bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Helping Horse: How Equine Assisted Learning Contributes to the Wellbeing of First Nations Youth in Treatment for Volatile Substance Misuse
Authors: Adams Cindy , Arratoon Cheryl , Boucher Janice , Cartier Gail , Chalmers Darlene , Anne Dell Colleen , Dell Debra , Dryka Dominique , Duncan Randy , Dunn Kathryn , Hopkins Carol , Longclaws Loni , MacKinnon Tamara , Sauve Ernie , Spence Serene , Wuttunee Mallory
Published: October 2022

There has been recent interest in Canada exploring the benefits of equine assisted interventions in the treatment of First Nations youth who misuse volatile substances. Using the richness of an exploratory case study involving the White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre and the Cartier Equine Learning Center, our community-based study examined the question of how an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program contributes to the wellbeing of First Nations female youth who misuse volatile substances. Both programs are grounded in a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework of healing. Our study shares how the EAL horses, facilitators and program content contributed to youths’ wellbeing in each area of the healing framework (bio-psycho-social-spiritual), with emphasis on the cultural significance of the horse and its helping role. The horse is a helper in the girls’ journeys toward improved wellbeing—the horse helps through its very nature as a highly instinctive animal, it helps the facilitators do their jobs, and it also helps put the treatment program activities into practice. In addition, the role of First Nations culture in the girls’ lives was enhanced through their encounters with the horses. The findings support the limited literature on equine assisted interventions and add important insights to the youth addictions treatment literature. Key implications to consider for EAL and volatile substance misuse policy, practice and research are identified.
Oxytocin Responses After Dog and Cat Interactions Depend on Pet Ownership and May Affect Interpersonal Trust
Authors: Curry Benjamin A. , Donaldson Brianne , Vercoe Moana , Filippo Matthew , Zak Paul J.
Published: October 2022

Although many of us interact daily with animals, we have little understanding of how this affects our interactions with people. This study assessed the physiological effects of human-animal interactions and tested if this affected interpersonaltrust. Participants (N=141) were assigned to play with a friendly but unfamiliar cat or dog for 10 minutes or to rest quietly in a private room. Blood was obtained from human participants before and after animal interactions or rest, and videos of animal interactions were coded for encounter styles. Participants then made interpersonal monetary decisions to quantify trust and trustworthiness toward strangers. Although oxytocin (OT) fell on average after interactions with both dogs and cats, there was a positive and significant correlation between the change in OT after interacting with a dog and lifetime pet exposure. Participants who had lived with four or more dogs in their lifetimes had a positive increase in OT after interacting with an unknown dog. We found a negative correlation between the change in OT after interacting with a cat and cat ownership. Participants who had a reduction in stress hormones after a dog interaction showed increased trust in strangers. Specifically, a one-percentage-point decrease in the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin hormone increased trust in a stranger by 24 percent. Our findings show that the human OT response to animals depends on previous pet exposure.
Animal-Assisted Therapy for Youth: A Systematic Methodological Critique
Authors: May Dana. K. , Seivert Nicholas P. , Cano Annmarie , Casey Rita J. , Johnson Amy
Published: October 2022

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) for youth has the potential to benefit both physical and mental health outcomes. Yet little is known about the extent to which study designs in this area are aligned with established standards of intervention research. This critical review assesses current research methodologies focusing on AATs for youth with physical and mental health concerns. The main aims of this review are to advance the knowledge base of empirically supported treatments and identify next steps that researchers can take to secure the place of AATs as sound and valid interventions for youth.
Effects of Pet Dogs for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their Families: Expectations versus reality
Authors: Wright Hannah , Hall Sophie , Hames Annette , Hardiman Jessica , Burgess Aaron , PAWS Team  , Mills Richard , Mills Daniel
Published: October 2022

Previous studies have examined the specific benefits of therapy and assistance dogs on children with autism, but until recently only anecdotes existed concerning the benefits of pet dogs. We conducted structured interviews with 40 parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to investigate the perceived impact of pet dogs. Half the sample (20) owned a pet dog and half the sample was looking to acquire one. Restrictions associated with dog ownership were underestimated, whilst enjoyment, fun and improvements in communication and social interaction were overestimated by the non-owners, indicating important areas where expectations are unlikely to be met. These areas represent important factors to consider when deciding whether to acquire a pet dog in families living with ASD, and as such is of interest to a broad audience including clinicians, veterinarians and parents.
Personality Differences between Dog People and Cat People
Authors: Guastello Andrea D. , Guastello Denise D. , Guastello Stephen J.
Published: October 2022

