New Research to Leverage Artificial Intelligence for Greater Insight into the Impact of the Human-Animal Bond for Pet and Human Health

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) announced today a grant to the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging for a new study, Uncovering Pet Ownership Benefits, Challenges, and Resources in an Aging Society: Promoting Healthy Aging in Healthcare and Community Environments. This study aims to identity pet ownership issues raised in healthcare and social service settings by older adults and their caregivers. “Addressing the topic of pet ownership can promote honest and productive communication, uncovering risks and benefits to patients’ health,” said the study’s Principal Investigator, Jessica Bibbo, PhD, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. “We expect the results of this systematic investigation will elevate pet ownership issues from anecdotal professional experiences to recognized factors that shape the values and preferences of older adults, people living with dementia, and caregivers.” This study will survey a large interdisciplinary sample of professionals working with older adults, people living with dementia and caregivers about pet ownership. The researchers aim to complete three objectives as part of this comprehensive study: The first will be to identify the prevalence of pet ownership issues encountered among an extensive inter-professional sample of health care and social service organization professionals working directly with older adults and their caregivers. The second will be to identify specific benefits, challenges and resources provided by pet ownership and the human-animal bond encountered by professionals working with older adults and their caregivers. Finally, researchers will apply these results to create and disseminate information to health care and social service professionals on the benefits, challenges, and resources provided by pet ownership and the human-animal bond to promote the healthy aging of older adults and their caregivers. “The desire to experience the human-animal bond does not end with a diagnosis of dementia,”...

The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation today announced the results of a study exploring the effects of an email mediated intervention to increase walking in dog owners and non-dog owners, conducted by researchers at Purdue University and published in the journal Clinical Nursing Research. Findings of the study showed that a simple email intervention sharing the importance of walking and the positive impact of walking on a dog’s health were effective tools to promote walking. These interventions caused participants to increase and maintain dog walking over a 12-month period. Email intervention for non-dog owners also increased weekly minutes of walking compared with baseline measures and control groups, however dog owners accumulated significantly more walking minutes per week than non-dog owners. “Walking is an easy, accessible way to increase physical activity, which is important for the health of people and their pets,” said the principal investigator on the study, Elizabeth A. Richards, PhD, RN, CHES, of Purdue University. “Because an email reminder is so simple, these findings should be easy to replicate, encouraging dog owners and non-dog owners alike to lead more physically active lifestyles.” Participants assigned to the intervention group received a twice-weekly email message for the first four weeks of the intervention followed by weekly email messages for the next eight weeks. The emails attempted to influence confidence through a variety of mechanisms which the investigators hypothesized would directly influence dog walking for dog owners and walking for non-dog owners. Previous studies have supported that dog owners who walk their dogs are motivated to do so because of dog-related support for walking. A number of dog-owner participants in this study anecdotally reported that their ability to maintain behavior change in physical activity was in part due to the dog expecting a walk and conditioning the owner to comply. “With...

Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) Honors:   CancerCare Public Service Category Meals on Wheels America Public Service Category Sesame Workshop Media Category  Kimpton Hotels Pet-Inclusive Culture Category Tybee Island Police Department Pet-Inclusive Infrastructure Category   The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) today announced the winners of its annual Human Animal Bond Innovation Awards, which recognize companies and organizations with innovative products and programs designed to advance the human-animal bond and create a more pet-friendly society. The 2024 Human Animal Bond Innovation Award winners are:   Public Service Category: CancerCare CancerCare’s Pet Assistance and Wellness (PAW) program helps people diagnosed with cancer stay together with their beloved pet by providing financial assistance for pet-related expenses, such as pet food, vet visits, pet sitting and boarding. The PAW Program was launched in 2020 and has given over 3,700 financial assistance grants to date.   Public Service Category: Meals on Wheels America Meals on Wheels bridges human services and animal welfare to ease the challenges of pet ownership and preserve the human-animal bond. What started as small programs providing ad hoc support has grown to be robust and multi-faceted programs encompassing an array of services, including pet food and supply deliveries, access to veterinary care, grooming, emergency boarding, and dog walking. The organization has also released national research findings to the public to raise awareness among new audiences about the prevalence of social isolation and the effectiveness of pet programs as a solution The Public Service category is sponsored by Zoetis.   Media Category: Sesame Workshop Sesame Workshop believes that children often have special relationships with animals. Whether it’s a family pet or a stuffed animal, furry friends can provide kids an avenue for learning new skills, while growing in self-confidence,...