tag:theconversation.com,2011:/ca/topics/pet-ownership-8349/articlesPet ownership – The Conversation2024-02-06T13:29:24Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2169752024-02-06T13:29:24Z2024-02-06T13:29:24ZPerils of pet poop – so much more than just unsightly and smelly, it can spread disease<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571526/original/file-20240125-23-k5liyr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=16%2C37%2C959%2C684&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Responsible pet owners are on diligent poop patrol.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Hannah Sussman</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Have you ever been out on a walk and as you take that next step, you feel the slippery squish of poop under your foot?</p>
<p>It’s not just gross. Beyond the mess and the smell, it’s potentially infectious. That’s why signs reminding pet owners to “curb your dog” and scoop their poop have been joined in some places by posted warnings that pet waste can spread disease.</p>
<p><a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=QiTnXH8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">As a small-animal primary care veterinarian</a>, I deal with the diseases of dog and cat poop on a daily basis. Feces represent potential <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/zoonotic-disease">zoonotic hazards</a>, meaning they can transmit disease from the animals to people.</p>
<p>The reality is that waste left to wash into the soil, whether in a neighborhood, trail or dog park, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28316698/">can spread life-threatening</a> <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/transmission/index.html">parasites</a> not just among dogs and cats, but also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02532-21">to wild animals</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/transmission/index.html#animal">people of all ages</a>. A 2020 study found <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04147-6">intestinal parasites in 85% of off-leash dog parks</a> across the United States.</p>
<p>While human diseases caused by soil-transmitted parasites are considered uncommon in the U.S., they infect as many as an <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ascariasis/index.html">estimated billion people worldwide</a>. Signs that remind you to pick up after your pet are not just trying to keep public spaces clean; they’re urging you to help safeguard your community’s health.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="bottom of a child's foot showing open lesions by the toes" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=395&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=395&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=395&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=496&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=496&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571223/original/file-20240124-27-qinn2d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=496&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Parasites can enter your body through broken skin and set up shop, as in this hookworm infection.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=5204">CDC</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Abandoned poop’s impact on people</h2>
<p>Common dog poop parasites include <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/resources/roundworms_hookworms.html">hookworms, roundworms</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coccidium">coccidia</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/whipworm">whipworms</a>. Hookworms and roundworms can thrive in a variety of species, including humans.</p>
<p>Their microscopic larvae can get into your body through small scratches in your skin after contact with contaminated soil or via accidental oral ingestion. Remember that next time you’re outside and wipe sweat from your face with a dirty hand and then lick your lips or take a drink – it’s that simple. After hose or rain water has rinsed contaminated poop into the soil, these parasite eggs can <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxocariasis/epi.html">survive and infect for months or years</a> to come.</p>
<p>Once in the human body, both hookworm and roundworm larvae can mature and migrate through the bloodstream into the lungs. From there, coughs help them gain access to <a href="https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/infections/parasitic-infections-nematodes-roundworms/hookworm-infection">the digestive tract of their host</a>, where they leach nutrients by attaching to the intestinal wall. People with healthy immune systems may show no clinical signs of infection, but in sufficient quantities these parasites <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/hookworm/disease.html">can lead to anemia and malnourishment</a>. They can even <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmed.2015.12.023">cause an intestinal obstruction</a> which may require surgical intervention, especially in young children.</p>
<p>Additionally, larval stages of roundworms <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apar.2020.01.001">can move into the human eye</a> and, in rare cases, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxocariasis/disease.html">lead to permanent blindness</a>. Hookworms can create a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/zoonotichookworm/disease.html">severely itchy condition called cutaneous larva migrans</a> <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/infections-diseases/cutaneous-larva-migrans">as the larval worm moves</a> just under the skin of its host.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="about a dozen little white worms next to a wooden match" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571669/original/file-20240126-27-e6h7di.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Adult hookworms.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/adult-hookworms-of-a-dog-in-the-institute-for-parasitology-news-photo/162781943">Agency-Animal-Picture via Getty Images</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Once the parasite’s life cycle is complete, it may exit the host’s body as an intact adult worm, which looks like a small piece of cooked spaghetti.</p>
<h2>The impact on other animals</h2>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/s0195-5616(87)50005-5">Dogs and cats can also develop</a> the same symptoms people do due to parasitic infections. In addition to risks of hookworms and roundworms, pets are also vulnerable to whipworm, giardia and coccidia.</p>
<p>Beyond parasites, unattended poop may also be contaminated with canine or feline viruses, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2020.108760">such as parvovirus</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-72-160422-6/50016-4">distemper virus and canine coronavirus</a>, that can create life-threatening disease in other dogs and cats, especially in adult animals that are unvaccinated and puppies and kittens.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/canine-distemper">These viruses</a> <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/canine-parvovirus">attack rapidly dividing cells</a>, in particular the intestinal lining and bone marrow, leaving them unable to absorb nutrients appropriately and unable to produce replacement red and white blood cells that help defend against these and other viruses. Vaccination can protect pets.</p>
<p>Many species of local wildlife are within the canid and felid family groups. They, too, are susceptible to many of the same parasites and viruses as pet dogs and cats – while being much less likely to have received the benefit of vaccinations. Coyotes, wolves, foxes, raccoons, minks and bobcats are <a href="https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/disease/parvovirus#:%7E:text=Parvoviruses%20are%20capable%20of%20infecting,infect%20domestic%20cats%20and%20dogs">at risk of contracting parvovirus</a>, coronavirus <a href="https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/living-with-wildlife/wildlife-diseases/canine-distemper">and distemper</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="person dropping a bag of dog poop into bin with dog watching" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/571667/original/file-20240126-15-giuwd9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Be prepared to deal with poop on every walk.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/teenager-putting-a-filled-biodegradable-dog-poop-royalty-free-image/1335287112">Elva Etienne/Moment via Getty Images</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Responsible pet poop management</h2>
<p>So, wherever your dog or cat relieves himself – at the park, in the woods, on the sidewalk, or even in your yard – pick up that poop but always avoid contact with your skin. It’s safest to use a shovel to place the poop directly into a plastic bag, or put a baggie over your hand to grab the poop and then pull the plastic bag over it. While it’s tempting to leave the “soft-serve” or watery poops behind, these are often the more likely culprits for spreading diseases.</p>
<p>Tie up the bag and make sure to place it in a trash can – not on top – to avoid inadvertent contamination of a neighbor or sanitation worker. Promptly <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html">wash your hands</a>, particularly before touching your face or eating or drinking. Hand sanitizers can take care of many viruses on your skin, but they <a href="https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.103">won’t kill parasite eggs</a>.</p>
<p>Other potential sources of poop – and parasite – exposure are the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1155/1994/786090">sandbox, beaches and park sand</a> found under and around playgrounds. Sand is comfortable to lounge on, fun to construct into castles, and softens the impact if you fall off a play structure. But cats and other small mammals love to use it as a litter box since it’s easy to dig and absorbs moisture. Covering sandboxes when not in use and closely monitoring your environment at the beach and playground are key steps toward minimizing the risks of exposure for everyone.</p>
<p>By <a href="https://capcvet.org/guidelines">keeping your pets on regular parasite prevention</a> protocols, with annual testing for intestinal parasites and routine removal of fecal material from the environment, you can help to minimize the potential for these diseases among all the mammals in your environment – human, pet and wild.</p>
<p>Key points to remember to avoid parasites and minimize the impact on your ecosystem:</p>
<ul>
<li>Pick waste up and safely throw it out regardless of where your pet poops. Sanitize your hands afterward.</li>
<li>Wash your hands before eating or touching your face while gardening or working in the yard.</li>
<li>Avoid rinsing poop into the soil. Using rain or a garden hose only removes the visible mess, not the microscopic issues.</li>
<li>Make sure sandboxes are covered when not in use.</li>
<li>Keep your pets on <a href="https://capcvet.org/guidelines">monthly intestinal parasite deworming</a> schedules.</li>
<li>Have your vet test your pet’s poop annually for intestinal parasites.</li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216975/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Julia Wuerz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The signs that remind you to pick up after your pet are not just trying to keep public spaces clean; they’re urging you to help safeguard your community’s health.Julia Wuerz, Clinical Assistant Professor of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of FloridaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2218172024-02-06T12:29:36Z2024-02-06T12:29:36ZIs your pet exposed to secondhand smoke? Here are the (serious) health risks<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573211/original/file-20240203-21-iufaha.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=24%2C32%2C5439%2C3604&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/man-relaxes-at-home-with-his-dog-december-5-2022-in-news-photo/1447421907?adppopup=true">Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Our pets share our homes, lifestyles, and sometimes even our food <a href="https://theconversation.com/there-are-benefits-to-sharing-a-bed-with-your-pet-as-long-as-youre-scrupulously-clean-221536">and beds</a>. For many pets, this close contact with humans can include exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarettes and other air pollutants. This may have <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-61865311">serious health consequences</a> for our animal companions.</p>