Understanding the relationship between human personality and preferences for pet species is important for bettering human-animal relationships, supporting animal welfare, and supporting pet therapy. The present study examined personality differences between dog people and cat people with the objective of addressing some discrepancies in previous research that could be traced to the use of broadly defined versus narrowly defined traits. Participants were 418 undergraduates who completed the Sixteen Personality Factors Questionnaire (16PF) and a Pet Survey that classified them as dog or cat people. The 16PF contains 15 narrowly defined primary personality traits, a brief measure of general intelligence, and 5 global factors that are comparable in meaning to those of the Five Factor Model. The principal differences were that the 352 dog people scored higher on warmth, liveliness, rule consciousness, and social boldness compared to the 66 cat people. The latter scored higher on general intelligence, abstractedness, and self-reliance. Overall, primary traits corresponded to a pattern known to be associated with creative personalities and produced better discrimination between the two groups than traits corresponded to the Five Factor Model. Some traits were more salient for females than they were for males.
Revisiting a Link: Animal Abuse, Bullying, and Empathy in Australian Youth
Authors: Parkes Denise , Signal Tania
Published: October 2022

Experience of deliberate animal harm has been found to be a risk factor for school-based violence and later criminality. However, much of the extant research is based on retrospective or caregiver reports with few studies surveying youth directly. The aim of the current study was to address this gap. Sixty-three Australian youth (47 females, 16 males) aged 14-18 years completed an online survey assessing their experience of engaging in and/or witnessing animal abuse (AA) and engaging in/being a victim of bullying. Levels of egoistic need for power and human-directed empathy were also assessed. Expected gender-based differences in experience of animal abuse (directly and as a witness) and personality variables were found. As a cohort, witnessing and/or directly engaging in AA significantly correlated with bullying, while engaging in (not merely witnessing) AA, lower affective empathy and a high need for power were found to predict perpetration of bullying for males. Disparity in findings reported in the literature as well as predictive links between bullying and animal abuse suggest the need for more research in this area. The inclusion of humane education content within extant anti-bullying interventions may prove efficacious in attending to multiple risk factors including empathy deficits.
Testing and Extending the Pets as Ambassadors Hypothesis: The Role of Contact with Pets and Recategorization Processes in Predicting Positive Attitudes toward Animals
Authors: Auger Béatrice , Amiot Catherine E.
Published: October 2022

According to the pets as ambassadors hypothesis (
Serpell & Paul, 1994
), contact with pets can promote more positive attitudes toward animals in general and serve as a springboard toward concerns for a broader range of animals. Building on intergroup contact theory and the common ingroup identity model, the current research aimed to test and extend the pets as ambassadors hypothesis as well as investigate its underlying mechanisms. Specifically, two studies aimed to test whether contact with pets – as a specific type of cross-group friendship – can predict more positive attitudes toward animals in general through recategorization and self-expansion processes. Extending the pets as ambassadors hypothesis, we also verified if inclusion of a favorite pet in the self could predict identification with nature. Two correlational studies conducted at the University of Quebec in Montreal tested these associations. In Study 1 (
N
=148 university students, 109 women; mean age of 24.96 years old; 103 pet owners), mediation analyses revealed that contact with pets predicted greater moral concern toward animals and lower speciesism; these links were mediated by the inclusion of animals in the self. Study 2 (
N
=157 university students, 108 women; mean age of 23.26 years old; 95 pet owners) extended these findings by showing that inclusion of a favorite pet in the self predicted identification with nature; this link was mediated by inclusion of animals in the self. Categorizing humans and animals into the same superordinate group also mediated the associations between inclusion of a favorite pet in the self, on the one end, and inclusion of animals in the self as well as identification with nature on the other. These results stress the importance of recategorization processes in our relations with animals and with nature. Furthermore, they reveal the applicability of the intergroup contact, cross-group friendship, and common ingroup identity models to the realm of human-animal relations.
Pets on Campus: Best Friend or Bad Decision?
Authors: Highfill Lauren , Goodman-Wilson Miranda
Published: October 2022

This study explores the relationship between pet ownership and psychological benefits among college students. Sixty-six students either living with a pet on campus (n = 32; 16 dog owners, 16 cat owners) or not completed several assessments of stress and affective symptomatology during the first two weeks of an academic semester and again during the last two weeks. Overall there were no significant differences between students living with pets and students not living with pets on any of the measures. However, there was a significant interaction between pet ownership and stress in predicting students’ somatic anxiety at Time 2. Although pet owning students reported similar levels of stress as their non-pet owning peers, this stress was not correlated with an increase to their bodily symptoms of anxiety. For the non-pet condition, however, stress and somatic anxiety were significantly, positively correlated. Overall, there was not strong quantitative support for pets reducing stress amongst college students. However, qualitative data from a pet owner questionnaire suggested that students greatly enjoy living with a pet on a college campus. Given the decidedly mixed findings, directions for future research more closely examining the impact of pet ownership on students are proposed.
Who is Interested in Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)? Features of Future Psychotherapists and Psychologists
Authors: Lutzky-Cohen Noga , Schneider Margaret
Published: October 2022

