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SCAS research activities

Since its inception, SCAS has had a strong research brief and works to advance our understanding of human-companion animal interactions by commissioning research and disseminating research findings to a wide audience.

Current research

SCAS undertakes its own research into the human-companion animal bond and is also able to respond to requests from other organisations or individuals to conduct research.

Our current research projects focus on pets and older people and an evaluation study of an animal-welfare education programme.  Visit our current projects pages for further information. 

SCAS scholarship

Each year, SCAS offers a £5,000 scholarship to fund research on the human-companion animal bond. SCAS welcomes applications from researchers as well as individuals delivering human-companion animal bond programmes, for example, practitioners and programme facilitators.  Student applications are also considered. Outcomes of the research findings are published in the SCAS Journal and the successful recipient is invited to present his/her work at a SCAS conference. 

In previous years, the SCAS scholarship has been awarded to support the following projects:

• Farm animals in a day hospice: Patients' experience of a visit from therapeutic farm animals in an occupational therapy session in a Day Care Unit
• The use of Pets As Therapy volunteer and PAT dog teams in the treatment of childhood dog phobia
• Children's acquisition of theory of mind in humans and animals

Visit our  news page for updates on deadlines for SCAS scholarship applications.

Pedro's Fund

Pedro's Fund was set up in 1997 at the suggestion of a SCAS life member.  The fund was established for small research projects, with the intention that it might in turn become the catalyst for attracting funding for larger scale research.  The fund was named Pedro's Fund in honour of a dog, Pedro, which was very dear to her owner. 

A generous starter to the fund was made in 1997 and over the years the fund has continued to receive donations.  By the end of 2005, the fund had been fully utilised and in 2006, the fund received a generous donation of £5,000.  

SCAS is currently considering various proposals for initiating new research into the human-companion animal bond.  If would like to submit a proposal or make a donation to the fund, please contact  the SCAS director.  

Follow this link for further information on Pedro's Fund.

Research Focus

In 2005, SCAS initiated a new feature in the SCAS Journal Research Focus.   The aims of Research Focus are to:

• Introduce those SCAS members who may be unfamiliar with research activities, to scientific journal articles relevant to SCAS' main areas of interest
• Inform those SCAS members who may be more familiar with research about current research activities
• Present research in the human-companion animal bond to readers in an accessible, user-friendly style.

Research Focus is written by Alison Reynolds.  Please contact   the SCAS director  for further information and copies of previous Research Focus articles.