Kris Hill from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) advises suitors this Valentine’s Day (and any day!) to be mindful of their love’s beloved pets.
Avoid heartache this Valentine’s Day by ensuring the flowers you send your loved one are not dangerous to any of their companion animals.
Continue readingInternational Volunteer Day (5 December 2023) raises awareness of the important role volunteers play in responding to challenges facing the world.
We would like to say a massive thank you to all the volunteers, past, present, and future who continue to support SCAS!
Continue reading‘It’s only an animal, get over it!’ is a cruel and heartless comment, but one that those grieving the death of a beloved companion animal are all too often confronted with. Even when friends, family, teachers, social workers, and colleagues are more tactful, it is often the case that many people simply do not understand the impact of losing a beloved pet.
2-8 December is National Grief Awareness Week, spearheaded by The Good Grief Trust who share many wonderful resources to raise awareness and provide support to the bereaved. In this post Kris Hill from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) raises awareness of companion animal loss and shares some resources that may help those suffering.
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International Human-Animal Bond Day is celebrated on November 8th each year to recognise, highlight and celebrate our animal companions and the wonderful relationships we can build with them. #IHABDay #HABA #HumanAnimalBond
Continue readingKris Hill from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) discusses how to keep cats feeling safe and secure during the spooky season.
26 August is International Dog Day when all dogs are celebrated.
The dog-human bond goes back more than 30,000 years, with dogs being the first animal to undergo domestication. Today, dogs are one of the most popular companion animals.
Report from SCAS Chair Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod.
SCAS member Dr Sunday Agbonika, whom I am proud to mentor, is a bond-centred veterinarian working in Nigeria. Sunday organises virtual conferences on AAI, HAI, animal welfare and behaviour. His work is reaching hundreds of colleagues throughout the world, especially in regions where understanding of HAI is less well developed. His AAI programme, DogaLov, helps children with developmental difficulties, including autism.
15-21 May is Mental Health Awareness Week 2023. SCAS trustee Dr. Helen Brooks is a Senior Lecturer and Mental Health Research Group Lead at the University of Manchester. Here, she talks about her research into the role of companion animals in supporting people to manage mental health difficulties.
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SCAS member Angela Barker, and her team recently organised this most wonderful conference held in the magnificent Dewsbury Minster in Dewsbury, Kirklees, West Yorkshire. Some of this impressive Minster date from the 12th C
The conference presentations encompassed human-animal interactions, animal welfare, horticulture therapy and nature education. There was much interest from the delegates and, as a result of the conference, it is intended that a special interest group will be established locally.
The first series of presentations were concerned with human-animal interactions and were delivered by SCAS members Elizabeth Ormerod, Angela Barker, Belinda Johnston and Rebecca Leonardi. These were followed by presentations addressing animal welfare, horticulture therapy and forest schools.
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