Previous research has established benefits to incorporating AAT in psychotherapy (e.g.,
Chandler, 2012
). A growing interest in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) among mental healthcare practitioners (
Rossetti & King, 2010
) warrants a deeper investigation into the features of future psychotherapists who are interested in AAT and how they differ from those who are not interested in AAT. Responses were obtained from 224 counselling and clinical psychology graduate students from across Canada (mean age 29.9; 88% females). The online survey revealed that participants with higher motivation to use AAT were more likely to be female, older, counselling students, live with companion animals, and have experience with AAT. Participants recognized many advantages of using AAT, such as improving health and reducing stress in clients. However, participants also identified important barriers to using AAT, such as clients’ allergies or fears of animals. Exploring the profiles of those interested in AAT, what interests them and how they perceive AAT, can help AAT training programs attract potential clients and tailor materials appropriately. Furthermore, it can increase future psychotherapists’ awareness of this therapy.
Development of the Bonding with Dog Checklist (BoDC)
Authors: Martinez Sarah C. , Cano Annmarie , Casey Rita J. , Johnson Amy , May Dana , Wurm Lee H.
Published: October 2022

The growing interest in the mechanisms through which human-animal interaction (HAI) benefits humans suggests that new measures are needed to assess human bonding, especially to non-owned animals (i.e., animals that are not the human’s pet). The current study addressed this need by developing and testing a new measure to assess human bonding behavior with non-owned animals, during an animal-assisted intervention that incorporated shelter dogs. An observational measure, a 12-item Bonding with Dog Checklist (BoDC), was created based on prior work on dog bonding and attachment. Participants in the study were incarcerated adolescents residing in two juvenile detention centers (N = 131). An Exploratory Factor Analysis resulted in a final 7-item measure with a single factor structure and good inter-item reliability (
alpha
= .864). Raters used the 7-item BoDC to assess bonding of youth with dogs as they trained or walked shelter dogs during a 10-week intervention. Seventeen raters were trained in use of the observational measure and attended weekly supervision meetings. BoDC scores increased over the sessions and the BoDC was moderately correlated with a measure of dog attachment in the first half of the intervention, providing some evidence for construct validity. These results provide preliminary evidence for the BoDC as a reliable and valid measure to assess human bonding to animals that are not their personal companions.
Experimental trial demonstrates effects of animal-assisted stress prevention program on college students’ positive and negative emotion
Authors: Pendry Patricia , Carr Alexa M. , Roeter Stephanie M. , Vandagriff Jaymie L.
Published: October 2022

In response to the growing prevalence of mental health issues among college students, campuses across the nation are implementing animal-assisted stress reduction programs, despite a clear lack of evidence supporting their efficacy. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of a universal, campus-based, animal-assisted stress prevention program on college students’ moment to moment emotion the week preceding final exams. Participants were randomized into three conditions; the experimental group engaged in a 10-minute long interaction with dogs and cats from the local humane society, the control group watched a 10-minute slide show featuring photos of the same animals, while the wait-listed group was assessed in response to waiting for 10 minutes for their turn to participate in the program. Immediately before and after the assigned intervention, participants completed a 25-item checklist assessing how content, irritable, anxious, and depressed they felt in that moment. At post-test, participants who engaged in a 10-minute interaction with live animals reported statistically significant higher levels of contentment,
F
(
2,
181) = 9.30,
p
< .001, and lower levels of anxiety,
F
(2, 181) = 5.74,
p
< .01, and irritability,
F
(2, 181) = 5.44,
p
< .01, compared to students in the control and wait-listed groups. This study provides much-needed evidence in support of animal-assisted campus visitation programs, demonstrating that 10 minutes of human-animal interaction increases levels of positive emotion and decreases levels of negative emotion in college students approaching final examinations.
Treating Pets Well: The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance
Authors: Coy Anthony E. , Green Jeffrey D.
Published: October 2022

