Pet ownership can help us build social connections and a sense of community
Pet owners report stronger neighbourhood social connections than non-pet owners according to a newly published study. They were consistently more likely to report social benefits such as helpfulness, ...
Workplaces that don’t allow dogs could be barking up the wrong tree
There is growing evidence that taking your pet to the office can reduce stress and increase your productivity. Despite these gains, some employees remain unconvinced. Opponents cite fear of dogs, heal...
Human-animal interaction: the hormonal connection
Human Animal Interaction Human animal interaction (HAI) studies have traditionally relied on observed behaviour to gain insights into how people and animals engage with each other. But such appro...
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...
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...
