New Research to Study Impact of Therapy Dogs On Stress and Academic Performance in Children with Autism

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) announced today it has awarded a grant to GITAM (Deemed) University for a new study which will investigate the impact of pet ownership and human-animal interaction (HAI) on overall social functioning including social attention in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study aims to fill a critical gap in the current literature by uncovering the potential benefits of HAI on core deficit areas in ADHD. “This project brings together an international team of experts to undertake a comprehensive examination of social attention and emotion processing in neurotypical children and children living with ADHD,” said Dr. Georgitta Valiyamattam, GITAM University, the study’s Principal Investigator. “We hope to answer a key question – do foundational social skills in ADHD have the potential to be impacted by animal-assisted interventions? This knowledge will provide the necessary groundwork for future research and practice, which we hope will improve treatment and quality of life for children living with ADHD.” Along with Dr. Valiyamattam, the team comprises Dr. Harish Katti, Dr. Jessica Taubert, Dr. Vinay Chaganti and Dr. Virender Sachdeva. A substantial body of research describes social attention and emotional recognition deficits to human faces in ADHD. This project will study the impact of pet ownership on children with ADHD to determine whether HAI may enhance social attention and emotional recognition and modulate overall social functioning. State-of-the-art eye tracking technology and rigorous statistical approaches will be deployed to compare attention towards human and nonhuman faces. Researchers will also investigate the recognition of facial expressions. The research team anticipates that children with ADHD will show greater attention and emotion recognition capabilities for animal faces as compared to human faces. The focus on uncovering the visual mechanisms regarding HAI may also...

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the Pet Food Institute (PFI) and the Pet Advocacy Network co-hosted Pet Night on Capitol Hill, celebrating the important role pets play in our lives. Pet Night brought together Members of Congress, Congressional staff, and leaders in the pet care community to share programs, policies, and key data making a clear case that pets positively impact our mental, physical, and social health. “Pet Night on Capitol Hill shares the message with Congress that pet-friendly policies and programs not only keep people and pets together, but also make us healthier,” said Vic Mason, President of the World Pet Association (WPA) and presenting sponsor of Pet Night. “HABRI is proud to co-host Pet Night on Capitol Hill, bringing everyone who loves and cares for pets together,” said Steven Feldman, President of HABRI. “Pets unite us!” At the event, the pets stole the show, including Pet Partners therapy animal-handler teams; Winston the French Bulldog, 2022 National Dog Show Best In Show Champion, provided by Purina; and adoptable puppies and kittens from Petco Love. The Animal Health Institute (AHI) honored the winners of the Cutest Pets on Capitol Hill contest, now in its fifteenth year, recognizing the most adorable animals belonging to Members of Congress and their staff.   Cutest Dog: Sandwich Owner: Megan Guiltinan Office of Rep. Andy Barr (KY-06)   Cutest Cat: Henry Owner: Emily Hall Office of Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01)   Cutest Exotic: Razz (Horse) Owner: Kirby Tidmore Office of Rep. Kevin Hern (OK-01)   “This event is a fantastic opportunity to bring together members from both parties to share our mutual affection and admiration for our pets. It’s also a great reminder that ensuring the health and safety of our pets and animals is crucial for both their wellbeing and ours,” said Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08). “In Congress I’ve continued to advocate for animal health...

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) today announced that students at veterinary colleges and universities across the U.S. will receive free Human-Animal Bond (HAB) Certification throughout 2025 thanks to a generous sponsorship from Zoetis. Launched in 2018 by the NAVC and HABRI, the Human-Animal Bond Veterinary Certification program provides a formal understanding of the science and research of the health benefits of pet ownership and human-animal interaction, and how best veterinary professionals can use that knowledge in the practice of veterinary medicine to enhance the health and well-being of pets and their owners. “The world’s leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC’s mission is to create unparalleled opportunities that foster lifelong learning, encourage growth and promote well-being to advance animal care worldwide – and that begins with veterinary students,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill. “Providing free Human-Animal Bond Certification to veterinary students checks all those boxes and provides an invaluable foundation for veterinary students to provide the best care and support to their patients and clients. We are grateful for the support Zoetis is providing through this initiative and for their longstanding commitment and leadership to enhance understanding and benefits of the human-animal bond.” “At Zoetis, we are driven by our purpose to advance animal care, and supporting the veterinary profession is an important part of that. We are excited to partner with the NAVC and HABRI to create these opportunities for veterinary students across the U.S.,” said Dr. Richard Goldstein, Global Chief Medical Officer and Head of Medical Affairs at Zoetis. “The Human-Animal Bond Certification program will equip future veterinary professionals with essential knowledge and skills they need to boost the health and well-being of both pets and their owners. This initiative...