Although the benefits of human-animal interactions (especially pets and companion animals) for humans are becoming increasingly well-known and implemented, less work has been done examining how such interactions affect the animal. Understanding the owner-animal dynamic is more important than ever as the quality of this relationship may affect the level of care an animal is able to provide the owner. In the present research, we expected owner attachment dispositions to affect caregiving and attentiveness. A community sample of 510 pet owners completed surveys on their global attachment and pet-related measures of rejection sensitivity, caregiving, and attentiveness. Results indicate that individuals high in attachment anxiety reported significantly higher levels of caregiving and attentiveness to their animal regardless of type of pet. In contrast, highly avoidant individuals reported significantly lower levels of caregiving and attentiveness behaviors. In both cases, the level of care is driven by pet-related rejection sensitivity; specifically owners’ concerns that their pet may be negatively evaluating and thinking poorly of them. These findings are consistent with previous work on attachment theory that suggests these evaluation concerns may lead to care and attentiveness that is actually excessive for highly anxious individuals and neglectful for avoidant individuals. Implications for human-animal interventions and future research are discussed.
An Examination of the Possible Physical Activity and Short-Term Health Benefits Associated With Dog Walking
Authors: Duvall Antonacopoulos Nikolina M. , Pychyl Timothy A.
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine whether dog walking is beneficial for dog owners’ health by providing sufficient physical activity for health benefits and improving their psychological health immediately after dog walking. The sample was comprised of 61 dog walkers who wore an accelerometer for one week on all of their dog walks and completed seven visual analogue scales assessing their psychological health before and after each of their dog walks. Slightly more than half of the time spent dog walking was at the moderate- to vigorous-intensity level recommended for health benefits. Furthermore, through dog walking alone, approximately two in five dog walkers met Canada’s 150-minute physical activity guideline for health benefits. Analyses comparing dog walkers’ psychological health before and after their dog walks revealed an improvement on six out of seven psychological health measures. Dog walkers felt less stressed after walking their dog and experienced an increase in their energy, self-esteem, social life satisfaction and overall life satisfaction as well as a more positive mood. Taken together, these findings provide objective evidence that dog walking is a viable means of attaining the physical activity needed for health benefits and highlight the need to further explore the short-term health benefits of dog walking.
The Background to Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research
Authors: Beck Alan M. , Barker Sandra , Gee Nancy R. , Griffin James A. , Johnson Rebecca
Published: October 2022

Human-Animal Interaction (HAI), and specifically what is called the human-animal bond, has a long history. The long-standing social implications of our association with animals continue as well as an ever-increasing utilization of animals to help mitigate the impact of disabilities. In the last four decades there has been a growing research enterprise exploring the human health consequences of our association with animals as well as studies of the psychological and physiological mechanisms to help explain the findings. Research in the area continues and the future of HAI is both challenging and exciting.
Guide to Human-Animal Interaction Education
Authors: Erdman Phyllis , LaFollette Megan. R. , Steklis Netzin G. , Steklis H. Dieter , Germone Monique , Kogan Lori R.
Published: October 2022

Pursuring a career in human-animal interaction (HAI) may feel daunting, as this field is quickly growing and changing, and offers a wide array of career possibilities with pathways and educational programs. Yet, it is this broad scope of possibilities that can make navigating the field challenging. The purpose of this article is to help guide individuals who are interested in exploring a career with animals and humans. Our specific aims are to (a) describe and define the current field of HAI, (b) synthesize possible human-animal studies programs as provided by the Animals and Society website, and (c) offer guidance for those interested in exploring HAI careers. This paper, is designed as a practical guide to help students and their mentors navigate the HAI field.
Multicultural Considerations in Animal-Assisted Intervention
Authors: Valiyamattam Georgitta , Yamamoto Mariko , Fanucchi Leticia , Wang Feiran
Published: October 2022

Attitudes towards non-human animals and the conceptualization of the human-animal bond varies across cultures and population groups, thereby making it a crucial consideration in the field of animal-assisted intervention (AAI). The growing expansion of AAI practice to multicultural populations within and outside the US and Europe, necessitates a greater emphasis on the cultural considerations and implications involved. In this context, the present paper attempts to explore select examples of AAI practice outside the US and Europe, namely in South America with a specific focus on Brazil and in East and South-East Asia with a specific focus on Japan, India, and China. The paper also proposes a model for a greater incorporation of multicultural considerations in AAI encompassing the spheres of research, education, and practice, thus drawing from and expanding on current recommendations in the field.
Overview of Centers and Institutes for Human-Animal Interaction in the United States
Authors: O’Haire Marguerite E. , Bibbo Jessica , Hoffman Christy L. , Mueller Megan K. , Ng Zenithson Y. , Buechner-Maxwell Virginia A.
Published: October 2022

