A Different Approach to Horse Handling, Based on the Jeffery Method

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Marcy Wilhelm-South, Judith K Blackshaw, Des Kirk, Sharon E Cregier

A method of horse training is discussed which is based on an old technique known in Australia as the "Jeffery method." It makes use of several behavioral principles, including understanding of horse behavior, reinforcement for desired behavior, and use of flight distance principles.

Effect of hippotherapy in the global motor coordination in individuals with Down Syndrome

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Marcy Wilhelm-South, Valéria Sovat de Freitas Costa, Hudday Mendes da Silva, Monique de Azevêdo, André Ribeiro da Silva, Ludmila Lucena Pereira Cabral, Jonatas de França Barros

Introduction: Down syndrome (DS) of all genetic syndromes is the most common. In Hippotherapy, three-dimensional movements, provided by horse walking, awaken in the body of children with DS a large amount of sensory and neuromuscular stimuli, which directly interfere with overall development...

For the Love of Darcie: recognising the human-companion animal relationship in housing law and policy

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Deborah Rook, Marcy Wilhelm-South

This paper identifies the law’s failure to recognise and protect the human-companion animal relationship in the housing arena. The nature of the human-companion animal relationship has striking similarities to human-human relationships in the socially supportive aspects of the...

Impact of an animal-assisted therapy programme on physiological and psychosocial variables of paediatric oncology patients

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Nathiana B. Silva, Flávia L. Osório

The objective of this study was to propose an intervention and safety protocol for performing animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and evaluating its efficacy in children under outpatient oncological treatment based on psychological, physiological, and quality of life indicators for the children and...

Effects of a Form of Equine-Facilitated Learning on Heart Rate Variability, Immune Function, and Self-Esteem in Older Adults

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Ann L. Baldwin, Barbara K. Rector, Ann C. Alden

Equine-facilitated learning (EFL) helps people access their immediate sensations and feelings because horses, as prey animals, are continually aware of their environment and provide instant feedback to human behaviors and emotions. We hypothesize that during EFL, older people become more aware...

How Wolves Turned into Dogs and How Dogs Are Valuable in Meeting Human Social Needs

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Kurt Kotrschal

A wealth of recent behavioral, neurobiological, and genetic results allows us to draw a new, comprehensive picture of the human-wolf-dog relationship. Dogs originated from wolves 35,000 years ago, mainly via selection for tameness. Wolves were probably spiritual partners and hunting buddies of...

The zoonotic potential of Clostridium difficile from small companion animals and their owners

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Rabold D, Espelage W, Abu Sin M, Eckmanns T, Schneeberg A, Neubauer H, et al.

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in humans range from asymptomatic carriage to life-threatening intestinal disease. Findings on C. difficile in various animal species and an overlap in ribotypes (RTs) suggest potential zoonotic transmission. However, the impact of...

Animal-assisted intervention in the ICU: a tool for humanization

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Megan M. Hosey, Janice Jaskluski, Stephen T. Wegener, Linda L. Chlan, Dale M. Needham

The combination of an aging population and advances in critical care medicine is resulting in a growing number of survivors of critical illness [1]. Survivors’ descriptions of their stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) are frequently filled with traumatic events, and include experiences...

The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Helen Louise Brooks, Kelly Rushton, Karina Lovell, Penny Bee, Lauren Walker, Laura Grant, Anne Rogers

There is increasing recognition of the therapeutic function pets can play in relation to mental health. However, there has been no systematic review of the evidence related to the comprehensive role of companion animals and how pets might contribute to the work associated with managing a...

Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Rebecca A Johnson, David L. Albright, James R. Marzolf, Jessica L. Bibbo, Hayley D. Yaglom, Sandra M. Crowder, Gretchen Carlisle, Amy Willard, Cynthia L. Russell, Karen Grindler, Steven Osterlind, Marita Wassman, Nathan Harms, Marcy Wilhelm-South

Background Large numbers of post-deployment U.S. veterans are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), leading to an urgent need for effective interventions to reduce symptoms and increase veterans’ coping. PTSD includes anxiety,...

