Collaborative AAI programmes: Replicable approaches to community development – November 2022

By Katie Bristow, Julie Milsom and Chris Kent

People & Animals UK CIC began as a response to the development of the SCAS Code of Practice UK, bringing together like-minded professionals across the health, education, voluntary sector to explore the human-animal bond at grass-roots level, to share ideas and resources for stronger AAI programme delivery.

This webinar provided an insight into how collaborative working can grow a concept, into a series of sustainable and replicable AAI programmes across different parts of the UK.

Swimming with Dolphins in Virtual-Reality: The potential benefits for adults with additional needs – October 2022

By Georgia Smith BSc MSc

For over 25 years, dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) has been used as an AAT for individuals with mental and physical disabilities. The suggested benefits include increased motivation, attention span and language skills, as well as a reduction in social withdrawal. Whilst appearing beneficial, DAT research flags serious methodological flaws and an abundance of welfare concerns for both humans and dolphins. This webinar will start by exploring and critiquing DAT research, before introducing an exciting and innovative alternative – dolphin virtual-reality. Dolphin virtual-reality is a form of water-proof technology which enables people to feel as if they are swimming with wild dolphins, in an aquatic environment, without the use of real dolphins. A study exploring the potential benefits of dolphin virtual-reality for adults with additional needs, and its results, will then be presented and discussed.

Best Practice Standards in Animal-Assisted Interventions in Schools and Elsewhere: How The LEAD Risk Assessment Tool Can Help – July 2022

By Prof Kerstin Meints, University of Lincoln, UK

This talk presents the LEAD tool and highlights best practice with respect to safe and welfare-oriented AAI in schools and other settings. Risk assessment of settings, staff, AAI participants, handlers and dogs, safety training, animal welfare, minimising injury and zoonoses risk; staff training and dog bite prevention training will be discussed. Examples from practice working in mainstream schools and in schools for children with special educational needs will be provided.

Promoting Optimal Equine Wellbeing in Equine Assisted Services – June 2022

By Dr. Clare Thomas-Pino, Lecture and BSc (Hons) Programme Manager Human-Animal Interaction, Hartpury University

This presentation explored the importance of evaluating the benefits and drawbacks for horses participating in Equine Facilitated Services, and practical ways practitioners and horse handlers can ensure the horses are provided with choices to promote their optimal wellbeing.

Autism and Dogs – A recipe for success? – May 2022

By Hannah Beal (Family Dog Instructor, Dogs for Good) and Sarah Tosh-Robb (Community Dog Handler, Dogs for Good)

The aim of this webinar was:

• To share some of the learning from the work Dogs for Good carry out with dogs and autistic adults and children.
• Help identify ingredients and considerations that dogs for Good feel are important in order to create successful outcomes for both people and dogs.

Pet Bereavement – Compassionate Understanding of its Impact and Significance – April 2022

By Lesley Winton, Founder and CEO of Fostering Compassion

This presentation explored the depth of the human-animal bond, its significance to individuals in a variety of circumstances and ways professionals and individuals can deal with this type of loss in a compassionate and understanding manner.

Pets and Housing: An analysis of ‘no pet’ covenants and the law – March 2022

By Dr Debbie Rook, Principal lecturer in Law, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne

In this webinar Debbie talks about her professional doctorate research titled “More-than-human families in multi-species tenancies: A critical analysis of ‘no pet’ covenants and the law”. Interviews with tenants adversely affected by ‘no pet’ covenants are examined to better understand their experience. The nature of the human-companion animal relationship is critical in understanding the adverse effects of ‘no pet’ covenants on tenants. Existing law in England is silent on the use of ‘no pet’ covenants so it is left to the landlord and tenant to negotiate the keeping of pets in rental housing. What are the problems with the current approach and how can these be addressed? With the impact of the pandemic is the time right to recognise companion animals as family members within housing law and policy in England?  The legality of ‘no pet’ covenants is critically examined by reference to Human Rights law and Consumer Rights law. The concepts of ‘Fairness’ and ‘Harm Assessment’ are harnessed to assess the need for housing legislation in England to regulate the use of ‘no pet’ covenants.

Ensuring our Animal Companions are Healthy and Happy – February 2022

By Dr Sean Wensley, Senior Veterinary Surgeon for Communication and Education, People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).

Fulfilling and enjoyable relationships with companion animals rely on those animals being healthy and happy. There is an additional moral requirement to ensure that the animals that we involve for human benefit enjoy a good quality of life. In many cases, these mutual benefits to pets and people are realised, but companion animals also experience some common, preventable challenges to their wellbeing. Veterinary professionals observe some of these problems in their daily clinical work and the veterinary charity, PDSA, has been assessing and quantifying them for over a decade, through their annual PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, as well as contributing to solutions. In his webinar, Sean Wensley will describe some of this work, covering areas including pet acquisition and the welfare of brachycephalic (flat-faced) animals.

Are Pets really Good for Us? – January 2022

By Dr Sandra McCune V.N., B.A.(Mod), Ph.D.

The bond we have with companion animals is ancient, enduring and important. But is it good for us? Our close proximity to such species provides the opportunity to observe and interact with each other with the potential for relationships to develop that can mutually impact health and well-being. Animal-assisted interventions also provide opportunities for beneficial interaction beyond pet ownership. This talk explores the theoretical basis for such inter-specific bonds and their resulting health outcomes. An overview of the scope and type of human-animal interaction studies will be presented including research challenges and potential future research directions.