Academic centers and institutes represent critical hubs for the advancement of areas of scholarly and societal interest. We conducted a survey of 16 academic centers and institutes for human-animal interaction (HAI) in the United States to systematically document the current state of academic interest and investment in the field. Areas of focus included demographics, research, engagement, and education. Results indicated a substantial growth of new centers since 1977, particularly over the past decade. Research topics focused primarily on companion animals (largely dogs, cats, and horses) and adults. Engagement efforts centered around online outreach and in-person programming, with 75% of centers providing animal-assisted intervention services. Education opportunities included degrees at the undergraduate (13%), Masters (50%), and Doctoral (25%) level with courses offered in 63% of centers. The growth and productivity of academic centers and institutes for HAI provides evidence for the growing academic influence of the burgeoning field of HAI. The infrastructure these centers provide will be essential in supporting larger-scale research projects, promoting interdisciplinary and community-based research, and educating future leaders of the field.
Impact of adaptive devices on horses, assisting persons, and riders with cerebral palsy in a therapeutic riding program
Authors: Kaiser Lana , Edick Mathew J. , Buckler Katherine Smith , Heleski Camie , Gorbis Sherman , DePue Bonnie , Lewis Liz , Kaiser LeeAnn J.
Published: October 2022

Hypothesis: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of three different adaptive devices used to facilitate therapeutic horseback riding for riders with cerebral palsy (CP), the horses, and the assisting persons. The study hypothesis was that there is no difference in clinical benefit to the rider; stress or physical saddle pressure to the horse; or the level of exertion required from assisting persons when using any of the three adaptive devices. Population: Individuals with varying disability due to cerebral palsy who participated in a therapeutic horseback riding program at a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Premier Accredited Center.

Intervention: Therapeutic horseback riding sessions using one of three adaptive devices. Comparators: Two commonly used adaptive devices (English saddle and bareback pad with backrider), and one recently developed, less-used device (Independence saddle). Outcomes: Clinical benefit for the individual with Cerebral Palsy was evaluated using an osteopathic musculoskeletal exam score. Equine stress was evaluated using a horse stress behavior ethogram. Physical pressure under the saddle of the horse was evaluated using a

Pliance Saddle pad under each adaptive device. Required level of exertion by assisting persons was measured using an assistant exertion score.

Conclusion: Therapeutic riding using an English saddle, a backriding pad with backrider, or an Independence saddle, by individuals with various degrees of disability, does not cause excessive stress or result in excessive pressure to the horse. Using one assistive device over another also does not appear to change the likelihood of clinical benefit to the rider. However, exertion scores for assisting persons were lower when the Independence saddle was used compared to the English saddle or backriding pad. Adaptive devices that allow an individual with CP to improve function, ride more independently, provide some respite for the side walker and do not cause undue stress or frustration to the horse would be a great addition to the therapeutic regimen. Based on the results of this study, the Independence saddle is a viable alternative to the English saddle or the backriding pad for riders that would otherwise need extensive assisting person support in a therapeutic riding program.
Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Equine-assisted Early Intervention for Mother- Child Dyads with Insecure Attachment
Authors: Hebesberger Denise V. , Beetz Andrea , Kotrschal Kurt
Published: October 2022

Animals, including horses may be valuable partners in many activities, pedagogy and therapy. Contact between humans and animals can facilitate an oxytocin secretion that, as a consequence, may alleviates stress-responses, increases social orientation and that supports attachment and caregiving. These mechanisms can be utilized in animal-assisted therapy, for example, to enhance trust between client and therapist and to help increase attachment security in clients with insecure attachment. In this study we compared the effects of an equine-assisted intervention with a conventional play-based intervention for mother-child dyads with insecure attachment, insecure caregiving and child dysregulation. Twenty mother-child dyads (with infants 12-24 months of age), with at least one part of the dyad showing an insecure attachment, were randomly assigned to eight weekly sessions of either equine-assisted or play-based intervention. Effects on mothers’ caregiving behavior and physiology and on the relationship between clients and therapists were assessed via behavior coding, salivary cortisol, heart rate and heart rate variability measures. Mothers and their infants in the equine-assisted intervention had more body contact with each other (p ≤ 0.001), a trend toward more vocal exchange (p = 0.083), and mothers showed a higher sympathetic activation, indicated by a higher heart rate (p = 0.003). In the play-based intervention, mothers showed greater parasympathetic activation than in the horse group, indicated by higher heart rate variability (p = 0.004) as well as enhanced rapport between mothers and the therapist (p = 0.016). We conclude that the main effect of the horse-assisted method was increasing positive arousal by the mother and child doing something exciting together, thus triggering attentiveness towards the child, indicated by higher rates of caregiving behavior, such as proximity and vocal contact. In contrast, the play-based intervention promoted a relaxed environment which allowed the therapists and mothers to engage more with each other. Hence, depending on intervention goals, a combination of equine-assisted and play-based interventions might be an optimal approach.
Animal-Assisted Activities for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Parent Insights
Authors: Buck Page Walker , Lavery Angela
Published: October 2022

