2015

1. The Squawk about Hen-Keeping in Elderly Care Facilities: An Interview with Douglas Hunter

   Entry #239

   14 Dec 2015

   2:39 pm

   Katie Carroll

   0 comments

   For many centuries, people living in rural areas and on farms have kept laying hens either as a way to get fresh eggs for their families or as a way to make a profit by selling the eggs.  More recently, hen-keeping has become a trendy urban and suburban hobby, with coops popping up in...

2. A Real Win-Win: Saving Dogs and Saving Veterans: An Interview with Susan Hinkle

   Entry #238

   12 Nov 2015

   1:38 pm

   Katie Carroll

   0 comments

   “I find it fascinating how a dog can change a person’s life,” said Susan Hinkle, Founder and Program Director of Missouri Patriot Paws. Missouri Patriot Paws Founder and Program Director Susan HinkleAn Idea Takes Off Before starting Missouri Patriot Paws, an organization...

3. Internal Clocks and the Human-Animal Bond

   Entry #237

   07 Nov 2015

   2:17 pm

   Myrna Milani

   0 comments

   Particularly in areas with temperate climates, November is a transition month. In the northern hemisphere summer has yielded to fall and signs of winter become more common. In the US, November also signals the arrival of that abomination known as the time change. It’s an abomination for...

4. Does "can" mean "should"?

   Entry #236

   23 Oct 2015

   4:16 am

   Myrna Milani

   0 comments

   Two recen articles illustrate a disturbing trend in science: the use of domestic animals for genetic manipulation research and subtly or not-so-subtly marketing their results to the general public in one way or...

5. Using Howls to Empower: An Interview with Giulia Cappelli

   Entry #235

   20 Oct 2015

   12:36 pm

   Katie Carroll

   0 comments

   When envisioning wolves, the first image that comes to most of people’s minds is one of a large pack perched on a hillside, howling at the moon, or one of a determined, agile creature galloping through the forest in pursuit of his prey.  However, Giulia Cappelli, Lead of Programs and...

6. The Ethology of the Bond

   Entry #234

   04 Oct 2015

   12:06 pm

   Myrna Milani

   0 comments

   In a a commentary I wrote for my website, I explored some basic concepts of ethology as they relate to human and animal behavior. Writing that  got me thinking about the ethology of the human-animal bond. I’m the first to admit that when I was younger, my views of...

7. A 1,200 Pound Therapist and Window to the Mind: An Interview with Hayley Sumner

   Entry #233

   15 Sep 2015

   12:58 pm

   Katie Carroll

   0 comments

   “You have to earn a horse’s trust by being true, honest, and aware of both the horse and yourself,” said Hayley Sumner, Founder and Executive Director of Berkshire HorseWorks. Berkshire HorseWorks' Founder and Executive Director Hayley SumnerBefore founding Berkshire...

8. Comfort Only a Canine Companion Can Provide: An Interview with Stephanie Perkins

   Entry #229

   04 Aug 2015

   10:46 am

   Katie Carroll

   0 comments

   Testifying in court is often nerve-wracking and distressing for people.  However, when a child victim is asked to testify about a sexual abuse case, a whole new level of anxiety is present.  Stephanie Perkins of Courthouse Therapy Dogs of the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida...

9. A Mirror to the Mind: An Interview with Cynthia Sweeley

   Entry #228

   02 Jul 2015

   9:38 am

   Katie Carroll

   0 comments

   Cynthia Sweeley of Wildfire Ranch Spiritual Retreat believes that we are currently experiencing the worst epidemic of depression ever seen by mankind.  Socialization no longer has a premium spot in our lives, as the majority of communication occurs via the Internet and across computer or...

10. What Is Our Relationship With Animals and Nature?

    Entry #232

    30 Jun 2015

    8:30 am

    Melinda McGuire

    0 comments

      Have you ever been awed by the beauty of a mountain or ocean?  Have you ever been excited to see a wild animal in its natural habitat?  Have you ever stopped to admire a lovely flower or tree? If so, you will understand how nature can impact our well being.  By...

11. More than Just Dogs and Horses, Unique Animals Have a Place in the Animal Therapy World: An Interview with Lori Gregory

    Entry #227

    05 Jun 2015

    3:18 pm

    Katie Carroll

    0 comments

    When most people think of a therapy animal, the first thing that comes to mind is a furry dog with gentle brown eyes, resting his head on the knee of a young children’s hospital patient.  However, when Lori Gregory and her daughter, Shannon Hendrickson, of Mtn Peaks Therapy Llamas...

12. CDC Presentation for Human Health Professionals on Diseases From Animals

    Entry #231

    03 Jun 2015

    4:22 am

    Myrna Milani

    0 comments

    The good news is that the CDC does recognize the value of animal companionship. The not so good news is that apparently they like the human health professions apparently have a different definition of One Health  than those in the veterinary professions as well as some among the...

13. Pet Therapy Takes Flight: An Interview with Heidi Huebner

    Entry #209

    04 May 2015

    2:48 pm

    Katie Carroll

    0 comments

    Between flight delays and cancellations, lost luggage, and jet lag, traveling by airplane can be quite stressful.  Airports tend to be filled with nonstop commotion and many anxious people, but, thanks to Heidi Huebner and the Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) program, travelers at Los...

14. A Four-Legged Fitness Partner: An Interview with Lea Lynch

    Entry #208

    12 Apr 2015

    11:08 am

    Katie Carroll

    0 comments

    Workout partners are commonly seen in the fitness world.  Young moms who walk the school track together while their children are at soccer practice, women who pair up for a yoga class or Zumba, and “gym rats” who lift weights together every morning at dawn all rely upon others...

15. What's new with Dreamcatcher Nature Assisted Therapy?

    Entry #207

    29 Mar 2015

    1:34 pm

    Eileen Bona

    0 comments

    Dreamcatcher is located in Ardrossan Alberta Canada. We are a nature and animal assisted therapy program and we are home to a variety of once homeless, injured or ill animals. We partner with our animals to provide help for children and youth at risk, people with severe mental health issues and...

16. Educating Young People to Change Lives and Protect Animals: An Interview with Debra Corbett

    Entry #205

    16 Mar 2015

    12:43 am

    Katie Carroll

    0 comments

    Thinking back on our interactions with animals during our time as students, some of us remember a hamster incessantly running on the wheel in his cage in the corner of the classroom or maybe even a trio of goldfish that swam in a fishbowl perched on the windowsill.  However, if you were in...

17. The Dentist with the Dog: An Interview with Paul Weiss, DDS

    Entry #204

    13 Feb 2015

    11:58 am

    Katie Carroll

    0 comments

    As a pediatric dentist, Paul Weiss, DDS is very aware of the importance of oral health and visiting a dentist from a young age, but he also understands the dental phobia or fear that can overcome a child when undergoing a dental procedure.  This is where Weiss’ Golden Retriever,...

18. Bringing a Smile to Faces in the Most Unlikely of Places: An Interview with Randy Grimes

    Entry #203

    16 Jan 2015

    12:01 pm

    Katie Carroll

    0 comments

    Anyone who has ever attended a funeral or set foot inside a funeral home is aware of the grief that overcomes people after the loss of a loved one.  But, imagine walking into a funeral home, saddened by the death of a dear family member or friend, and being greeted by a 63-pound,...