Webinars
Join us for our monthly webinar series in which we hear presentations from leading experts in animal behaviour, human-animal interaction, and animal-assisted services!
Webinars are FREE to SCAS members and £5 plus booking fee to non-members. Please see our event page to register and book your tickets.
Kris Hill & Clare Thomas-Pino
Wednesday 4th February 2026, 7-8 pm (UK time)
Abstract
Since 2020, the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) has supported research that furthers the current understanding of the human-animal bond via several rounds of pump-priming awards. These awards provide funding of up to £10,000 for 12-month projects that are aligned with SCAS objectives and clearly demonstrate how funding will enable development of ongoing research. In the first part of this webinar, the SCAS Research Working Group (RWG) will share some key outputs and discuss the impact of SCAS-funded research. This will be followed by an introduction to the 2026 funding round and guidelines on preparing an application. https://www.scas.org.uk/funded-projects
Speakers
The SCAS Research Working Group (RWG), led by SCAS board members Dr. Kris Hill & Dr. Clare Thomas-Pino, oversees the selection and administration of SCAS funds to support research into the human-companion animal bond.
Coming up next
Dr Helen Tedds, Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare at Hartpury University
Wednesday 4th March 2026, 7-8 pm (UK time):
Caring for the Unconventional: Exotic Pets, Policy, and Welfare Vulnerability
Holly Dalby
Wednesday 8th April 2026, 7-8 pm (UK time):
Pets in Housing Gap Analysis
Carol Tinga
Wednesday 6th May 2026, 7-8 pm (UK time):
Companion Rabbits: Scientific Insights into Behaviour, Welfare, and the Owner–Rabbit Relations
2026 Webinars
Emily Kieson | Wild horses in Scotland and Nepal
Nancy Parish Plass | Animal Assisted Services
Dr Ross Barker | Pet-Inclusive Housing, Michelson Found Animals
Dr Steve Dale | A new approach to managing dog bites
Dr Emily Bray | Puppy development of behaviour & cognition
Clare Thomas-Pino | Applying the SCAS Code of Practice
More information on speakers, topics, and dates for 2026 webinars coming soon
Past Webinars
Missed these or any of our past webinars?
The recordings are available to purchase for £5.
Contact us for details at info@scas.org.uk
Dr Roxanne Hawkins, Director of the Human–Animal Research Group, University of Edinburgh
Wednesday 12th November 2025, 7-8 pm (UK time)
The Complex Interplay between the Human-Animal Bond, Perinatal Mental Health, and Companion Animal Welfare
Professor James A. Serpell, Emeritus Professor of Animal Welfare, University of Pennsylvania
Wednesday 24th September, 7-8pm (UK time)
Ethology by Proxy: Using Citizen Science to Study Dog Behaviour
Phil Arkow, National Link Coalition, USA
Wednesday 2nd July 2025, 7-8 pm (UK time)
The ‘Dark Side’ of the Human-Animal Bond: Animal Abuse, Human Violence, and its Significance for Human-Animal Interactions
Professor Daniel Mills, Animal Behaviour Cognition & Welfare Group, University of Lincoln Wednesday 18th June, 7-8pm (UK time)
Relationships and the Dog-Owner Bond – a psychobiological perspective
**This Special Webinar is FREE to everyone**
Professor Carri Westgarth, University of Liverpool, UK.
Tuesday 13th May 2025, 7-8pm (UK time)
The challenge of “Just Old Age” and the development of the Ageing Canine Toolkit
Watch the recording here.
Jade Statt, Co-Founder & Clinical Director at StreetVet, UK.
Wednesday 30th April 2025, 8.15-9.15 pm (UK time)
StreetVet – Protecting the Human-Animal Bond
Shirin Dhabhar, Founder of Canines Can Care, India.
Wednesday 6th February 2025, 6-7pm (UK time)
How Religious and Cultural Influences Shape Canine Behaviour Work in India
Dr Anindita Bhadra, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India.
Wednesday 8th January 2025, 6-7pm (UK time)
Dogs and Humans, A Story of Co-existence