A guide on adopting the ‘purr’fect lifelong feline companion by Kris Hill from the Society for Companion Animals (SCAS)
Thinking of Bringing a new Cat Into Your Home and Your Life?
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Are you looking to carry out research into the role of pets in the management of health conditions?
Our 2022 round of funding is now open for applications. For funding to be considered, projects must relate to the role of pets in the management of mental and/or physical health conditions. There are three different types of grants available: five pump priming awards, two undergraduate student project awards and one award to support open access publication. All applications must be received by 30 April 2022.
Psychosocial Interventions and Dementia, Understanding, Knowing, Implementing
Psychosocial interventions are essential to support people with dementia. This 100 page guide is intended for all professionals working directly or indirectly with people with dementia. It aims to improve knowledge, understanding and implementation of psychosocial interventions that can be provided to them. The guide contains chapters on a variety of supportive interventions, including Animal-assisted interventions and horticulture therapy. The guide is free to download, and the chapters can be downloaded separately.
Download English version here.
Published by La Fondation Médéric Alzheimer
New IAHAIO Resources
The International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) recently produced several documents which will be of interest to our members.
Continue readingThe Companion Animal Multispecies Risk Management Toolkit (CAMSRMT)
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a SCAS Funded Toolkit to facilitate the introduction of companion animals to supported living settings. The Companion Animal Multispecies Risk Management Toolkit (CAMSRMT) was developed by an Australian team of expert academics, veterinarians, human health, and consumer representatives. This was undertaken as a Delphi study whereby people with specialist knowledge relevant to the focus including species expert veterinarians, aged care providers and consumers of aged care were recruited. These individuals created, reviewed and moderated the risk management framework which is core to the document. CAMASRT sets out a risk management table for each animal group. The document provides best practice case studies, and resources for health, social care workers and others to facilitate the introduction of pets into care facilities.
The CAMSRMT will be of great assistance to those working in the care sector who understand that every effort should be made to avoid vulnerable people having to relinquish their animal companions.
We extend a huge thank you to Dr Janette Young who led this amazing initiative.
The Toolkit is downloadable from SCAS website, is free of charge and should be widely shared.
Download the Companion-Animal Multi-Species Risk Management Tool (CAMSRMT) here
Edward O Wilson Obituary
By Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod, SCAS Chair
Edward O. Wilson, the renowned biologist passed away in December 2021 at the age of 92. His Biophilia Hypothesis (1984) stated that humans have a need to affiliate with other life forms, that our very existence depends upon this. He hypothesised that this need is innate, part of our evolutionary heritage and associated with genetic fitness. And that it is the basis for an ethic of care and nature conservation, especially for supporting biodiversity. In my work, whether delivering humane education to children, or in animal-assisted interventions with offenders, the deep interest in animal care and behaviour shown by all participants is, I feel related to the Biophilia Hypothesis. The need for animal contact is especially strong in people who are incarcerated and others in long-term care settings, and animal companionship should therefore not be denied.
Wilson’s work had great influence on our field. I strongly recommend The Biophilia Hypothesis, which he co-edited with Stephen Kellert. It is published by Shearwater and was reprinted in 1995.
Call for Abstracts for the 2022 SCAS Conference, ‘Pet Friendly Housing: How can we keep people and pets together?’
Call for Abstracts for the 2022 SCAS Conference, ‘Pet Friendly Housing: How can we keep people and pets together?’ on Sunday 18th September 2022, Online.
Continue readingJob Opportunity: Instructional Paraprofessional/Dog Handler
A unique opportunity for an individual that has a certified Therapy Dog, and who would like to work as a Paraprofessional/Dog Handler in an Animal Assisted Intervention Program (NJ, USA). The Calais School is a non-profit state-approved provider of special education for students with special needs in Whippany, NJ. The school serves students in grades K through 12 Plus with multiple learning disabilities.
Go here to apply: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/895779
Continue readingWhen thinking about cats and dogs, people apply different sex-role stereotypes
New research indicates that we have a strong bias toward assuming any new dog that we encounter is male while the gender of cats is more balanced in our minds. By Dr. Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC, in Psychology Today.
Research Funding Available from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)
Funding applications are now being accepted for research addressing Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interactions
Deadline: Thursday, February 24th, 2022 at 11:59pm Eastern
https://habri.org/grants/funding-opportunities/
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