Author Archives: SCAS

Challenging pet-unfriendly accommodation: housing multispecies families in South Australia

As part of a SCAS funded project, Zoei Sutton (Flinders University, AU) will be interviewing South Australian stakeholders (housing providers, tenancy advocates, and landlords) and tenants with pets.

The findings will be used to develop understandings of how key players navigate renting with pets in hostile policy contexts, and in doing so provide tips for those working in similar jurisdictions and inform potential improvements to current policy and practice.

To read more, click here.

Guide Dogs are recruiting a Canine Science Assistant to train puppies

A charity based in Leamington Spa (UK) are recruiting a Canine Science Assistant to train puppies to be guide dogs for people with sight loss. The position is for 12 months and the salary is £23,173.

Applicants must have experience working with or handling animals as well as a degree in a science or animal behaviour related subject. Those without a relevant degree must have at least two years of experience working with animals.

The deadline for applications is Dec 5th 2021

Click here to learn more and apply.

Good news regarding open access science papers!

Many researchers, and especially independent scholars and those in-between positions, have limited access to important research because many papers are stuck behind a paywall.

However, there is some good news regarding proposals to make scientific papers accessible to all. The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 41st session, in November 2021. Click here to read more.

Psychology Today asks ‘Does Another Dog in the House Reduce Separation Anxiety?’

New data challenges the belief that dogs are less likely to show separation anxiety if they live with another canine companion!

Written by Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC, and based on a recent study by Stephan, Leidhold, and Hammerschmidt (2021),  key research findings are:

  • Most dogs showed low vocal and physical activity, independent of time being alone at home.
  • Physical activity was higher when more than one dog was in the household, primarily in the first hour of separation.
  • Male dogs in multi-dog households were more likely to bark and vocalize than were canines in single dog households.

To read the full article, click here.

PhD student wanted!

Dr. Anastasia Stellato, in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University, is currently seeking a PhD student, with expected start date Fall 2022. The PhD student will lead canine welfare research that aims to evaluate the influence of human-animal interactions on the behavior and welfare of companion animals, and to identify ways to prevent and reduce animal stress.

For more information download the flyer (below)

SCAS 2021 Conference Feedback & Recordings!

We are delighted that the feedback from those who participated in the annual SCAS conference, Animal-Assisted Interventions: Research meets Practice, was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees said they registered to become more educated in AAI research, theory, and practice, and those who responded to our survey were not disappointed. 94% said their overall conference experience was ‘good’ or ‘extremely good’, and no one said it was bad. When asked if they would recommend the conference to a friend or colleague,  the vast majority (94%) responded that they were likely or highly likely to recommend attending next year.

Continue reading

Vacancy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)

General Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic is seeking a postdoctoral Research Fellow to join their team under the mentorship of Dr. Arya Mohabbat to research the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) on patient stroke rehabilitation. This research involves a collaborative study between Purina and Mayo Clinic. A clinical trial will evaluate the possible benefits of the presence of a therapy dog for patients seen for inpatient acute stroke rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic. 

In particular, it will assess the emotional and well-being state of the patients and the therapy dogs, as well as changes in rehabilitative status during these sessions.

More information here.

International Stress Awareness Week: Reducing stress in dogs during AAI

Whilst a lot of the time when we think of animal-assisted interventions we think of the potential benefits to the people involved, it is so important that the welfare of the animals is paramount and they also enjoy the experience.

Back in May, SCAS trustee, Evangelos Diamantakos (an ABTC registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), carried out a webinar on recognising signs of stress in dogs involved in dog-assisted interventions.

The webinar is free to watch at https://youtu.be/T7uuztOemw4

#InternationalStressAwarenessWeek #StressAwarenessWeek