<p>So, how significant a risk is passive smoking for our pets and should we be concerned?</p>
<p>Smoking is well understood to come with negative health outcomes for people. Between <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc2190">80 and 90%</a> of lung cancer cases are associated with exposure to cancer-causing componds from first-or second-hand smoking.</p>
<p>Passive smoking is also linked increased risks of other forms of cancer including <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10549-015-3628-4">breast</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539516650724">colorectal cancer</a>, <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.2c00991">heart</a> and <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2004/00000008/00000005/art00002;jsessionid=1k6bnal73xupb.x-ic-live-03">respiratory disease</a>. </p>
<p>Children’s <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8060945/">oral health</a>, <a href="https://journals.lww.com/co-pediatrics/abstract/2017/04000/tobacco,_e_cigarettes,_and_child_health.16.aspx">development, and future health outcomes</a> are also negatively affected by exposure to secondhand smoke.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UXgOPj3HceE?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>More than 50% of bladder cancer cases in humans are <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3271/8/1/15">attributed to cigarette smoking</a>, making exposure a significant risk factor. The recent identification of passive smoking associated with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023323000953">dogs developing bladder cancer</a> highlights the potentially serious health consequences of secondhand smoke for our furry friends too.</p>
<h2>Canine cancer risk</h2>
<p>Cancer is commonly <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/135/3/234/97261?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false">diagnosed in dogs</a> and is a significant cause of death. While many factors may predispose a pet to <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1004122/full#B26">developing cancer</a>, evidence suggests that passive smoking is a key risk.</p>
<p>Scottish terriers living in homes where they were exposed to cigarette smoke were <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023323000953">six times more likely</a> to develop bladder cancer than those not routinely exposed.</p>
<p>Nasal cancer in dogs is also <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/147/5/488/158913?login=false">linked to passive smoking</a>, and is a particular problem for dogs with long muzzles, such as collies. This is compared to a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/147/5/488/158913?login=false">lower incidence of nasal cancer</a>, but <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/135/3/234/97261?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false">higher risk of lung cancer</a> in brachycephalic, or short-nosed breeds such as pugs.</p>
<p>The difference in cancer type might be linked to how dogs are exposed to the many toxic compounds found in cigarette smoke. In dogs with longer noses, more of these compounds will potentially become <a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/the-effects-of-second-hand-smoke-on-pets">trapped in their nasal tissues</a>. Conversely, dogs with short snouts may be more likely to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/135/3/234/97261?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false">inhale these compounds</a> into their lungs.</p>
<h2>Not just dogs</h2>
<p>All domestic pets living in the home are potentially at risk from exposure to secondhand smoke. This includes dogs, cats, birds, small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs and even fish.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dl2mm_0GD6s?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>Cats exposed to passive smoking have an increased incidence of <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/156/3/268/71617">malignant lymphoma</a>. Nicotine concentrations <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jsap.12616">are higher</a> in the hair of cats living with smokers than non-smokers. Similar findings have been found for <a href="https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1136/vr.f2468?saml_referrer">dogs living with smokers</a>, regardless of whether pet owners smoked inside or outside.</p>
<p>Because cats tend to self-groom by licking, they may be at particular risk of <a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/the-effects-of-second-hand-smoke-on-pets">ingesting even more toxic substances</a> from passive smoking than simply inhaling them.</p>
<p>Birds have <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/story-real-canary-coal-mine-180961570/">particularly sensitive</a> respiratory systems and exposure to smoke and air pollutants can be extremely distressing and harmful – think about canaries in mines. Indeed, our pets may well act as <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2923#B99-animals-13-02923">useful sentinels</a> for air pollution more generally.</p>
<p>Toxic compounds found in cigarette smoke can also <a href="https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/passive-smoking-and-our-pets">dissolve into the water</a> in fish tanks, creating risks for the health and welfare of fish or amphibious pets, too.</p>
<h2>Minimising hazards for health</h2>
<p>Passive smoking alone is not responsible for health concerns in people and pets. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vco.12186">Genetics</a>, <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/227/1/javma.2005.227.94.xml">diet</a> and <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/224/8/javma.2004.224.1290.xml">exposure to other potentially toxic substances</a> in the environment all combine to affect overall disease susceptibility.</p>
<p>But evidence repeatedly indicates more than just a casual link between <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41748090">secondhand smoke exposure</a> and serious health concerns in our pets such as <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/135/3/234/97261?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false">cancer</a> and <a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/the-effects-of-second-hand-smoke-on-pets">respiratory illnesses</a>.</p>
<p>Owners concerned about the wellbeing of their pet may be encouraged to be more <a href="https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/indoor-air-pollution/improving">aware of air quality</a> in their home generally and make appropriate lifestyle changes. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Xyj3OdY_Z4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>Choosing to <a href="https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/stopping-smoking/reasons-to-stop/dangers-of-second-hand-smoke">smoke outdoors</a> can reduce some risk. Opening windows, improving ventilation and using air filters may help too, although it is important to note that even low level exposure <a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/the-effects-of-second-hand-smoke-on-pets">can be harmful</a> to our furry and feathered friends.</p>
<p>Indeed, awareness raising and education about the dangers of pet exposure to secondhand smoke could be an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/tc.2008.028282">important motivator for smoking cessation</a>. </p>
<p>Exposure to secondhand smoke is a common but avoidable risk factor for health concerns in pets and people alike. Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, can enhance overall health, welfare and longevity for both pets and their people.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/221817/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jacqueline Boyd is affiliated with The Kennel Club (UK) through membership, as Chair of the Activities Health and Welfare Subgroup and member of the Dog Health Group. Jacqueline is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT #01583) and she also writes, consults and coaches on canine matters on an independent basis, in addition to her academic affiliation at Nottingham Trent University.</span></em></p>The dangers of passive smoking for humans may be well-known but second – and even third-hand – smoke is also hazardous to our pets. Here’s what you need to know.Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2215362024-02-02T16:35:54Z2024-02-02T16:35:54ZThere are benefits to sharing a bed with your pet – as long as you’re scrupulously clean<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573096/original/file-20240202-19-bguuni.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=50%2C7%2C4848%2C3759&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Should your dog share your bed? Some owners have better quality sleep alongside their furry friends</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/small-boy-asleep-with-his-pet-dog-circa-1950-news-photo/110169318?adppopup=true">Keystone View/FPG/Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>When heading off for a night’s slumber, does your pet follow? Perhaps the cat curls up at the end of your bed. Maybe the dog dives under the duvet or pops their head on your pillow. Alternatively, your pet might have their own devoted sleeping space.</p>
<p>But if you do share your bed with Fluffy or Fido, what what does science suggest is best practice?</p>
<p>Pets increasingly have new roles and expectations in society. Dogs, cats and a multitude of other companion animal species have become <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2019.1621516">family members</a>, a role far removed from their original purposes as <a href="https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/paij/vol1/iss1/6/">protectors, hunting partners</a>, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0171593">pest-exterminators</a> and in some cases, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-021-10272-4">food sources</a>.</p>
<p>Owners now spend much more time in close contact with their pets, which <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124300">confers many benefits</a>. Positive associations with pets are linked with <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1295517/">improved health</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122085">social contact</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1196199">physical activity</a>, and decreased perceptions of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02332-9">loneliness</a>.</p>
<p>While people typically share living spaces with their pets, sharing beds is a much more intimate proposition. Nevertheless, <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/2/10-1070_article">research shows</a> that of the estimated 90 million European households who own a least one pet, 45% of dogs and 60% of cats are allowed on the bed – and 18% of dogs and 30% of cats sleep with their owner inside the covers. </p>
<p>While it might be enjoyable and relaxing to share resting time with your pet, it could come with risks to pet and human health, not to mention impacts on sleep hygiene and human relationships too.</p>
<h2>Disturbed Sleep</h2>
<p>One challenge of sharing your bed with your pet could be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.06.014">disturbed sleep</a>. The movement of sleeping partners (two or four-legged) may lead to reduced sleep efficiency, although a bed large enough to accommodate all can mitigate this. </p>
<p>Encouraging your pet to sleep elsewhere, but within the bedroom could also be beneficial if sleep disturbance is affecting your wellbeing. Our pets also need <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0163620">quality sleep</a>, so their own sleeping space might be good for them too.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/euxBX8o6jZI?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>But shared sleeping areas can have positives. Many owners like to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352721820303053">sleep with their pets</a>, who can offer companionship, security and even warmth. More than 80% of dogs examined in studies preferred to be <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1172#B3-animals-10-01172">close to people at night</a>, suggesting a mutual benefit. Different species of pets also appear to <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237822">spend time resting together</a>, so if you have a multi-pet household, all might enjoy shared sleeping.</p>
