{"title":"The Knowledge of Animals as Food Scale","authors":"Silke Feltz, Adam Feltz","doi":"10.1079/hai.2019.0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2019.0011","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 There have been extensive outreach programs to educate people about the realities of animal food production. However, there has been relatively little attention to measuring what people actually know about the production of animal food products and the conditions in which those animals exist. A reliable measure of knowledge of animal products is required to determine if making people more knowledgeable about the condition of animals reduces animal product consumption. In four studies, we developed an objective measure of knowledge of animal consumption — the Knowledge of Animals as Food Scale (KAFS). Study 1 (N = 265) used Item Response Theory to analyze 35 knowledge-based items. Based on Study 1, Study 2 (N = 243) tested the 11 best knowledge-based items and demonstrated that the scale had convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. The KAFS successfully predicted fewer numbers of days per the average week one consumes meat. Study 3 (N = 289) refined the instrument to nine items and replicated the results of Study 2. Study 4 (N = 201) replicated the results and provided causal evidence that a very brief educational intervention can increase knowledge measured by the scale (d = .28). In Studies 2, 3, and 4, the KAFS was often a unique or best predictor of consumption of animal products compared to other values concerning animals. Having a valid, reliable measure of knowledge of animals used as food has important psychological and ethical implications including providing insight on whether education works and ways to help promote individual autonomy.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79626922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Homelessness and Animal Companionship in Bloomington, Indiana","authors":"Christine H. Kim","doi":"10.1079/hai.2019.0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2019.0004","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 This study is the first to examine Bloomington, IN’s subpopulation of people experiencing homelessness with animals. To understand this subpopulation’s basic demographics, social service needs, and existing resources, eight families were recruited for the study from a service fair offering free veterinary care, pet supplies, and grooming to companion animals of people experiencing homelessness. The event was intended to be an isolated kick-off for a pilot year of capacity building programming in partnership with local homeless service providers. This article presents information which was collected from the first service fair through semi-structured interviews and the administration of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale. The data from this study reveal participants’ high attachment to their animals and a need for more pet-friendly overnight shelters. Other themes that emerge include homeless animal guardians’ restricted access to day-time services, a struggle to find temperature controlled places to sleep in extreme weather, and an absence of documentation supporting emotional support animal claims. Bloomington’s homeless advocates, direct service professionals, and program developers can ground efforts to assist people experiencing homelessness with companion animals using findings from this study.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83743959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Canine Complements to Psychological First Aid","authors":"Yvonne Eaton-Stull, C. Sewall","doi":"10.1079/hai.2019.0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2019.0008","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a well-established, evidence-informed behavioral health intervention designed for use by mental health and other disaster-relief responders to help support survivors following a disaster. Establishing connections, supporting adaptive coping, enhancing emotional and physical comfort, and providing practical assistance are some of the basic objectives of PFA. Animal Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) is another intervention frequently employed to help survivors following a disaster. AACR consists of teams of canines and their handlers specially trained and certified to provide comfort and support to those affected by disaster events. We suggest that AACR is an appropriate and useful supplement to PFA that can enhance the PFA-providers’ abilities to accomplish the objectives of PFA mentioned above. We combine supporting evidence of the benefits of canine intervention, along with specific case examples, with the eight modules of PFA to illustrate how they complement one another.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76922662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Attachment to Dogs and Cats in Germany: Translation of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) and Description of the Pet Owning Population in Germany","authors":"Benedikt Hielscher, U. Ganslosser, I. Froboese","doi":"10.1079/hai.2019.0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2019.0006","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 Introduction:\u0000 Attachment to pets has been shown to impact pet owners’ (PO) physical health and quality of life. As no instrument for obtaining this kind of data currently exists in German, translating and validating the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) was the aim of this study.\u0000 Method:\u0000 Online and paper-pencil questionnaires were used. LAPS and socio-demo-graphic data were recorded. Subjects were recruited via social media and with the help of the Verband für das deutsche Hundewesen (VDH) and one other association. A second trial was performed to examine test-retest reliability for the online questionnaire at least five days after initial completion.