Coping with childhood stress: could a dog be the answer?
Nana is one of the great dogs of children’s fiction. As “nursemaid” to the Darling family in J M Barrie’s Peter Pan, she fulfils not just day to day housekeeping duties, but provides emotional support...
Walking the dog helps keep owners healthy and promotes community cohesion
The study carried out by Dr Hayley Christian from the University of Western Australia (UWA) in collaboration with the WALTHAM™ is the first to consistently examine the relationship between dog walking...
Mars Petcare acquires Genoscoper Laboratories
Mars Petcare acquired Genoscoper Laboratories, a specialist in molecular diagnostics for companion animals. The acquisition will accelerate the pace of discoveries in genetics, to form the basis...
Animal therapy: can the human-animal bond treat mind and body?
Barely a week passes without a media story claiming that pets benefit human health and well-being. Companion animals are increasingly used as ‘therapeutic tools’ in medical and mental health care. But...
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...
Violence against pets and domestic abuse: how are they linked?
One in six American children is exposed to physical violence at home by the time they are 17. It is a disturbing statistic, and one that underlies a growing awareness of serious emotional and be...
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...
