Pets against loneliness
7 May 2019 - Experts in public health, research, psychology, gerontology, and veterinary medicine are gathering in Washington, D.C. for the first-ever Social Isolation, Loneliness and Companion Animal...
Researchers call for more studies looking at role of pets in healthy aging
Across the developed world, populations are ageing. On one level this is great news: we are all living longer. But the downside is a growing raft of health and social problems that can make the later ...
Is the pressure to be a ‘responsible’ pet owner increasing?
Britain has long been thought of as a nation of pet lovers. Nearly half of UK households have at least one pet, but the last 40 years have seen many changes in attitudes to animals and their ownership...
Waltham-funded study to examine the impact of pet ownership on healthy human aging
Professor Erika Friedmann, Associate Dean of Research at the University of Maryland, together with her colleague, Barbara Resnick Professor in Gerontology and Drs Eleanor Simonsick and Stephanie Stude...
How pets could aid learning in the classroom
Bringing a dog into a school classroom may delight students, but could it actually help them learn better? The question is increasingly pertinent, as many schools regularly introduce animals into clas...
New funding to advance research into health impact of therapy dogs
Researchers at major academic institutions in the United States have been awarded funding through the National Institutes of Health/Mars–WALTHAM™ Public-Private Partnership. These new studies will exa...
How neurobiology and genetics can help researchers understand human-animal interaction
When you gaze into your dog’s face and he gazes back at you, do you ever wonder what is going on? The ‘mutual gaze’ between individuals is an important aspect of social communication and is essential...
Pets can be good for you – but the evidence shows it’s not quite that simple
When it comes to pet ownership, emotions often run high. Those who share their lives with a pet can be passionate about the benefits they feel their animal companion brings. However, the scientific ev...