<h2>Bed bugs</h2>
<p>Pets sometimes bring unwanted guests into our homes such as fleas, ticks, mites and lice. These ectoparasites might <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/zph.12369">hop from our pets to us</a> and either cause transient or more prolonged irritation. In extreme cases, they can transmit other, potentially serious diseases such as <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jid/article-abstract/136/4/489/2189513?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false">plague</a> or <a href="https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.34.8.1952-1956.1996">“cat scratch disease”</a>, an infection caused by bacteria in cat saliva.</p>
<p>Pets often also harbour <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/2/10-1070_article#r2">internal parasites</a> such as the roundworm Toxocara canis – a parasite that affects both cats and dogs – some of which can be passed to humans, resulting in illness. Microscopic eggs that can cause infection can be <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304401709002003?via%3Dihub">carried on the fur of our pets</a> and close contact increases the potential of spread between pets and people.</p>
<p>The potential for other disease-causing organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi to spread between our pets and us is also of concern, especially <a href="https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/36/2/e26/317343?login=false">antibiotic-resistant bacteria</a> such as <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/10/1110">MRSA</a>. Indeed, we can even share infections with our pets – <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-020-00248-3">including COVID-19</a> – so it’s not all one-sided.</p>
<h2>Allergies and injuries</h2>
<p>Sharing intimate contact with pets does raise the potential for <a href="https://doc.woah.org/dyn/portal/index.xhtml?page=alo&aloId=36892">increasing allergic responses or injury risk</a>. Minor, unintentional injuries such as scratches can occur. Contact with dust and dander from pet hair can be prolonged when in close proximity. This material can also <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00882.x">accumulate in the environment</a>, potentially increasing the risk of allergic reactions.</p>
<p>Some pets may <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0168159195010084">develop behavioural concerns</a> such as separation-related behaviours as a result of sharing intimate spaces and prolonged contact with their human. Conversely, some owners choose to allow their pet access to sleeping areas to <a href="https://humanimalia.org/article/view/9930">reduce problem behaviours</a> such as door scratching or nighttime vocalising. Fair, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-97743-0">consistent training</a> and expectations between a pet and their owner can go a long way to mitigate any such concerns, no matter where a pet sleeps.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TOZVCj5AEsY?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<h2>Keeping it clean</h2>
<p>If you do share your bed with your pet, good hygiene and regular cleaning is a must. Advice suggests that at <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-61259074">least weekly washing</a> of bed sheets is good practice. If you share your bed with pets, washing bedclothes <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-sheets/how-to-wash-sheets">every three to four days</a> is suggested.</p>
<p>The fur and feet of our pets can be <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/10/1149">contaminated with dirt and pathogens</a> too. This leads to potential contamination “hotspots” in sleeping areas. Bacteria from faeces was <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/10/1149">isolated from the paws of 86% of dogs</a> in one study. Cleaning pet paws after being outdoors is a good strategy to reduce contamination risk. </p>
<p>Regular grooming and bathing (when appropriate) is <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.827348/full#B1">important for pet health monitoring</a> and wellbeing. It can also support a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195561695501263?via%3Dihub">positive human-pet bond</a> and reduce the potential for spreading potential infection.</p>
<p>The use of <a href="https://www.bsava.com/position-statement/parasite-control/">anti-parasitic treatments</a> under veterinary advice can also minimise the carriage and spread of internal and external parasites to pet owners and other pets.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-long-might-your-dog-live-new-study-calculates-life-expectancy-for-different-breeds-222446">How long might your dog live? New study calculates life expectancy for different breeds</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>It’s bedtime</h2>
<p>Whether you choose to share your bed with your pet depends on a number of factors, including lifestyle, health and even the relationship with your pet.</p>
<p>Balancing the potential downsides of sharing a bed with your pet, with possible benefits is important to assess whether it is a good choice for you or not. Indeed, sleep disruption due to bed-sharing with pets is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025619615006746">not as detrimental to sleep quality</a> as often thought.</p>
<p>With good hygiene and management, the choice to share your sleep with your pet might just give you both a great night’s sleep.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/221536/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jacqueline Boyd is affiliated with The Kennel Club (UK) through membership, as Chair of the Activities Health and Welfare Subgroup and member of the Dog Health Group. Jacqueline is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT #01583) and she also writes, consults and coaches on canine matters on an independent basis, in addition to her academic affiliation at Nottingham Trent University.</span></em></p>While some people blanch at the thought of bed-sharing bed with a pet, others can’t sleep without their animal companions – an expert explains the pros and cons of sharing a bed with a pet (or two).Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2133562023-09-14T00:10:12Z2023-09-14T00:10:12ZIs it really safe to feed your cat a vegan diet?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/548193/original/file-20230914-29-z5w8xs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=98%2C62%2C5854%2C3900&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/research-check-25155">Research Checks</a> interrogate newly published studies and how they’re reported in the media. The analysis is undertaken by one or more academics not involved with the study, and reviewed by another, to make sure it’s accurate.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Recently there’s been a trend of people wanting to feed their pets a diet that follows their own dietary preferences – which often means a meat-free diet.</p>
<p>Vets have long maintained that feeding cats a meat-free diet is a big no-no. But a new <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0284132">study published</a> in the open-access journal PLOS ONE challenges this assumption. The researchers write in the abstract:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[…] cats fed vegan diets tended to be healthier than cats fed meat-based diets. This trend was clear and consistent. These results largely concur with previous, similar studies.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So, are vegan diets really more healthy for cats? When we start to pick apart the findings, we see the evidence is far from conclusive.</p>
<h2>What the study involved</h2>
<p>The authors of the study surveyed 1,369 cat owners, who fed their cats either a vegan or meat-based diet, about their cats’ health. Respondents were mostly female (91%) and represented a range of ages. Most lived in the UK, with others residing in Europe, North America or Oceania.</p>
<p>Most (about 65%) had themselves adopted some form of diet to reduce meat consumption – being either vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian (fish only), or reducing their meat consumption. A small portion (9%) fed their cats a vegan diet in spite of their own dietary choices. </p>
<p>The owners were asked about their cat’s health, including specific health conditions, medication use and how often they saw a vet. They were also asked their opinion on how healthy their cat was, and what they believed their vet would say about their cat’s health. </p>
<h2>What did the study find?</h2>
<p>Overall, the study found no evidence of detrimental health effects in cats fed a vegan diet. In fact, the authors suggest a vegan diet actually leads to health benefits for cats.</p>
<p>The researchers looked at seven indicators of illness and found non-significant reductions in all of them in cats on a vegan diet. These included reduced veterinary visits, reduced use of medications and fewer instances of owners thinking their cats were in poor health.</p>
<p>Non-significance means the researchers didn’t find <em>strong enough</em> evidence to say there was a meaningful difference between the groups – but it doesn’t mean there was no effect (especially since some of the trends were strong).</p>
<p>They found 15 diseases were more common in cats fed meat, while only seven diseases were more common in cats on a vegan diet. Examples of less common diseases for cats on a vegan diet included dental disease, skin disease and hormonal diseases. But again, the differences between the two diet groups were not statistically significant.</p>
<p>There was only one disease for which a significant statistical difference was observed: cats fed a vegan diet were slightly more likely to have kidney disease. </p>
<h2>Putting the findings in context</h2>
<p>Compared to similar past studies, this study included a relatively large number of cats. That said, only 127 of these cats were on a vegan diet. </p>
<p>Most of the health benefits reported for this group also did not reach statistical significance, which may be the result of simply not having enough animals in the study.</p>
<p>The authors reported a tendency towards positive effects of vegan diets. This means there was a general trend (which was sometimes strong), but doesn’t necessarily mean there is a very predictable relationship. </p>
<p>As a survey study, it’s not possible to confirm exactly what the cats were eating. Many of them went outside and may have <a href="https://theconversation.com/one-cat-one-year-110-native-animals-lock-up-your-pet-its-a-killing-machine-138412">hunted down meaty treats</a> even while on a vegan diet. Some owners also fed their cats treats and essential nutrient supplements, so any beneficial effects (or a lack of harmful effects) may not be due to diet alone. </p>
<p>Another missing piece of information is how long the cats were kept on the diet. We might assume one year – but this isn’t specifically stated. This is important information since deficiency diseases can take time to develop.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547959/original/file-20230913-17-su4cro.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The cats in the study may have gone out hunting for meaty treats without their owners’ knowledge.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Finally, any study assessing animal health will have inherent limitations if it’s designed as a survey. Pet owners usually aren’t medically trained and their “opinions” can be subjective and therefore biased.</p>
<p>Owners who had removed or reduced meat in their own diet were over-represented in the study. These people may already anticipate vegan diets are better for health, and this thinking could influence their responses.</p>
<p>It’s also worth noting the study was funded by ProVeg International – a food awareness organisation that promotes plant-based products. While this might not have impacted the validity of data, it could have influenced the stance taken when reporting on the results. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/one-cat-one-year-110-native-animals-lock-up-your-pet-its-a-killing-machine-138412">One cat, one year, 110 native animals: lock up your pet, it's a killing machine</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>So, is a vegan diet good for my cat?</h2>
