Dog owner good news: Petting your dog may lead to stronger memory and better problem solving skills

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Petting a dog leads to increased brain activity, researchers in Switzerland have found — and thus petting a dog and observing it may increase your focus and attention. That’s according to a study recently published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. Lead study author Rahel Marti, a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology and animal-assisted interventions at the University […]

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The Power of Pets: Having an Animal to Love Provides Health Benefits

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If you’ve ever thought that your dog can sense when you’re stressed or struggling, new research says your suspicions are likely true. A new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that dogs can detect stress in humans. In fact, researchers found that dogs detected the changes with more than 90% accuracy. The dogs […]

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Public Health Student Explores Benefits of Using Pot-bellied Pigs in Animal Therapy

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Anastasia “Anya” Smith, a public health senior at The University of Toledo, fell in love with the two pot-bellied pigs her brother brought to the family’s farm in Monroe, Mich. Then, her mind shifted to her research project on the benefits of animal therapy. “With how cute and friendly they were, I thought they’d be […]

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The Power of Companion Animals and The Benefits of Fostering a Pet

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Kristen Tump found remarkable success in her emerging business career but felt something was missing. That “something” was discovered eight years ago when she adopted her cat, Maddie, from Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter in Deerfield. As a child, Kristen always wanted to work with animals, originally going to school as a pre-veterinary student. […]

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Veterinary groups launch new coalition to advance telehealth care

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Before telehealth is used, an in-person veterinarian-client-patient relationship needs to be established. Seeking to enhance and expand patient care through wider use of telehealth in veterinary medicine, a group of leading professional and industry organizations have formed the Coalition for Connected Veterinary Care. The coalition will collaborate across the veterinary and animal health industry to enhance and […]

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The ‘Beagle Brigade’ Receives Industry-Wide Support in Protection of U.S. Agriculture

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Today, over 116 agricultural canine teams provide screening at border crossings, airports, cruise terminals, cargo warehouses and mail facilities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). To protect the U.S. agriculture industry, natural resources and food supply, canines are used at U.S. ports of entry to detect and prevent foreign animal […]

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LIVESTOCK GUARD DOGS GROW IN POPULARITY AMONG RANCHERS

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RANCHERS FIND GOOD HELP MANAGING LIVESTOCK Livestock guard dogs (LGD) are becoming an increasingly popular tool in livestock management. A well-trained LGD will alert handlers to threats, ward off predators, and give ranchers peace of mind. Breeds developed over centuries by sheep- and goat-herding cultures. Anatolian shepherds, Akbash, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, and Central Asian shepherds […]

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New survey: 95% of pet parents rely on their pet for stress relief

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The American Heart Association’s Healthy Bond for Life™ releases new survey highlighting mental and physical health benefits of pet companionship DALLAS, June 20, 2022 — Nearly all cat and dog owners rely on their pets for stress relief according to a new survey released by the American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier […]

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Walking the beat with Los Angeles’ Street Vet

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Life on the streets can be extremely difficult for America’s homeless. Many are unsure where they will sleep tonight or their next meal. Some are mentally ill, others victims of dire circumstance. In many cases, a pet is a homeless person’s only solace. According to a 2015 report in the journal, Child Psychiatry & Human Development, […]

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Heeling House Dogs Help Student De-Stress

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Heeling House, a Sterling nonprofit, is becoming increasingly popular among high school students as they provide service dogs to help students de-stress. The nonprofit aims to improve the lives of special needs children through visits with therapy dogs, but its mission has evolved to help all students in the community. Established in 2014, Heeling House […]

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