This exploratory study was designed to investigate parental perceptions of animal-assisted activities for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In-depth interviews with 10 families provided insight into the possible mechanisms by which human-animal interactions impact socioemotional behaviors for children ASD. Parents suggested that interactions with animals are qualitatively different than interactions with humans allowing for enhanced communication and connection through reductions in anxiety and frustration. Bearing witness to these human-animal interactions and their concomitant impact on human-human interactions provided parents with feelings of happiness, optimism and hope.
Rationalizing the Many Uses of Animals: Application of the 4N Justifications Beyond Meat
Authors: Piazza Jared , Cooper Lucy , Slater-Johnson Shannon
Published: October 2022

Past research has uncovered four common justifications for using animals as food — the 4Ns — that eating meat is
Natural, Normal, Necessary,
and
Nice.
The current research investigated the extent to which the 4Ns might apply more generally to other animal uses. Two studies examined the moral justifications people spontaneously offered for various animal uses, including household products, clothing, culling, and horse racing (Study1), and in zoos, TV/film, as pets, and for medical testing (Study 2). Participants offered reasons for why it is okay to use animals and the responses were coded by independent raters. The 4N categories accounted for the majority of justifications across most uses. There was great variability in justification categories offered for each use, and some uses generated justification categories not covered within the 4N scheme, including humane treatment, prioritization of human lives, and sustainability arguments. This research provides a large-scope investigation of animal use justifications that moves beyond meat consumption.
The Effects of Kinship, Reciprocity, and Conscious Deliberation on the Level of Concern for Non-Humans: How Our Psychology Affects Levels of Concern for Non-Humans
Authors: Thompson Barton , Quinter Cindy
Published: October 2022

As hunter-gatherers, it is unlikely that humans evolved psychological tendencies to extend high levels of concern for predator or prey species. Our coalitional psychology, which evolved to regulate human interactions with other humans, might be the basis for the extension of ethical concerns to non-humans. This research identified three variables (kinship, reciprocity, and conscious deliberation) that affect our altruistic tendencies toward humans and tested them to see if they also affected our concern toward non-humans. Using a sample of 119 respondents from participants at animal auctions, the researchers compared levels of concern to: perceived the animals as family; received benefits from the animals; and/or consciously contemplated appropriate levels of concern. The data supported the hypotheses that concerns rise when animals are re-categorized as kin and/or when individuals have previously considered appropriate levels of concern, but it did not support the hypothesized connection between concern and reciprocity.
Human Helping of Animals: What Motivates It?
Authors: Highfill Lauren E. , Davis Mark H.
Published: October 2022

While considerable research has been carried out to understand helping offered to other humans, relatively little research has focused specifically on the motivations underlying helping for animals. It is possible that the social psychological helping literature may help shed light on the question of human-animal helping, and may provide some ways to investigate this issue. To evaluate this possibility, we provided participants with a hypothetical situation involving an animal in need of help. Participants were asked to imagine that the situation is happening to them, and then to indicate the likelihood that they would provide the needed help. They were also asked to report on the thoughts and feelings that they would experience in that situation. Our results indicated that the same variables that have been used successfully in understanding the motivations underlying the help we offer to fellow humans (obligation, oneness, empathic concern) also successfully predict helping offered to non-humans. Also consistent with the social psychological research on helping motivations, both egoistic and altruistic motives appear to play a role in the helping decisions regarding animals. Thus, initial evidence suggests that this technique may be a valid way of examining the motivations underlying the helping that humans offer to animals.
Animal-assisted interventions in Canada: AAI as potential field guide in/to alterity relations
Authors: Hanrahan Cassandra , Boulton Amberlee
Published: October 2022