\u0000 Results:\u0000 Internal consistency is high for the total LAPS score (Cronbach’s □ = .89). Test-retest reliability is high for total LAPS score (ICC = .95; 95 % CI = .94, .96; p < .001). A significant negative correlation was found between age of the subject and total LAPS score (r = -.24, p < .001). Women scored significantly higher than men in total LAPS score (p = .008, d = -.36) and dog owners (DO) scored higher than cat owners (CO) (p = .020, d = .23). Further, significant differences have been found when comparing among PO to their level of educational attainment (\u0000 \u0000 p\u0000 <\u0000 \u0000 .001\u0000 ,\u0000 \u0000 ω\u0000 =\u0000 .21\u0000 \u0000 ). No significant differences between owners of purebred and owners of mixed breed pets to their animals were found.\u0000 Conclusion:\u0000 The German translation of the LAPS is a reliable instrument and can be used for future research.\u0000","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89672946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"No Pets Allowed: Landlord Attitudes Towards Pets in a Small Canadian City","authors":"C. Krachun, M. Wilson, Joshua Hoddinott","doi":"10.1079/hai.2019.0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2019.0009","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Pet ownership is associated with greater mental and physical well-being, but it can also make some aspects of life more difficult. For example, many landlords have a ‘no-pets’ policy, which is especially problematic in areas where rental units are already in short supply. We examined landlord attitudes towards tenants with pets in a small Canadian city with a consistently low vacancy rate. Sources of data included classified advertisements over a 15-year period and telephone interviews with 32 landlords currently advertising rental units. Questions examined included: has the proportion of landlords adopting a no-pets policy increased over time; which specific concerns do landlords have about pets; and what factors, if any, might increase landlords’ willingness to allow pets? Our analyses indicated an increase over time in the proportion of ads explicitly stating a no-pets policy, from less than a third in the early 2000s to more than half in the most recent years examined. These proportions were related to fluctuating vacancy rates. Interviews with landlords revealed concerns about pets that focused mostly on potential damage to rental units, with their concerns sometimes based upon past experiences. However, landlords also reported encountering similar problems when renting to tenants without pets, and of the 18 landlords who had initially posted ads explicitly stating a no-pets policy, 8 said that they would nevertheless consider pets under some conditions. Pet owners may be able to increase their ease of finding housing by addressing these factors.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"197 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75517591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Development and Pilot Evaluation of a ‘Serious Game’ to Promote Positive Child-Animal Interactions","authors":"R. Hawkins, Joanne M. Williams","doi":"10.1079/hai.2020.0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2020.0008","url":null,"abstract":"Animal welfare education aims to nurture compassion, respect and kindness to animals but there remains a need for more rigorous evaluations of such programmes to assess the most effective approaches. Incorporating technology into animal welfare education is a relatively novel field. This study examines the process of designing, developing, and evaluating the effectiveness of a new theoretically-driven educational computer game intervention. Pet Welfare was designed for children aged 7-12 years, to promote positive child-animal interactions. A pre-test, post-test, test-control, quasi-experimental design was used using a self-report questionnaire that children completed within class. Participants included 184 primary-school children from schools in Scotland, UK. The results indicated a positive impact on knowledge about animal welfare needs, knowledge about appropriate and safe behaviour towards pets and beliefs about pet minds. Children were also less accepting of cruelty to pets. There was no impact on self-reported compassion. This study presents the first evaluation of a digital animal welfare ‘serious game’ for children, demonstrating the benefits of incorporating technology and game-based learning into animal cruelty prevention. The results of this study will inform future education directions for those wishing to promote positive and safe relationships between children and animals.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91504353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. O’Haire, J. Bibbo, Christy L. Hoffman, M. Mueller, Zenithson Ng, V. Buechner-Maxwell
