A study carried out by researchers in Sweden, and published in the journal Anthrozoos, has revealed that therapy dogs could be used to treat or prevent the development of cardiovascular disease in the elderly by lowering blood pressure of residents in a nursing home. Continue reading
The University of Arizona are recruiting for two positions for a funded Human Animal Interaction (HAI) project. The project investigates the roles of oxytocin and vasopressin in HAI, involving dogs and 8-10 year old children. Continue reading
On Friday 26 October 2018, the second reading of the Cats Bill 2017-19 will take place in the House of Commons. Continue reading
The 15th Triennial International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) conference will take place from the 12 -14 April 2019 in Brewster, New York (one hour north of Manhattan) at the world-renowned Sam and Myra Ross Institute at Green Chimneys. Continue reading
Scottish Labour believe everyone, particularly those who are vulnerable, should have the opportunity to access the wellbeing benefits that pets can provide. As such, their Green Paper, Paws Clause, has been developed to identify a number of potential policies which would help people in Scotland to keep their pets with them more easily.
We were delighted to be invited by Claudia Beamish (Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Environment, Climate Change, and Land Reform) to submit a formal response to this Green Paper to show our support and help influence the formal process for policy decision making within the party. Continue reading
The BetterwithPets Prize, valued at CHF 100, 000, offers a fantastic opportunity for human-animal bond programmes and projects to gain support for their work. The prize is aimed at supporting and expanding leading innovations and initiatives focused on harnessing the positive power of the pet-human bond. This is a European initiative and entry is open to applicants from any country in the European Union as well as Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Norway. Applicants will get the chance to win prizes totalling CHF 100,000 and receive feedback on their initiatives from experts in their field. Closing date for application is 15 April. Further details can be found here.
All SCAS members are invited to the SCAS Annual General Meeting on 17 March 2018, 1pm at the College of Animal Welfare, Headland House, London Road, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, PE29 2BQ. The AGM will take place during the SCAS conference on Pets and Housing on the same day.
Please click here for a guide recently published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to help businesses understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners under the Equality Act 2010.
SCAS is seeking to appoint new Trustees to help drive its development over the next few years. SCAS’s Board of Trustees needs members with business skills, management experience and understanding of charities. Relevant professions currently not represented on the SCAS Board include social sciences, health and social care, web and digital development and medicine, including psychiatry and psychology. Trustees should ideally have relevant experience of the human-animal bond and must have an interest in this special bond and a commitment to the work of SCAS. Potential Trustees should have the drive and enthusiasm to take the charity forward.
Nominations for the Board need to be returned by the 1st March 2018. Elections will take place at the AGM on the 17th March 2018.
Click here for further details of how to apply and the nomination form.
Details of our next conference on 17 March 2018 are now available! Our focus for the conference is the important issue of Pets and Housing. We will explore the evidence and consider the latest findings as we look to raise awareness of how pets can enhance the health and wellbeing of tenants.
This event is free to SCAS members and £50 for non-members.