Ideas about non-human animals within animal-assisted interventions (AAI) and the general public are changing and evolving. There is, however, a dearth of empirical investigation on those changes in the AAI field. Drawing from four key findings of a qualitative Nova Scotia study that investigated AAI from the perspectives of AAI practitioners in a variety of settings, this paper examines the inter- and intra- relational dynamics of AAI in a Canadian province through 36 semi-structured interviews and four related thematic findings that emerged as illuminating trends. These themes form the basis of this paper: 1) AAI Entry point is personally motivated and AAI dyads are highly relational and intuitive; 2) AAI practitioner initiative is central to continuance and development; 3) AAI theoretical framework(s), competencies, ethics, and standards of practice are informally eclectic; and 4) Attitudes towards animals involve limited ideas about justice. An overarching purpose of this analysis was to examine the changing/evolving views of companion animals from tools/property to sentient partners within AAI practitioner perspectives and what this looks like in practice. Participants discussed entry points into AAI as personally motivated within highly relational human-animal AAI dyads. While the researchers determined practitioner initiative as crucial to AAI continuance and development, they also ask what this can tell us about how the field of AAI might contribute to or limit a critical reconceptualization of humanity; about understandings and experiences of individual and collective wellbeing within an interconnected web of life. Using a posthumanist theoretical lens and a constructivist approach to knowledge making about animal-assisted intervention and human animal interaction, this paper provides a substantial departure from the usual positivist epistemological lens used in animal assisted intervention and human animal interaction (AAI -HAI) scholarship and offers the potential to transform AAI/HAI scholarship. Exploring key findings through the emergent overarching theme of
relationality,
this paper aims to strengthen AAI services through a critical and creative discussion of practitioner motivations and resolve; experiences and perceived outcomes of working with and drawing inspiration from animal partners for clients and providers alike; and conceptions/misconceptions of animal justice. The broader changes in how interrelationships between people, other animals, and the environment are being conceptualized and understood must be integrated into the evolving perspectives of AAI practitioners. The authors respond with prescient optimism to the strengths and challenges of AAI in a time of transgression of planetary boundaries involving global pandemics, climate change/injustice, environmental degradation.
Fostering Rescued Dogs: An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Foster Care Providers
Authors: Daily Tamara A.
Published: October 2022

Animals in the care of shelters and rescues frequently have health and behavioral challenges that must be addressed before they can be adopted. Volunteer foster providers perform an important service by bringing vulnerable animals into their homes to address their needs therefore making them better prepared for successful adoption. Despite their critical role in animal rescue, the experiences of volunteer foster providers have not been examined systematically. Given the difficulty recruiting and retaining these volunteers and the potential for them to experience negative outcomes such as compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress caused by performing care work with rescued animals, such research is necessary. Current and former foster providers (N = 85) completed an online survey of their perceptions of the positives and negatives of the experience and measures of psychological outcomes of care work. The findings show that fostering rescued dogs comes with a mix of positive and negative experiences. Further, the findings suggest the importance for rescues of being aware of the risk factors associated with compassion fatigue and protective factors predicting compassion satisfaction.
The Effects of an Online-Guided, At-Home Dog Training Session on Owner Anxiety, Mood, and General Self-Efficacy During COVID-19
Authors: Napier Andrew D. , Bennett Pauleen C. , Howell Tiffani J.
Published: October 2022

Many studies have now demonstrated the positive effects on humans from brief, unstructured interactions with dogs, including improved mood and reduced anxiety. Few studies, though, have explored the psychological impact when humans take part in more structured obedience training with the dog. This study examined the effects of owners taking part in a single session of online-guided training with their own dog in their own home during COVID-19 lockdowns. This group was compared to a similar group having an unstructured play session with their dog. Dog-owner relationship quality was also measured to investigate whether this influenced any observed changes to the outcome variables. Participants (N = 83) were assigned to either the training group, involving 10-minutes of basic obedience training, or a play group, involving 10-minutes of unstructured play. Before the sessions, participants in each group watched videos demonstrating the interaction and then completed the Dog Owner Relationship Scale (DORS) to measure owner-dog relationship quality. Before and immediately after the session, they completed the 6-item version of the state scale of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE). A mixed between-within multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted with follow-up Bonferroni-corrected univariate analysis of variance, to measure differences in the outcomes between groups over time. Results indicated no significant differences between groups, but revealed a significant, large effect on scores for both groups on all measures over time. Multiple regression, analysing interaction effects between the outcome measures and the DORS, found no significant effects, indicating dog-owner relationship did not moderate the observed improvements over time. Results from this preliminary study suggest that a brief, single-session, online-guided interaction with a dog – whether training or playing with them – can confer short-term, psychological benefits for the owners.
Pets and a Pandemic: An Exploratory Mixed Method Analysis of How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Dogs, Cats, and Owners
Authors: Bolstad Courtney J. , Edwards Grayson E. , Gardner Allison , Nadorff Michael R.
Published: October 2022

The purpose of the present study was to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted dogs, cats, and interactions between these pets and their owners. Participants included 102 dog and/or cat owners residing primarily in the United States. Participants completed an online questionnaire between late April to late May 2020. Analyses included