<p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1992.tb09872.x">Only a handful of studies</a> have looked at health outcomes in cats fed vegan diets. This study adds to a growing body of evidence that, contrary to long-held beliefs, it <em>may</em> be possible for cats to stay healthy on a vegan diet. </p>
<p>However, we’ll need much more research before we can conclude vegan diets are better for cat health than diets containing meat.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/are-vegan-pet-diets-as-unhealthy-as-theyre-claimed-to-be-heres-what-the-evidence-says-197409">Are vegan pet diets as unhealthy as they're claimed to be? Here's what the evidence says</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>To obtain really strong evidence on the safety and health benefits of vegan diets, we’d need clinical trials involving a large cat population and direct measurements of health through veterinary exams and lab tests.</p>
<p>One challenge that isn’t really addressed in this paper is how a vegan cat diet should be safely put together. We know plant-based diets typically lack a range of nutrients cats need and which their bodies can’t make. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1992.tb09872.x">Previous</a> <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpn.13510">studies</a> have shown cats on vegan diets to have severe deficiency disorders affecting the muscles.</p>
<p>It may be possible for owners to provide these nutrients through supplements, but this would require an understanding of cat nutrition, or some sound advice from an animal health professional. For most of us, achieving a well-balanced diet for our felines in this way will be tricky. And let’s not forget cats are natural hunters and may well <em>like</em> the taste of meat!</p>
<p>It’s probably wise to wait before letting Felix go completely meat-free. If you feel very strongly about not feeding your cat meat, make sure to choose a commercial vegan pet diet and ask your vet about proper nutrient supplementation.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Blind peer review</h2>
<p>This article is a fair analysis of the study. It importantly clarifies the study can’t conclude that it is safe or beneficial to feed a solely vegan diet to cats in the long term.</p>
<p>The details of the diets fed to these cats were very vague; cats on a predominately vegan diet may have been receiving non-vegan foods as well, which could have provided essential nutrients, such as taurine, that may have been deficient in fully vegan diets. It also gave no detail about wet versus dry diets, which is another dietary factor that can impact health. </p>
<p>As a feline specialist veterinarian, I know too well how good cats are at hiding signs of illness until they are very advanced; owner-reported health status simply isn’t good enough to determine a cat’s health. </p>
<p>For example, one concern with vegan diets is a lack of taurine, which is essential for cats. Taurine deficiency can cause retinal degeneration and cardiac disease, both of which would not be evident to owners until the conditions were very advanced. Nutrient deficiencies can take a long time to develop and the study didn’t report on long-term feeding of a solely vegan diet. </p>
<p>I also disagree that fewer vet visits and less medication indicate better health. The authors point out that part of the study was performed during COVID lockdowns, which we know had significant effects on veterinary visits and also on some health conditions. </p>
<p>To assess health impacts of vegan diets, much longer-term studies would be needed with more complete health assessments including examination of the back of the eye, blood tests and ultrasound examination.</p>
<p><strong>– Andrea Harvey</strong></p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716">Don't let them out: 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213356/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>A new study has reportedly found benefits to feeding cats a vegan diet. We got an expert to look at whether the evidence stacks up.Alexandra Whittaker, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2108982023-09-04T20:05:24Z2023-09-04T20:05:24ZIs it okay to kiss your pet? The risk of animal-borne diseases is small, but real<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/545229/original/file-20230829-19-r94gri.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C314%2C4886%2C3197&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Our relationship with pets has changed drastically in recent decades. Pet ownership is at an all-time high, with <a href="https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/media-release/more-than-two-thirds-of-australian-households-now-own-a-pet/">a recent survey</a> finding 69% of Australian households have at least one pet. We spend an estimated A$33 billion every year on caring for our fur babies.</p>
<p>While owning a pet is linked to numerous <a href="https://www.onehealth.org/blog/10-mental-physical-health-benefits-of-having-pets">mental and physical health benefits</a>, our pets can also harbour infectious diseases that can sometimes be passed on to us. For most people, the risk is low.</p>
<p>But some, such as pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems, are at <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/specific-groups/high-risk/index.html">greater risk</a> of getting sick from animals. So, it’s important to know the risks and take necessary precautions to prevent infections.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-what-bugs-can-you-catch-from-your-pets-40954">Health Check: what bugs can you catch from your pets?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>What diseases can pets carry?</h2>
<p>Infectious diseases that move from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases or <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/onehealth/basics/zoonotic-diseases.html">zoonoses</a>. More than <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3668296/#B18">70 pathogens</a> of companion animals are known to be transmissible to people.</p>
<p>Sometimes, a pet that has a zoonotic pathogen may look sick. But often there may be no visible symptoms, making it easier for you to catch it, because you don’t suspect your pet of harbouring germs.</p>
<p>Zoonoses can be transmitted directly from pets to humans, such as through contact with saliva, bodily fluids and faeces, or indirectly, such as through contact with contaminated bedding, soil, food or water. </p>
<p>Studies suggest <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500695/">the prevalence of pet-associated zoonoses is low</a>. However, the true number of infections is likely <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/11/3789">underestimated</a> since many zoonoses are not “<a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/notification-of-illness-and-disease">notifiable</a>”, or may have multiple exposure pathways or generic symptoms. </p>
<p>Dogs and cats are major reservoirs of zoonotic infections (meaning the pathogens naturally live in their population) caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. <a href="https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/rabies">In endemic regions in Africa and Asia</a>, dogs are the main source of rabies which is transmitted through saliva. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-the-rabies-virus-28654">Explainer: the rabies virus</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Dogs also commonly carry <em>Capnocytophaga</em> bacteria <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/capnocytophaga/index.html">in their mouths and saliva</a>, which can be transmitted to people through close contact or bites. The vast majority of people won’t get sick, but these bacteria can occasionally cause infections in people with weakened immune systems, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/capnocytophaga/signs-symptoms/index.html">resulting</a> in severe illness and sometimes death. Just last week, such a death <a href="https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/tracy-ridout-perth-mum-dies-11-days-after-rare-bacterial-infection-from-minor-dog-bite-c-11748887">was reported in Western Australia</a>.</p>
<p>Cat-associated zoonoses include a number of illnesses spread by the faecal-oral route, such as giardiasis, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis and toxoplasmosis. This means it’s especially important to wash your hands or use gloves whenever handling your cat’s litter tray.</p>
<p>Cats can also sometimes transmit infections through bites and scratches, including the aptly named <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/cat-scratch.html#:%7E:text=Cat%20scratch%20disease%20(CSD)%20is,the%20surface%20of%20the%20skin.">cat scratch disease</a>, which is caused by the bacterium <em>Bartonella henselae</em>.</p>
<p>Both dogs and cats are also reservoirs for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10122942/">methicillin-resistant bacterium <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em></a> (MRSA), with close contact with pets identified as an important risk factor for zoonotic transmission.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A woman with curly hair being licked in the face by a Staffordshire terrier" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/545415/original/file-20230829-27-mpgatg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dog saliva hosts a bacterium that can cause serious illness and even death in some people.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/girl-kissing-dog-breed-staffordshire-terrier-200987354">Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cats-carry-diseases-that-can-be-deadly-to-humans-and-its-costing-australia-6-billion-every-year-147910">Cats carry diseases that can be deadly to humans, and it's costing Australia $6 billion every year</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Birds, turtles and fish can also transmit disease</h2>
<p>But it’s not just dogs and cats that can spread diseases to humans. Pet birds can occasionally transmit <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/atypical/psittacosis/">psittacosis</a>, a bacterial infection which causes pneumonia. Contact with <a href="https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/pet-turtles-source-germs">pet turtles</a> has been linked to <em>Salmonella</em> infections in humans, particularly in young children. Even pet fish have been linked to a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/fish.html">range of bacterial infections</a> in humans, including vibriosis, mycobacteriosis and salmonellosis.</p>
<p>Close contact with animals – and some behaviours in particular – increase the risk of zoonotic transmission. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19398275/">A study from the Netherlands</a> found half of owners allowed pets to lick their faces, and 18% allowed dogs to share their bed. (Sharing a bed increases the duration of exposure to pathogens carried by pets.) The same study found 45% of cat owners allowed their cat to jump onto the kitchen sink.</p>
<p>Kissing pets has also been linked to occasional zoonotic infections in pet owners. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298380/">In one case</a>, a woman in Japan developed meningitis due to <em>Pasteurella multicoda</em> infection, after regularly kissing her dog’s face. These bacteria are often found in the oral cavities of dogs and cats.</p>
<p>Young children are also more likely to engage in behaviours which increase their risk of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/specific-groups/high-risk/children.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fhealthypets%2Fspecific-groups%2Fchildren.html">getting sick</a> from animal-borne diseases – such as putting their hands in their mouth after touching pets. Children are also less likely to wash their hands properly after handling pets.</p>
<p>Although anybody who comes into contact with a zoonotic pathogen via their pet can become sick, certain people are more likely to suffer from serious illness. These people include the young, old, pregnant and immunosuppressed.</p>
