The Human-Animal Bond

2015 ◽  
pp. 80-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Serpell
Keyword(s):  
Social Engagement ◽  
Psychosocial Stress ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Animal Companionship ◽  
Human Animal

Social bonds between people and their pets are more popular than they have ever been. Yet archaeological and anthropological evidence suggests that human-pet bonds have existed throughout history, enduring despite their relative lack of practical utility or material value for humans and, in this sense, presenting a challenge to evolutionary theory. Citing abundant research, the chapter shows that the human-pet relationship should be regarded as “mutualistic,” conferring adaptive benefits on both participants For humans, animal companionship promotes social engagement and alleviates the debilitating mental and physiological effects of psychosocial stress. Animal-assisted therapeutic interventions for people with a variety of cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities are also becoming increasingly widespread. For animals, the human-animal bond has opened a new ecological niche and allowed dramatic increases in population size. However, the chapter also raises a number of ethical concerns related to animal welfare, public health, and environmental impact.

scholarly journals Effects of Olfactory and Auditory Enrichment on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Amaya ◽  
Mandy B.A. Paterson ◽  
Clive J.C. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Exit Door ◽  
Shelter Dogs ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Increased Activity

Shelter environments are stressful for dogs, as they must cope with many stimuli over which they have little control. This can lead to behavioural changes, negatively affect their welfare and downgrade the human‐animal bond, affecting re-homing success. Arousal is evident in their behaviour, particularly increased activity and frequent vocalisation. Environmental enrichment plays an important role in reducing arousal behaviour, either through direct physiological effects or by masking stressful stimuli. The present study focused on sensory environmental enrichment, using olfactory and auditory stimuli under shelter conditions. Sixty dogs were allocated to one of four treatments: three types of enrichment, Lavender, Dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) and Music, and a Control group. Stimuli were applied for 3 h/d on five consecutive days. Dogs exposed to DAP lay down more, and those exposed to Music lay down more with their head down, compared to the Control. Those in the Control stood more on their hind legs with their front legs on the exit door, compared to those exposed to Music and DAP, particularly if they had only been in the shelter for a short time. They also panted and vocalised much more than dogs in the three enrichment treatments, which tended to persist during the 4 h period post treatment, and in the case of vocalisation into the subsequent night. The study suggests that all three enrichments had some positive benefits for dogs in shelters, as well as being non-invasive and easy to apply in the shelter environment.

A Longitudinal Study of the Human-animal Bond as Described in Childrens' Literature

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara R. Staats ◽  
Elizabeth Caldwell ◽  
William Mcelhaney ◽  
Lance Garmon ◽  
Tyra Ross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Human Animal

Accident before Love

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon P. Holland
Keyword(s):  
Personal Reflection ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Historical Figure ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Historical Moment

Holland’s essay is part theory, part personal reflection, and thoroughly poetic in its engagement with Dave the Potter as both a historical figure, to be read and reflected upon, and as a provocation to interrogate the boundaries of our own historical moment. Holland’s brief essay touches on historical appropriation and the porosity of the human-animal bond. The essay begins by enclosing its writer within a typically anonymous space of academic prose, but then moves beyond academic conventions to perform transformations associated with Dave the Potter, whose troubling of the boundaries between life and death, human and animal Holland elucidates, examines, and contextualizes.

scholarly journals Love, fear, and the human-animal bond: On adversity and multispecies relationships

2021 ◽  
pp. 100071
Author(s):  
Jennifer W. Applebaum ◽  
Evan L. MacLean ◽  
Shelby E. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Human Animal

Canine Rescue as a Social Movement: The Politics of Love

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 670-687
Author(s):  
Anna L. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Animal Rights ◽  
Animal Advocacy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Nonhuman Animals ◽  
Political Approach ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Politics Of Love

Abstract Canine rescue is a growing movement that affects the lives of tens of thousands of nonhuman animals and people every year. Rescue is noteworthy not only for its numbers, but also because it challenges common understandings of animal advocacy. Popular accounts often portray work on behalf of animals as sentimental, individualistic, and apolitical. In fact, work on behalf of animals has always been political, in multiple ways. It is characterized both by internal political tensions, especially between animal rights and welfare positions, and by complex relations to the broader public sphere. I analyze canine rescue, with a focus on pit bull rescue, to show that an important segment of canine rescue movements adopts an explicitly political approach which blurs the divide between rights and welfare, addresses the social context of the human-animal bond, and links animal advocacy to social justice.

Dimensions of the Human–Animal Bond and Evacuation Decisions among Pet Owners during Hurricane Ike

Anthrozoös ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Brackenridge ◽  
Lisa K. Zottarelli ◽  
Erin Rider ◽  
Bev Carlsen-Landy
Keyword(s):  
Hurricane Ike ◽  
Pet Owners ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Human Animal

scholarly journals Animal assisted therapy and occupational therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Paraskevi Vakrinou ◽  
Ioanna Tzonichaki
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Relationship ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Treatment Process ◽  
Interdisciplinary Team ◽  
Animal Assisted Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Tool ◽  
Complementary Method ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Pre Treatment

The therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client is considered as a primarily goal for treatment and a significant factor for the programme success. In recent years, the scientific community has brought to light more and more findings concerning the human-animal bond. Many therapists are already incorporating Animal Assisted Therapy into their program as a complementary method. The Occupational Therapist, by introducing an animal to his sessions and using it as a therapeutic tool to achieve communicative, motor, mental, emotional and sensory goals can greatly benefit the patient. Scientific studies should be carried out in Greece in order to draw conclusions that will help all members of the interdisciplinary team to integrate an animal into the pre-treatment process taking into account factors that affect both one's health and ethical use of the animal. 

scholarly journals Animals and social work: An emerging field of practice for Aotearoa New Zealand

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 24-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Walker ◽  
Jenny Aimers ◽  
Claire Perry
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Human Animal

Social work is traditionally human-centered in practice, even though for many the bond between humans and animals is the most fundamental of daily-lived experiences. The intent of this paper is to reflect on the predominant humanistic basis of social work and to consider the growing evidence for developing a wider perspective to incorporate the human-animal connection into social work practice. Joanne Emmens (2007:9) observes that the human-animal bond is considered by some as ‘…too mainstream (in the sense of being lightweight, cliché or sentimental), or as not mainstream enough…as substantial material worthy of study.’ In this article we argue that the human-animal bond is neither sentimental nor fringe and that our attitudes toward this relationship is based on a construction of western thought. To support this we offer a review of literature that provides evidence of good practice that can move social work beyond a purely humanistic approach to a more holistic view resulting in a more comprehensive toolkit for practice. We explore the literature and practice surrounding the place of animals in social work, both in New Zealand and internationally. In addition, we identify some of the ways the human-animal bond is currently utilised in rehabilitation, therapy, as animal assistants and as an indicator of domestic violence within New Zealand. We argue that this area of research and practice is highly relevant for social work as evidence-based practice. The paper con- cludes by offering some suggestions for discussion within the social work profession, and considerations for social work educators, researchers and theorists. 

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document