{"title":"Overview of Centers and Institutes for Human-Animal Interaction in the United States","authors":"M. O’Haire, J. Bibbo, Christy L. Hoffman, M. Mueller, Zenithson Ng, V. Buechner-Maxwell","doi":"10.1079/hai.2018.0020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2018.0020","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Academic centers and institutes represent critical hubs for the advancement of areas of scholarly and societal interest. We conducted a survey of 16 academic centers and institutes for human-animal interaction (HAI) in the United States to systematically document the current state of academic interest and investment in the field. Areas of focus included demographics, research, engagement, and education. Results indicated a substantial growth of new centers since 1977, particularly over the past decade. Research topics focused primarily on companion animals (largely dogs, cats, and horses) and adults. Engagement efforts centered around online outreach and in-person programming, with 75% of centers providing animal-assisted intervention services. Education opportunities included degrees at the undergraduate (13%), Masters (50%), and Doctoral (25%) level with courses offered in 63% of centers. The growth and productivity of academic centers and institutes for HAI provides evidence for the growing academic influence of the burgeoning field of HAI. The infrastructure these centers provide will be essential in supporting larger-scale research projects, promoting interdisciplinary and community-based research, and educating future leaders of the field.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84422273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence of Coursework in Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies at Universities and Colleges in the United States: A Scoping Review","authors":"N. Fry, Emily Meszaros, Katie O’Neill","doi":"10.1079/hai.2018.0021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2018.0021","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 \u0000 An increasing number of universities and colleges in the United States are offering coursework related to equine-assisted activities or therapies. We conducted a scoping review to determine the prevalence of such coursework at higher education institutions with information on geographic location, number of courses and their focus, department through which coursework was delivered, and level of study (undergraduate or graduate). We identified 39 higher education institutions in 29 states that provided coursework in the following areas: therapeutic riding/horsemanship (n = 71, 64.5%), equine-assisted mental health (n = 23, 20.9%), equine-assisted learning (n = 7, 6.4%), and hippotherapy (n = 1, 0.9%). Survey or overview courses (n\u0000 =\u0000 8, 7.3%) were also identified. A total of 110 courses that met inclusion criteria were offered in the 2016-2017 academic year, both at undergraduate (\u0000 n\u0000 = 92) and graduate levels (\u0000 n\u0000 = 17), with just over half of institutions delivering coursework through social science or liberal arts departments (n = 20, 51.3%) and the rest through animal science departments (\u0000 n =\u0000 19, 48.7%). Several challenges emerged based on the review process related to use of terminology, understanding of professional scope and the lack of educational standards for equine-assisted fields. Our suggestions for future research include examination of curriculum content and instructor qualifications to increase understanding of the role university and college coursework has in equine-assisted practice.\u0000","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"144 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72846380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. T. González-Ramírez, René Landero-Hernández, Minerva Vanegas-Farfano
{"title":"The effects of dog-owner relationship on perceived stress and happiness","authors":"M. T. González-Ramírez, René Landero-Hernández, Minerva Vanegas-Farfano","doi":"10.1079/hai.2018.0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2018.0012","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the pet-owner relationship on the perceived stress and subjective happiness of the owner, using structural equation modeling. A sample of 483 residents of Mexico, men and women, owners of at least one dog participated in this study. Data collection included The Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Subjective Happiness Scale and some questions regarding the daily dog-owner interaction. Within its primary results, this study showed a higher level of interaction in dyads and adequate relationships according to owners’ perception. The structural model revealed the owner-dog interaction as a predictor of the owner’s perception of their relationship; stressors and the dog-owner relationship as predictors of the owner’s perceived stress, and stress on subjective happiness. It is concluded that the benefits of the human-animal bond are mediated by the dog-owner relationships’ quality and this relationship is determined by their shared activities.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73655188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phyllis Erdman, Megan R. LaFollette, Netzin G. Steklis, H. D. Steklis, Monique M. Germone, L. Kogan
{"title":"Guide to Human-Animal Interaction Education","authors":"Phyllis Erdman, Megan R. LaFollette, Netzin G. Steklis, H. D. Steklis, Monique M. Germone, L. Kogan","doi":"10.1079/hai.2018.0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2018.0017","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Pursuring a career in human-animal interaction (HAI) may feel daunting, as this field is quickly growing and changing, and offers a wide array of career possibilities with pathways and educational programs. Yet, it is this broad scope of possibilities that can make navigating the field challenging. The purpose of this article is to help guide individuals who are interested in exploring a career with animals and humans. Our specific aims are to (a) describe and define the current field of HAI, (b) synthesize possible human-animal studies programs as provided by the Animals and Society website, and (c) offer guidance for those interested in exploring HAI careers. This paper, is designed as a practical guide to help students and their mentors navigate the HAI field.","PeriodicalId":90845,"journal":{"name":"Human-animal interaction bulletin","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80493862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}