Projects
2
Research into human-animal therapeutics
- aspirations
We hope to approach others with
a view to cooperating with research into the benefits of Animal
Assisted Therapy. The Society of Companion Animal Studies (SCAS)
which publishes guidelines on conducting research on Animal assisted
Therapy.
1. Leaders in the field in research into Animal assisted Therapy
include for example Professor Sam Ahmedzai, Professor of Palliative
Medicine at Sheffield University Medical School, and former Chair
of SCAS, suggested at a recent SCAS that the potential health benefits
of owning or having access to a pet animal are being under- exploited
for want of robust clinical data and research needs to be performed.
2. Socialisation and its effects on health. It is known that highly
integrated communities suffer less heart disease than fragmented
communities (e.g. 1st generation Italian Americans suffer less heart
disease than second). Animals form important roles in building communities.
iPatients with companion animals also suffer fewer coronary events.
3.Studies include the introduction of companion
animals into disability settings. They would be conducted pre and
post exposure in defined patients with psychosocial disability (social
phobia, mild depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, developmental
delay)
4. Descriptions of apparently altruistic behaviour
on the part of animals to humans exist.
SCAS publications such as Issues in research
in Companion Animal Studies and Further Issues in research
in Companion animals offer useful research advice. Research
will be preceded by submission of research proposals to the Local
Medical and or Vetinerary Ethics Committee closest to our animal
site.
Journals .
- Society and Animals. The Journal of Human Animal
Studies
- Anthrozos, a refereed scientific journal
- Society For Companion Animal studies Journal
- Interactions, a magazine for pet owners
and people who care about the human-animal bond.
- Journal of Experimental Biology
- Veterinary Record has published studies on Companion
animals and Human Health ((1992) 130, 285-287. Edney, ATB).
- Network Journal of the Scientific and Medical
Network, a network of doctors and scientists interested in new
scientific and medical paradigms
Books.
- Childrens book on animals
- Dr. Morrells book on Hawaiian animal mythology
published in spring 2006.
- A book detailing our experiences setting up
the programme.
- Anthropologically oriented book on animal communication
- Reviews of community based Animal Assisted Therapy
studies
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