<p>For example, while most people infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite will experience only mild illness, it can be life-threatening or <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/what-are-the-risks-of-toxoplasmosis-during-pregnancy/">cause birth defects in foetuses</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A little blonde girl lying on the floor kissing a large blonde dog" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/546103/original/file-20230904-27-lzhdw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Young children under 5 years old are more at risk of zoonotic diseases, and also more likely to engage in behaviours that increase their chances of catching something from their pet.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What should I do if I’m worried about catching a disease from my pet?</h2>
<p>There are a number of good hygiene and pet husbandry practices that can reduce your risk of becoming sick. These include:</p>
<ul>
<li>washing your hands after playing with your pet and after handling their bedding, toys, or cleaning up faeces</li>
<li>not allowing your pets to lick your face or open wounds</li>
<li>supervising young children when they are playing with pets and when washing their hands after playing with pets</li>
<li>wearing gloves when changing litter trays or cleaning aquariums</li>
<li>wetting bird cage surfaces when cleaning to minimise aerosols</li>
<li>keeping pets out of the kitchen (especially cats who can jump onto food preparation surfaces) </li>
<li>keeping up to date with preventative veterinary care, including vaccinations and worm and tick treatments </li>
<li>seeking veterinary care if you think your pet is unwell.</li>
</ul>
<p>It is especially important for those who are at a higher risk of illness to take precautions to reduce their exposure to zoonotic pathogens. And if you’re thinking about getting a pet, ask your vet which type of animal would best suit your personal circumstances.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/one-in-three-people-are-infected-with-toxoplasma-parasite-and-the-clue-could-be-in-our-eyes-182418">One in three people are infected with _Toxoplasma_ parasite – and the clue could be in our eyes</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210898/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Animals, including the ones that live in our homes, can carry all kinds of illnesses. Most of the time it’s not a problem, but here’s what you should do to avoid getting sick.Sarah McLean, Lecturer in environmental health, Swinburne University of TechnologyEnzo Palombo, Professor of Microbiology, Swinburne University of TechnologyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2107242023-08-06T20:00:22Z2023-08-06T20:00:22ZHow climate change will affect your pet – and how to help them cope<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540802/original/file-20230802-27-obu6yg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=139%2C399%2C2301%2C2041&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Earth has just experienced its <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/27/scientists-july-world-hottest-month-record-climate-temperatures">hottest month</a> since records began and Australia is now gearing up for an El Niño-fuelled summer. Extreme heat isn’t just challenging for humans – it brings suffering to our beloved pets, too.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabireviews.2023.0020">Research</a> I was involved in examined how climate change affects the welfare of animals, including pets. My colleagues and I used a concept for assessing animal welfare known as the “<a href="https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-are-the-five-domains-and-how-do-they-differ-from-the-five-freedoms/">five-domains model</a>”. It’s a science-based structure for examining an animal’s:</p>
<ul>
<li>nutrition </li>
<li>environment </li>
<li>physical health </li>
<li>behaviour</li>
<li>mental state.</li>
</ul>
<p>The model evaluates the complete physiological and behavioural responses of animals to environmental stressors. While the effects of climate change on animals have been studied before, ours is the first study to apply the model to animal welfare specifically. </p>
<p>We examined the academic literature and found climate change will harm animals across all five welfare domains. This applies to both wild and domesticated animals, including pets. So let’s take a look at how various types of pets will fare in a warming world – and how we can help them.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="cat stands in front of fan" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540810/original/file-20230802-25-fbsq5u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540810/original/file-20230802-25-fbsq5u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540810/original/file-20230802-25-fbsq5u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540810/original/file-20230802-25-fbsq5u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540810/original/file-20230802-25-fbsq5u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540810/original/file-20230802-25-fbsq5u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540810/original/file-20230802-25-fbsq5u.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Extreme heat isn’t just challenging for humans – our pets may suffer, too.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Fish</h2>
<p>Fish are “ectotherms” – that is, they use external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. So pet fish are vulnerable to changes in the water temperature of your home aquarium, which may occur during a heatwave.</p>
<p>Extreme water temperatures can cause physical harm to fish. For example, it can increase a fish’s metabolic rate – meaning it <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/feeling-the-heat-warming-oceans-drive-fish-into-cooler-waters">needs more oxygen</a> to breathe . It can also <a href="https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/ON/article/view/4331">cause changes</a> such as slowed growth and reduced feeding.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/other-pets/caring-for-your-pet-fish">official advice</a>, water in an indoor aquarium should generally be kept at between 20°C and 25°C (unless you are keeping tropical fish).</p>
<p>Depending on your budget and aquarium size, you could opt to use a device to control the water temperature. Either way, it’s important to monitor the water temperature regularly. </p>
<p>Also make sure the aquarium isn’t located near a window where it’s exposed to direct sunlight.</p>
<p>Leaving your aquarium unattended for days or weeks in summer can be dangerous, due to the risk of heatwaves. If you’re going on a summer holiday, consider organising a <a href="https://www.thesprucepets.com/holiday-and-vacation-fish-care-and-feeding-1378525#:%7E:text=If%20you%20are%20going%20on,aquarium%20and%20can%20prove%20lethal">fish sitter</a> to check on the animal regularly.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="aquarium in lounge room" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540804/original/file-20230802-17-t69u4d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540804/original/file-20230802-17-t69u4d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540804/original/file-20230802-17-t69u4d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540804/original/file-20230802-17-t69u4d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540804/original/file-20230802-17-t69u4d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540804/original/file-20230802-17-t69u4d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540804/original/file-20230802-17-t69u4d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Consider hiring a ‘fish sitter’ while you’re holidaying.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Birds</h2>
<p>Heat stress can change the <a href="https://www.vetexotic.theclinics.com/article/S1094-9194(16)00003-7/fulltext">physiology</a> of birds. For example, research into a wild population of small Australian robins showed during a heatwave, the birds <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jav.02355">lost body mass</a> and abandoned their nests, and some died. </p>
<p>Heat stress can also cause <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327604jaws0101_5">abnormal behaviour in pet birds</a> such as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1828051X.2016.1195711?src=recsys">feather picking</a>, when one bird repeatedly pecks at the feathers of another.</p>
<p>In hot weather, regularly check your bird’s cage to make sure it’s clean and stocked with food and water. If the bird is in an outdoor cage or aviary, ensure it is shaded. And a shallow bird bath will help your feathered friend cool off. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/wild-bird-feeding-surged-worldwide-during-lockdowns-thats-good-for-people-but-not-necessarily-for-the-birds-210628">Wild bird feeding surged worldwide during lockdowns. That's good for people, but not necessarily for the birds</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="four green birds perch on branch" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540807/original/file-20230802-17-3m546p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540807/original/file-20230802-17-3m546p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540807/original/file-20230802-17-3m546p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540807/original/file-20230802-17-3m546p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=391&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540807/original/file-20230802-17-3m546p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=492&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540807/original/file-20230802-17-3m546p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=492&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540807/original/file-20230802-17-3m546p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=492&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Ensure aviaries are shaded from the sun.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Dogs</h2>
<p>Dogs and cats can suffer on hot days. That’s especially true if they are:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ejmanager.com/mnstemps/100/100-1626960667.pdf?t=1657722662">older or overweight</a></li>
<li>have thick coats</li>
<li>have short snouts/flat faces (which restricts air flow and makes it harder for them to cool down).</li>
</ul>
<p>Heat stress can cause <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.742926/full?&utm_source=Email_to_ae_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e2_editor&utm_campaign=Email_publication&journalName=Frontiers_in_Veterinary_Science&id=742926">canine hyperthermia</a>, which means the dog’s body temperature becomes dangerously hot. </p>
<p>Watch for <a href="https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/teaching-and-research/fact-files/heatstroke-in-dogs-and-cats#:%7E:text=Early%20signs%20of%20heatstroke%20in%20pet%20animals&text=Panting%2C%20this%20can%20progress%20to,Red%20gums%20or%20tongue">early warning signs</a> of heat stress such as excessive panting and erratic movements. These symptoms can quickly escalate, leading to heat stroke and possible death.</p>
<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34828033/">More than 80%</a> of dog owners report exercising their dogs less vigorously, or for shorter periods, during hot weather. That can help avoid heat-related illness. But don’t reduce your dog’s activity levels too much, as that may lead to other health problems. Just time the walks to avoid the heat of the day. </p>
<p>Refrain from leaving dogs unattended in vehicles, because they can easily overheat. In fact, it’s better to leave your dog inside home on a hot day, as long as they have a cool place to rest and plenty of water – perhaps even with ice cubes in it. And dogs love to cool off in a kiddie pool or under a sprinkler.</p>
<p>If you take your dog out on a hot day, <a href="https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/dogs/health/heat-and-pets#:%7E:text=Be%20aware%20of%20the%20signs,not%20icy%20water%20and%20fanned">carry</a> a container of fresh, cool water for them. And don’t forget to slip-slop-slap: apply a sparing amount of pet sunscreen to your dogs’ exposed pink skin such as ear tips and nose.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="dog lies in large bucket" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540805/original/file-20230802-25-wqyian.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/540805/original/file-20230802-25-wqyian.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540805/original/file-20230802-25-wqyian.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540805/original/file-20230802-25-wqyian.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540805/original/file-20230802-25-wqyian.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540805/original/file-20230802-25-wqyian.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/540805/original/file-20230802-25-wqyian.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Watch for early signs of heat stress in your pet.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Cats</h2>
