Florina Hica, Master’s student from University of Agricultural Studies and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Attending a conference with all my companion animals is a rare opportunity. But this happened last October when I was fortunate enough to participate in the Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) annual conference.
Since this was a virtual event, I sat in front of my computer in the morning and one cat promptly jumped on my lap, another took up a position on the desk, and my dog curled up on the armchair behind me. I’m sure there’s no better way to learn new things about the human-animal bond than this!
Since the conference’s overarching theme was interdisciplinary innovation in human-animal interactions, the presentations and workshops considered different aspects of research in animal-assisted services (AAS). All the presentations piqued my interest, as I realised how little I know, how much is being done, and how incredible animals are.
Professor Emeritus Ahmedzai painted a vivid picture of the British palliative care system, which, contrary to being a depressing area of research, opened my eyes to the possibilities of introducing support animals in hospice facilities. Family pets, visiting animals, or resident animals, can play a role in a more goal-directed, personalised palliative care plan, not only for end-of-life assistance but also for long-term conditions that people suffer from.
Dr. Ormerod and Mr. Diamantakos explained the need for minimum standards in animal-assisted services in order to protect human and animal welfare. I deeply appreciated the efforts to continually update the SCAS Code of Practice so that it can bridge the gap between current scientific research and the ongoing attempts of practitioners to implement new knowledge and sustain proper animal-assisted services.
Dr. Risë VanFleet’s charisma beamed through my screen during her workshop on the ethical considerations in the field of AAS, but her pertinent examination of canine body language and the need to better understand animals is valuable for any pet guardian. Her videos explaining the difference between observation and interpretation are a great tool for practitioners and animal lovers alike. The awareness of the animal’s perspective is an idea that should be applied in any scenario that includes animals, another useful point for me to use with my own companion animals.
Professor Brinda Jegatheesan offered a great perspective on research in general, advocating for a more collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, and helping me to determine the framework of my own dissertation. Coming from a completely different area of study than animal sciences, I believe that a cross-disciplinary approach to research and relationship-building among professionals from various fields can lead to advancements in the field of human-animal interaction. Moreover, professor Jegatheesan emphasised, practitioners at ground level need to be consulted by researchers, especially for tried methods.
I had doubts about the role of emotional support animals (ESAs) because of what I’ve seen and heard in the media. But Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach’s presentation and examples were so compelling that even now I keep wondering why there is no legal framework for this category of companion animals in the UK, or, for that matter, in my home country, Romania. Furthermore, Dr. Hoy-Gerlach listed true therapeutic benefits of ESAs for people living with health and mental health conditions, ranging from psychological gains (like a sense of purpose and self-efficacy) to emotional improvements, to social benefits (be it companionship from the animal, or opportunities for social interaction).
The saying “a dog’s nose knows” couldn’t have been better portrayed than by Dr. Claire Guest’s workshop on medical detection dogs. Dr. Guest vividly presented the science and training involved in bio-detection dogs (who can identify volatile organic compounds that indicate a specific medical condition, ranging from cancer to malaria) as well as the work involved in training medical alert assistance dogs (for diseases and conditions varying from PoTS to diabetes and other endocrine disorders). Her charity’s project to train dogs to detect the odour of UTIs for communities across the UK is the perfect example of scientific rigour, technological advancements, and empathic implementation of animal-assisted services.
Another presentation that touched me was Michael Kaufmann’s overview of the USA-based Green Chimneys School. The nonprofit organisation is a model of integrated nature-based therapies and human-animal interaction, offering therapeutic education for children with a variety of social, emotional or behavioural challenges. It was heartwarming to see an education model that integrates animals and the surrounding nature into its core values, giving animals a supportive role in children’s education. I am hopeful that such models will not be restricted to special or alternative education and could one day be part of mainstream education.
As the conference came to an end, I realised what a wonderful community SCAS had gathered: all speakers and hosts had been armed with verifiable concrete science, but all of them infused their talks with true feelings, for their audience, their colleagues, and especially for the animals. The empathy in their voices —which I felt was specifically aimed at me — can only testify to the compassion and care that professionals in the field of human-animal interactions employ in their line of work.
Attending this conference was both enriching and humbling for me. And throughout, (at least one of) my companion animal(s) was by my side.
Florina Hica
Master’s student from University of Agricultural Studies and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
About me:
I am a 40-year-old with a passion for companion animals and I believe that more knowledge creates more understanding and compassion for animals. So I joined a master’s programme in Ethology. My previous studies in Philosophy and Sociology give me a theoretical background in relationships of all kinds and my pets give me insights into animal behaviour and inter-species communication. My latest dog, now 3 years old, helped me to make a complete transition to positive, research-based training and put me on the path to pursue a career in canine behaviour counselling. Starting this year, I created a canine communication workshop aimed at primary school children, which I held in summer schools, with the hope that children would better understand canine body language and behaviour.