Dr. Anastasia Stellato, in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University, is currently seeking a PhD student, with expected start date Fall 2022. The PhD student will lead canine welfare research that aims to evaluate the influence of human-animal interactions on the behavior and welfare of companion animals, and to identify ways to prevent and reduce animal stress.
For more information download the flyer (below)
We are delighted that the feedback from those who participated in the annual SCAS conference, Animal-Assisted Interventions: Research meets Practice, was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees said they registered to become more educated in AAI research, theory, and practice, and those who responded to our survey were not disappointed. 94% said their overall conference experience was ‘good’ or ‘extremely good’, and no one said it was bad. When asked if they would recommend the conference to a friend or colleague, the vast majority (94%) responded that they were likely or highly likely to recommend attending next year.
Continue readingGeneral Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic is seeking a postdoctoral Research Fellow to join their team under the mentorship of Dr. Arya Mohabbat to research the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) on patient stroke rehabilitation. This research involves a collaborative study between Purina and Mayo Clinic. A clinical trial will evaluate the possible benefits of the presence of a therapy dog for patients seen for inpatient acute stroke rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic.
In particular, it will assess the emotional and well-being state of the patients and the therapy dogs, as well as changes in rehabilitative status during these sessions.
Whilst a lot of the time when we think of animal-assisted interventions we think of the potential benefits to the people involved, it is so important that the welfare of the animals is paramount and they also enjoy the experience.
Back in May, SCAS trustee, Evangelos Diamantakos (an ABTC registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), carried out a webinar on recognising signs of stress in dogs involved in dog-assisted interventions.
The webinar is free to watch at https://youtu.be/T7uuztOemw4
#InternationalStressAwarenessWeek #StressAwarenessWeek
Pet keepers in Maidstone will no longer be deemed to be making themselves ‘intentionally homeless’ if they reject a home that prohibits pets, as a result of the tireless work of Dee Bonett.
Continue readingThe Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) International Conference, Advancing Animal Welfare Science, Edinburgh UK 28-29th June 2022
Call for papers and workshop proposals
The conference will be feature talks from established animal welfare researchers and those at the beginning of their career to hear about the latest research, innovations and thinking across the spectrum of animal welfare science.
Continue readingA Special Issue of Veterinary Sciences ‘Interdisciplinary Considerations in Human-Animal Interventions’ has new publications, including:
A review by Lisa Townsend and Nancy R. Gee ‘Recognizing and Mitigating Canine Stress during Animal Assisted Interventions’ Read here.
And a review by Lisa Maria Glenk and Sandra Foltin. ‘Therapy Dog Welfare Revisited: A Review of the Literature’ Read here.
Funding available for research that addresses evidence-based health benefits of human-animal interaction (HAI).
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is issuing a call for research proposals from institutions and organizations across the globe to investigate the health outcomes of pet ownership and/or animal-assisted interventions (AAI) or therapy, both for the people and the animals involved.
Deadline 24 Feb 2022
For more information: Click here
Two recent publications are now available from the Frontiers special edition, Our Canine Connection: The History, Benefits and Future of Human-Dog Interactions.
The Animal Welfare Science of Working Dogs: Current Perspectives on Recent Advances and Future Directions
Written by Mia Cobb, Cynthia Otto and Aubrey Fine, this paper reviews the last decade of animal welfare science of working dogs in relation to modern ethics, human interaction, and the five domains of animal welfare: nutrition, environment, behavioral interaction, physical health, and mental state. Additionally, the article suggests areas of further research to help ensure that working dogs have the best lives possible.
Advancing Genetic Selection and Behavioral Genomics of Working Dogs Through Collaborative Science
By Frances Chen, Madeline Zimmermann, Jessica Hekman, Kathryn Lord, Brittney Logan, Jane Russenberger, Eldin Leighton and Elinor Karlsson. The authors encourage the modernization of canine breeding programs, especially as it relates to working dogs, and advocate for the implementation of a data-driven method called estimated breeding values (EBVs).
The Society for Companion Animal Studies’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place online on Tuesday 14 December 2021 at 7pm (UK time). All SCAS members are welcome to attend; a link and documents will be sent out ahead of the event.
If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact us.