<p>Like other animals, cats can overheat in hot weather. Symptoms include panting heavily, drooling and a rapid pulse. Like with other animals, if you suspect your cat is suffering from heatstroke, call a vet immediately.</p>
<p>Climate change and associated heat and floods is likely to aid the spread of parasites and illness <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2022/12/31/guess-whos-loving-climate-change-mosquitos-and-the-pathogens-they-carry/?sh=50654683174a">including</a> tick-borne diseases, <a href="https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70213352">flea</a> infestations and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32145530/">heartworm</a>. This puts both cats and dogs at risk.</p>
<p>In hot weather, the advice for cat owners is similar to that of dog owners: ensure your cat has plenty of shade and water, and put pet sunscreen on their ear tips and noses, especially if the cat is white.</p>
<p>If possible, keep the cat inside during the hottest part of the day. Ensure at least one room is cool and ventilated. And in a heatwave, play with your cat either in the early morning or evening, when the temperature has cooled.</p>
<h2>A helping human hand</h2>
<p>While humans have the capacity to understand and prepare for climate change, pets will need our help to cope. This includes not just the pets listed above, but others too, including reptiles, guinea pigs and rabbits.</p>
<p>As heatwaves and other extreme weather events become more common, the onus is on us to keep our pets safe.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-cats-and-dogs-affect-the-climate-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-206812">How cats and dogs affect the climate -- and what you can do about it</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210724/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Edward Narayan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>New research shows climate change will harm animal welfare – including your pet.Edward Narayan, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2068122023-06-05T16:11:37Z2023-06-05T16:11:37ZHow cats and dogs affect the climate – and what you can do about it<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530059/original/file-20230605-25-wur8h3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=975%2C386%2C4035%2C3346&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Are dogs as polluting as private jets?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dogwalker-spending-time-three-dogs-urban-1045710715">elbud/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>According to Patrick Hanson, the CEO of <a href="https://www.luxaviation.com/">Luxaviation</a>, a Luxembourg-based luxury airline firm, having pets can be just as polluting as travelling by private jet. In defence of his own industry, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d5845324-8355-4509-b90e-2b2d0681da7b">he declared recently</a> that one of his company’s customers produces around 2.1 tonnes of CO₂ each year, roughly the same emissions as three pet dogs. This comparison draws on a <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-calculate-the-carbon-footprint-of-everything-j98nbv9jm">calculation</a> made in 2020 by carbon-footprint researcher Mike Berners-Lee.</p>
<p>The environmental impact of pets is often overlooked. But <a href="https://www.gfk.com/insights/mans-best-friend-global-pet-ownership-and-feeding-trends">more than half of people</a> worldwide have a pet in their home, and this number is rising. As of 2023, pet ownership in the US reached <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/">66% of households</a>, an increase from 56% in 1988. </p>
<p>So, how much should we worry about the harm our pets are doing to the environment? </p>
<p>Both cats and dogs can harm wild animal populations. They <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/are-cats-causing-bird-declines/">hunt and kill birds and other creatures</a>, while they also <a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-05-ecological-pawprint-domestic-dogs-greater.html">chase and harass wild animals</a>. However, perhaps the most concerning aspect of owning pets is the climate impact of the food they eat.</p>
<p>The environmental footprint of our animal companions can vary significantly and is influenced by factors including their size, how many we own and their diet. Choosing nutritionally balanced food with lower meat content will typically reduce emissions. But, just like other aspects of consumption, we must consider our choice of pets and how to feed them to minimise their climate impact.</p>
<h2>Pet food’s uncertain impact</h2>
<p>Animal byproducts (such as lungs, hearts, livers or kidneys) are frequently used in pet food due to their low cost and ability to provide appropriate nutrition. Poultry byproducts, for instance, have been identified as the largest ingredient in both <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-22631-0">dry and wet commercial pet food diets</a>.</p>
<p>How the environmental impact of these byproducts is accounted for is therefore crucial. But published research on the environmental impact of pet food is limited. And even then, some of these studies have produced questionable results.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-22631-0">One study</a>, published last year, suggested that feeding a 10kg dog (roughly the size of a standard <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/dachshund">Dachshund</a>) wet food is associated with the equivalent of 6,541kg of CO₂ emissions each year. This equates to 98% of the total emissions of an average Brazilian citizen. By contrast, a dry food diet for the same dog would result in emissions equivalent to 828kg of CO₂.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A Dachshund running towards the camera." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530060/original/file-20230605-8235-h1ffh9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530060/original/file-20230605-8235-h1ffh9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530060/original/file-20230605-8235-h1ffh9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530060/original/file-20230605-8235-h1ffh9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530060/original/file-20230605-8235-h1ffh9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530060/original/file-20230605-8235-h1ffh9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530060/original/file-20230605-8235-h1ffh9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Your pet’s diet also contributes to climate change.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dachshund-exercise-685697788">NORRIE3699/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In 2017, another study produced equally alarming results. This study revealed that the emissions stemming from the production of dry cat and dog food in the US amounted to <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0181301">between 25% and 30%</a> of the emissions associated with animal products consumed by all US citizens.</p>
<p>Both of these studies attribute environmental impacts to animal byproducts as if they were human-grade meat. This assumption allows available meat emissions factors to be used, but creates double-counting as the livestock emissions have been attributed to the human-grade meat they produce and not to the combination of meat and animal byproducts.</p>
<h2>Rethinking this approach</h2>
<p>A more balanced approach is to allocate the emissions associated with meat and byproducts using the relative economic value of the different products. The impact of the whole animal is recalculated and different values are assigned to the meat and the byproduct. It also slightly lowers the emissions associated with the meat, to give the same emissions for the livestock animal. Byproducts generally have a lower economic value, thereby leading to lower emissions per kilogram allocated to them when compared to meat.</p>
<p>Using this approach, the food emissions of a 10kg dog would be the equivalent of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378020307366">240kg of CO₂ emissions per year</a>. Scaled up for an <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0181301">average 22kg dog</a>, that’s 530kg of CO₂ emissions each year. This is smaller than, but relatively close to, Berners-Lee’s <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d5845324-8355-4509-b90e-2b2d0681da7b">770kg a year calculation</a>.</p>
<p>But even with the lower emissions that result from this approach, the environmental footprint of pet food is still considerable. Globally, the production of dry pet food accounts for between <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378020307366">1.1% and 2.9%</a> of agricultural emissions, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378020307366">up to 1.2%</a> of agricultural land use and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378020307366">roughly 0.4%</a> of agricultural water extraction. This equates to an environmental footprint about twice the land area of the UK, with greenhouse gas emissions that would rank as the 60th-highest emitting country. While substantial, it’s worth noting that this is still only around one-tenth of <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions-from-aviation">global aviation emissions</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A dog eating dry food." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530085/original/file-20230605-23-ym3f5q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530085/original/file-20230605-23-ym3f5q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530085/original/file-20230605-23-ym3f5q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530085/original/file-20230605-23-ym3f5q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530085/original/file-20230605-23-ym3f5q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530085/original/file-20230605-23-ym3f5q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530085/original/file-20230605-23-ym3f5q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dry pet food production generates a level of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the 60th highest emitting country in the world.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dry-food-dog-177594395">successo images/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Reducing the environmental burden</h2>
<p>There is also substantial variability in the size of our pets, especially when it comes to dogs. While a large <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/mastiff">Mastiff</a> could weigh 80kg, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/Chihuahua-dog">Chihuahua</a> could weigh more than 30 times less, resulting in significantly lower dietary requirements. </p>
<p>Such variability means simplified carbon footprint comparisons between activities like owning dogs and flying on a private jet <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/comparing-carbon-footprint-private-jets-owning-pets-waste-time-2373116">may not be helpful</a>. But in any case there are several things we can do to reduce the environmental footprint of our pets.</p>
<p>Reducing the quantity of pet food required is a good start. By moving towards smaller breeds, we can keep the benefits of pet ownership while reducing the environmental burden. Feeding your pet <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322010985?via%3Dihub">the appropriate amount</a> would also help to restrict demand for pet food – and also tackle pet obesity.</p>
