP Here.
This looks set to be a unique and inspiring evening! The line-up of excellent speakers includes SCAS chairperson, Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod.
Follow link for more information: https://apdawg.co.uk/dec-2023-meeting