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-tests comparing retrospective estimates of pre-pandemic functioning and functioning during the pandemic, and qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze participants’ responses to three open-ended questions. Quantitative analyses found that pets and owners spent significantly more time together, with increases in physical contact between owners and pets, exercise with dogs, and engagement in dog-related activities. No significant changes were found regarding owners’ percentage of pet care responsibility, attachment to their pets, pleasantness derived from pet-related activities, or upset feelings toward their pets when comparing pre-pandemic and during pandemic scores. Five themes arose from the thematic analysis: Social/Attachment (i.e., changes to owner-pet, pet-pet, and owner-owner relationships), Physical (i.e., increases in owners’ physical contact and proximity with pets, physical benefits to pets and owners), Psychological (i.e., changes in owners’ and pets’ behavior and emotionality), Safety/Well-Being (i.e., health concerns regarding owners and pets), and Responsibilities/Routines (i.e., changes in owners’ and pets’ daily routines, changes in owners’ responsibilities and productivity). These findings provide valuable insight into how dogs, cats, owners, and interactions between these pets and owners were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as considerations for animal welfare in the wake of the pandemic. Additionally, the study generated many hypotheses pertaining to how and why these changes occurred, providing a foundation for additional research in this area.
Predictors of Opting for Advanced Medical Care versus Euthanasia for Companion Animals with Severe Cardiac Disease
Authors: Siess Samantha , Kramer George A. , Ozer Dar , Gaudette Nikki , Williams Brienne , Antal Brittany , Moyer Anne
Published: October 2022

This study examined predictors of opting for advanced medical care versus euthanasia for a critically ill companion animal. These included holding an optimistic bias for poor prognostic information, level of attachment to one’s companion animal, and satisfaction with one’s veterinarian. Eighty owners of companion animals with a diagnosis of a severe cardiac disease were asked to indicate what they believed their companion animal’s chance of survival and quality of life would be if they opted for intensive treatment. Participants showed an optimistic bias in their interpretation of the chance of survival (but not quality of life) of a companion animal with more severe prognoses, suggesting that this may serve as a self-protective strategy in the face of losing a beloved companion animal. Client satisfaction with communication and with the cost of care, but not attachment to one’s companion animal, significantly increased the likelihood of approving the recommended course of hospitalization and intensive treatment. This is of particular importance in that, of those who did not approve the recommended treatment, the majority elected to take their companion animals home against medical advice, rather than opt for humane euthanasia, this likely resulted in undue suffering and an uncomfortable death. These findings support the need for training in communication in veterinary schools.
The influence of dogs’ presence on children’s performance on cognitive tests: Implications for clinical practice.
Authors: Alfrey Abigail
Published: October 2022

Evidence suggests that cognitive assessments can evoke feelings of stress for some children, potentially inhibiting cognitive performance and undermining the validity of results. Dogs have been found to be an unobtrusive form of social support for children in other settings, potentially offering a solution to this problem. The aim of this paper was to critically review the literature to explore what effect, if any, dogs may have on children’s performance on cognitive tests, and consider implications for clinical practice. To do so, five databases were systematically searched and returns were screened for eligibility. Studies were collectively described and then appraised using a common appraisal framework. Nine studies exploring the relationship between dogs and cognitive functioning in children (≤18 years) were identified in the literature search. All used an experimental methodology and were of good to fair quality. Together, results indicated that the presence of a dog could reduce stress and enhance cognitive performance across various domains, lending experimental evidence to support the idea that dogs may support children undergoing cognitive assessments. Further trials are now required to explore the generalizability of these associations to clinical settings and implications for test validity. Further implications for policy and practice are discussed.
The Characteristics and Motivations of Human Volunteers of Animal-Assisted Interventions
Authors: Syrnyk Corinne , McArthur Alisa
Published: October 2022

This study examined the characteristics and motivations of people who volunteer in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) with their dog. Surveys of volunteer motivation, prosocial attitudes, altruism, empathy, personality, and the Pet Attachment Questionnaire were conducted, and demographic data were collected from AAI volunteers (AAIVs). For comparison purposes, these measures were also given to a group of people who volunteer with animals, but not in an AAI capacity (non-AAIVs). This study found both groups to be overwhelmingly female (>90%) with university-level educations. Motivated by the value of helping others, AAIVs scored higher than non-AAIVs on scales of empathy, prosocial behaviour, and altruism. AAIVs’ personality traits were primarily agreeable and less neurotic, and they scored higher and lower, respectively, on these traits compared to non-AAIVs. For the AAIVs only, the traits of agreeableness and extraversion uniquely predicted a secure (less anxious) pet attachment. However, for non-AAIVs, conscientiousness was the only dimension that predicted a secure attachment. The discussion considers the importance of empathy, a commitment to helping, and altruism as defining characteristics of AAIVs. The relationship between personality and attachment is also discussed.