<p>The type of food we give to our pets is equally important. Current trends towards the <a href="https://ga-petfoodpartners.co.uk/knowledge-centre/the-humanisation-of-pet-food/">humanisation of pet foods</a> (where products more closely resemble human food) or feeding them <a href="https://theconversation.com/should-you-feed-your-pet-raw-meat-the-real-risks-of-a-traditional-dog-diet-90271">raw meat</a> are likely to increase the environmental impact of owning pets. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Tabby cat rearing up to reach a feeding dish containing raw meat." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530064/original/file-20230605-15-adxppi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530064/original/file-20230605-15-adxppi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530064/original/file-20230605-15-adxppi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530064/original/file-20230605-15-adxppi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530064/original/file-20230605-15-adxppi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530064/original/file-20230605-15-adxppi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530064/original/file-20230605-15-adxppi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The type of food we give our pets matters.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/tabby-cat-rearing-reach-feeding-dish-1669099855">Nils Jacobi/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-living/sustainable-eco-friendly-dog-food/">Sustainable pet food brands</a> – of which there are now many – and brands that incorporate <a href="https://theconversation.com/insect-protein-dish-of-the-day-for-your-environmentally-friendly-pet-110105">innovative ingredients such as insects</a> offer a more environmentally conscious approach. These pet foods have a reduced meat content, particularly of ruminant meat (grazing mammals like cattle), and include plant-based ingredients. But it’s essential to consider <a href="https://theconversation.com/eating-insects-can-be-good-for-the-planet-europeans-should-eat-more-of-them-190042">what the insects eat</a> to ensure the overall environmental cost is reduced.</p>
<p>Claims comparing pets to private jets may oversimplify the issue, especially when there is contention over what each activity could mean. But caring for our pets does contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions (alongside the other environmental impacts of owning pets) must be considered when we decide which pets to own and how to feed them.</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="Imagine weekly climate newsletter" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/434988/original/file-20211201-21-13avx6y.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong><em>Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?</em></strong>
<br><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/newsletters/imagine-57?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=Imagine&utm_content=DontHaveTimeTop">Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead.</a> Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. <a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/newsletters/imagine-57?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=Imagine&utm_content=DontHaveTimeBottom">Join the 10,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.</a></em></p>
<hr><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206812/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Peter Alexander receives funding from UKRI and ERC.</span></em></p>The environmental pawprint of pets is huge – and it’s mostly down to what we feed them.Peter Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Global Food Security, The University of EdinburghLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2049942023-05-08T17:49:50Z2023-05-08T17:49:50ZFor better or worse, your dog’s behaviours can impact your quality of life<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524736/original/file-20230506-8275-jps8ww.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C4500%2C2997&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">There are associations between interactions with dogs, personality characteristics, and owners' sense of well-being</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;" allowtransparency="" allow="clipboard-read; clipboard-write" src="https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/for-better-or-worse--your-dog-s-behaviours-can-impact-your-quality-of-life" width="100%" height="400"></iframe>
<p>I became interested in research about dogs because of my close connection with my first pet Pantro, a friendly and energetic cocker spaniel. Pantro was the perfect fit for me, for being great company for long walks while also being calm and independent when left alone. However, his behavioural issues were challenging on several occasions.</p>
<p>I have spent over a decade researching the unique connection that dog owners have with our beloved pets. As a researcher in the human-animal interactions field, I studied how other pet owners dealt with both positive and challenging dog behaviours.</p>
<h2>Benefits and challenges</h2>
<p>Dog ownership has several benefits for people’s <a href="https://doi.org/10.29173/cjfy29454">psychological and physical health</a>. However, relationships with dogs are complex and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2023.0011">can involve some conflicts</a>. Undesired dog behaviours such as aggression and barking are <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091053">the leading reason people give up their dogs</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2020.04.003">Behavioural issues in dogs can cause distress</a> by requiring extra time for training, issues when exercising the pet and limitations related to where to go with the dog and increased stress. </p>
<p>More studies are needed to understand how to prevent the deterioration of the relationship shared with the dog when owners face undesired dog behaviours.</p>
<p>As a part of my PhD studies and alongside the researchers Christine Tardif-Williams, Shannon Moore and Patricia Pendry, <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/10464/17779">I conducted three studies between 2018 to 2023</a>. My goal was to further understand not only what factors improve the quality of the relationship between people and dogs, but also what happens when relationships with dogs become stressful.</p>
<h2>Personality, attachment and well-being</h2>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="a dog sits on the road with greenery in the background" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=902&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=902&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=902&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1134&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1134&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524774/original/file-20230507-149621-ulnz8a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1134&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The author’s dog Pantro, a cocker spaniel.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Eduardo Simão)</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In my first study, 401 participants aged between 17 and 25 years old completed a series of questionnaires about their personality, their dog’s personality and their attachment towards the dog. The participants also responded to questions related to their well-being, such as their sense of connectedness and levels of stress. This was to assess the extent to which personality characteristics and attachment are linked to young adults’ well-being.</p>
<p>I found that aspects related to young people’s personality, as well as factors related to their attachment towards the dog are key to understand young people’s well-being in the context of dog ownership. For instance, avoidant and anxious canine behaviour were associated with poorer well-being among young people, which was not a surprise.</p>
<p>Such a finding supports <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14050490">past</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2019.1621516">studies</a> by highlighting that the quality of the emotional connections between dog owners and their dogs can have an impact on people’s well-being. Therefore, living with a dog will not necessarily positively impact people’s well-being, unless there is a positive emotional connection in the relationship shared with the dog.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/dogs-may-reflect-their-owners-stress-levels-finds-research-118368">Dogs may reflect their owners' stress levels, finds research</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The study’s findings also emphasize links between young people’s personality and their well-being, but not between the dog’s personality and participants’ well-being. Characteristics related to young people’s personality seem to be more relevant than aspects related to their dog’s personality to explain well-being among young dog owners.</p>
<h2>Quality of life</h2>
<p>The second study involved 131 participants and focused on dog owners’ emotions when managing stressful and undesired dog behaviours. As expected, undesired behaviours displayed by dogs were associated with poorer sense of quality of life in the context of dog ownership. More specifically, stress and responsibility of dog ownership and poorer emotional quality of life were linked to situations such as dog aggression and excessive barking.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="a woman sits on the edge of the bed with her head in her hands surrounded by a mess. a small dog seated in front of her is looking up at her" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/524775/original/file-20230507-15-mxd10j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Undesired behaviours in dogs are associated with poorer quality of life in the context of dog ownership.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Coping with pet behaviour</h2>
<p>The third study involved interviews with seven dog owners between 17 and 26 years of age. Participants were asked about their perceptions, feelings and coping styles when the dog misbehaves to explore how young dog owners cope with challenging dog behaviours.</p>
<p>The interviews revealed that participants’ coping styles and emotions vary, but overall, they were able to manage challenging and stressful situations with their dogs. The findings suggest a preference for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2023.0011">more proactive coping styles</a>, mostly focused on positive reinforcement and work with trainers, when needed.</p>
<p>At the same time, participants discussed the importance of physical and emotional connections, as well as synchrony in the relationship shared with their dogs. Synchrony refers to mutual adjustments in the dog’s and owner’s behaviours that result in feelings of being “tuned” in to each other during daily interactions.</p>
<p>For example, participants described how their dogs adjust their behaviours to different family members by being more playful with some while being more respectful with family members that are perceived by the dog as more authoritative. A dog’s ability to do so seems crucial to create a positive and harmonic interaction with different people living with the dog.</p>
<h2>What this means</h2>
<p>My research findings illuminate <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/10464/17779">some of the factors associated with both positive and challenging relationships</a> between young people and their dogs which might, in turn, support young people’s well-being. The results also clarify the link between behavioural issues in dogs, young people’s quality of life in the context of dog ownership, and coping styles used by dog owners when their dogs misbehave.</p>
<p>This holistic view on dog ownership indicates that, as happens in relationships with other people, pet owners’ connections with their dogs can also have ups and downs depending on their psychological state, their dogs’ behaviours and the environment.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/204994/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Renata Roma does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Companion dogs respond to their environments and their owners’ sense of well-being. When owners are stressed and anxious, dogs can exhibit undesirable behaviours.Renata Roma, Researcher, Child & Youth Studies, Brock UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1881702022-09-06T17:07:18Z2022-09-06T17:07:18ZFour ways to tell if your cat loves you – based on science<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480784/original/file-20220824-18-ajy6kp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=50%2C8%2C5557%2C3724&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/happy-cat-lovely-comfortable-sleeping-by-676724233">Nitiphonphat/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Even the most devoted cat owners wonder at some point, perhaps waking up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, whether their cat really loves them. Dog people like to smugly point out <a href="https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10065598/1/Martin_Anthropological%20Archaeology.pdf">dogs’ long history</a> as humankind’s best friend. </p>