Child-Canine Bonding in Children with ASD: Findings Within and Across Case Studies

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Kathryn Struik, John-Tyler Binfet

 The demand for support for families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues to grow, and one increasingly popular avenue of support is the use of companion canines. Parents searching for service canines trained to work with children with ASD, however, face formidable...

Private Animal Welfare Standards—Opportunities and Risks

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Frida Lundmark, Charlotte Berg, Helena Rockilnsberg

The current shift moves the governance of animal welfare away from the government towards the private market and the consumers. We have studied the intentions, content, and on-farm inspection results from different sets of animal welfare legislation and private standards with an aim to highlight...

Exploring the Gaps in Practical Ethical Guidance for Animal Welfare Considerations of Field Interventions and Innovations Targeting Dogs and Cats

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Louisa Tasker, Susan F Getty, Joyce R Briggs, Valerie A.W. Benka

Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis silvestris catus) are common species targeted by nongovernmental or intergovernmental organizations, veterinarians and government agencies worldwide, for field interventions (e.g., population management, rabies vaccination programs) or...

In the Eye of the Beholder: Owner Preferences for Variations in Cats' Appearances with Specific Focus on Skull Morphology

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Mark J Farnworth, Rowena M.A. Packer, Lorena Sordo, Ruoning Chen, Sarah M. A. Caney, Danielle A Gunn-Moore

Changes in the popularity of cat breeds are largely driven by human perceptions of, and selection for, phenotypic traits including skull morphology. The popularity of breeds with altered skull shapes appears to be increasing, and owner preferences are an important part of this dynamic. This...

A Comparison of Cats (Felis silvestris catus) Housed in Groups and Single Cages at a Shelter: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Malini Suchak, Jacalyn Lamica

When cats are relinquished to shelters, they frequently experience a great deal of stress. Shelters often try to control certain aspects of their environment, such as housing, to help them relax. Some cats are placed in small group rooms upon entry, whereas others are placed in single cages....

The Impact of Excluding Food Guarding from a Standardized Behavioral Canine Assessment in Animal Shelters

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Heather Mohan-Gibbons, Emily D Dolan, Pamela Reid, Margaret R Slater, Hugh Mulligan, Emily Weiss

Many shelters euthanize or restrict adoptions for dogs that exhibit food guarding while in the animal shelter. However, previous research showed that only half the dogs exhibiting food guarding during an assessment food guard in the home. So, dogs are often misidentified as future food guarders...

Online Relinquishments of Dogs and Cats in Australia

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Susan J Hazel, Caitlin J Jenvey, Jonathan Tuke

The aim of this study was to analyze dog and cat advertisements on a popular online trading website in Australia in February 2016. A total of 2640 ads for dogs and 2093 ads for cats were classified as being relinquished on Gumtree. A total of 23% of dog ads and 62% of cat ads were for free...

Surrenderers' Relationships with Cats Admitted to Four Australian Animal Shelters

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Sarah Zito, Mandy Paterson, John Morton, Di Vankan, Pauleen Bennett, Jacquie Rand, Clive J.C. Phillips

The surrender of cats to animal shelters results in financial, social and moral burdens for the community. Correlations of caretaking and interactions with surrendered cats were calculated, to understand more about humans’ relationships with surrendered cats and the contribution of...

Email Reminders Increase the Frequency That Pet Owners Update Their Microchip Information

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Katie Goodwin, Jacquie Rand, John Morton, Varun Uthappa, Rick Walduck

Many stray animals presented to shelters in several first world nations have incorrect contact details associated with their microchip and, consequently, cannot be reunited with their owners. This study investigated whether sending email reminders increased the frequency that pet owners updated...

Speaking Up: Veterinary Ethical Responsibilities and Animal Welfare Issues in Everyday Practice

Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Elein Hernandez, Anne Fawcett, Emily Brouwer, Jeff Rau, Patricia V Turner

Although expectations for appropriate animal care are present in most developed countries, significant animal welfare challenges continue to be seen on a regular basis in all areas of veterinary practice. Veterinary ethics is a relatively new area of educational focus but is thought to be...