<p>But research shows cats’ reputation as a cold and aloof pet is undeserved. </p>
<p>Because of their evolutionary ancestry, domestic cats are, by their nature, more
independent than dogs. The wild ancestors of our cats didn’t live in social groups as canines do. However, during the process of domestication, cats developed the ability to form <a href="https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1136/vr.f7278?saml_referr%20er">social relationships</a> not just with other cats, but also with people.</p>
<p>While they may not <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0135109">rely upon people</a> to feel safe as dogs do, many cats show affection towards their guardians and seem to highly value the company of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635716303424">their human companions</a>. Their <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/089279302786992702">attachment</a> to humans is partly influenced by their <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dev.22281">experiences of being handled</a> by people <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dev.22281">as a kitten</a>. </p>
<p>Cats behave towards humans in the same way that they respond to their feline friends, so the secret of whether your cat feels bonded to you lies in their behaviour.</p>
<h2>1. Look out for scenting</h2>
<p>The ability to communicate with other cats over long distances and when no longer
physically present was an advantage to <a href="https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/463206/">their wild ancestors</a>. Our pet cats have
retained this “supersense” and rely heavily on this <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0304376283901177">form of communication </a>. </p>
<p>In particular, cats <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195561602001286?via%3Dihub">use scent</a> to identify members of their <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15123163/">social group or family</a>, by sharing a group scent profile. Cats have scent glands on their flanks, head and around their ears, and often rub their heads against people and objects that are <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/3/298">familiar and comforting</a>.</p>
<p>Does your cat rub its head or side against your legs? The soft sensation you feel against your calves is actually your cat <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X18771203">identifying you as a friend</a> and is a huge compliment.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Kitten with its tail up" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480787/original/file-20220824-24-e1wia3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480787/original/file-20220824-24-e1wia3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=396&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480787/original/file-20220824-24-e1wia3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=396&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480787/original/file-20220824-24-e1wia3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=396&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480787/original/file-20220824-24-e1wia3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=498&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480787/original/file-20220824-24-e1wia3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=498&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480787/original/file-20220824-24-e1wia3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=498&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A cat walking towards you with its tail up is a good sign.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/kitty-tail-225201952">Miroslav Hlavko/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>2. Watch how they greet you</h2>
<p>One of the most obvious signs that your beloved pet is fond of you, is the way that your cat greets you. When cats greet members of their social group they show signals to indicate friendship and a desire to move closer. Cats also show these signals to humans. </p>
<p>A tail held in the upright flagpole position shows a
friendly intention (the feline equivalent of a wave), indicating <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/3/298">familiarity,
trust, and affection</a>. Some cats also use an upright question mark shaped tail to <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Sense-Feline-Enigma-Revealed/dp/0241960452/ref=asc_df_0241960452/?tag=googshopuk-21&&linkCode=df0&&hvadid=310867999190&&hvpos=&&hvnetw=g&&hvrand=6336591205490181702&&hvpone=&&hvptwo=&&hvqmt=&&hvdev=c&&hvdvcmdl=&&hvlocint=&&hvlocphy=9045619&&hvtargid=pla-466195438793&&psc=1&&th=1&&psc=1">greet someone they like,</a> or to motion that they want to play.</p>
<p>Cats sometimes <a href="https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Decoding-Cat-Ultimate-Experts-Explain-Common/30968807683/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-UK_Shopp_Tradestandard-_-product_id=UK9780358566045USED-_-keyword=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0oyYBhDGARIsAMZEuMuskXOKgchnNG49CDt_BzmuGgtqOwdEcnMJwRsvwx6neqqRevj8zGYaAkEKEALw_wcB">intertwine their tails </a> as a sign of friendship and
the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159114002779">human equivalent</a> of this is to wrap their tail around your calf.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Owner pats cat as it rubs against their legs" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480789/original/file-20220824-16-go3875.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480789/original/file-20220824-16-go3875.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480789/original/file-20220824-16-go3875.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480789/original/file-20220824-16-go3875.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480789/original/file-20220824-16-go3875.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480789/original/file-20220824-16-go3875.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480789/original/file-20220824-16-go3875.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/domestic-life-pet-cat-welcome-his-1334629826">Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Rolling over and exposing their vulnerable under belly is another gesture that a cat has ultimate trust in you. However cats prefer to be petted on the head and neck area, so this is not usually a request for a belly rub. </p>
<p>Attempts to stroke a cat’s belly will often result in a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1016/j.jfms.2009.09.011">hasty retreat, or even claws</a>. The chirrup or trill greeting is a melodious sound that cats make when saying hello to preferred individuals. So if your cat sings to you in this way, be assured they are pleased to see you. </p>
<p>That familiar feeling when your cat hits the back of your knee can also be a sign that they feel an extremely close bond to you. The feline version of a high-five, the head bump is usually saved for a cat’s closest feline friends and most trusted humans.</p>
<h2>3. Look for blinks</h2>
<p>Your cat might also be secretly signalling their affection in the way they look at you. When cats encounter strange humans or other cats they don’t know, they usually greet them with an unblinking stare. But they are more likely to slowly blink at cats they have a good relationship with. </p>
<p>Research suggests slow blinks are associated with a positive emotional state and can be a sign of trust, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-73426-0">contentment and affection</a>, similar to a human smile. If you wish to return the compliment, blink and your cat might blink back. This is nice a way to bond with your cat if they aren’t keen on being touched.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Cat shows belly" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480791/original/file-20220824-16-xwjqpt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480791/original/file-20220824-16-xwjqpt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480791/original/file-20220824-16-xwjqpt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480791/original/file-20220824-16-xwjqpt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480791/original/file-20220824-16-xwjqpt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480791/original/file-20220824-16-xwjqpt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480791/original/file-20220824-16-xwjqpt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/beautiful-shorthaired-young-cat-sleeping-belly-1802886784">YRABOTA/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>4. They get up close</h2>
<p>Cats are very protective of their personal space and <a href="https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0168159199000301?token=B1C25B7B05%204DBACC04EA0BD9C2361E3EE796A686A4EDB45E6FA4BFB13A8FF623947CE59732A3%20C0CEE2498B38B69F739D&originRegion=eu-west-%201&originCreation=20220822094911">don’t like unwelcome guests</a> to invade it. If a cat allows you to get close to them, that suggests a close bond, particularly where the contact is frequent or long lasting. </p>
<p>Curling up on your lap for a nap is a sign of deep trust. Grooming only happens between cats with a warm relationship, so licking your hand or face can be a show of endearment, even though those barbed tongues may not feel all that gentle.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188170/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emily Blackwell receives funding from Cats Protection and Waltham Petcare Science Institute. </span></em></p>Science has some clues about whether or not your cat feels more than cupboard love for you.Emily Blackwell, Senior Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, University of BristolLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1781122022-03-21T15:14:58Z2022-03-21T15:14:58ZWould you bring your dog to a shop? Why retailers should be more pet-friendly<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451047/original/file-20220309-25-1swexql.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=150%2C110%2C6559%2C4355&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/happy-couple-their-puppy-buying-pet-1900781962">hedgehog94 / Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Pandemic pets have taken the world by storm. At least <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56362987">3.2 million households</a> reportedly acquired a pet during the first year of COVID. Young people made up the majority of new owners, with more than half of the new pet owners aged between 16 and 34.</p>
<p>Online shopping with your pooch curled up at your feet is one thing, but would you bring your pet to a store? Retailers hoping to lure young people back to bricks-and-mortar shops should consider letting them bring their animal companions.</p>
<p>British homeware chain <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60317544">Wilko</a> announced that customers may now shop inside 248 of their stores with their animal companions. Pets are allowed in all areas of the stores except for food aisles – a sensible compromise. </p>
<p>But is Wilko barking up the wrong tree? Some unhappy shoppers have raised concerns about hygiene, phobias and badly-behaved pets. While these are legitimate concerns, I would argue they are outweighed by the potential emotional, experiential and commercial benefits of allowing people to shop with their pooches.</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="Quarter life, a series by The Conversation" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451343/original/file-20220310-13-1bj6csd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><em>Working to make a difference in the world but struggling to save for a home. Trying to live sustainably while dealing with mental health issues. For those of us in our twenties and thirties, these are the kinds of problems we deal with every day. <strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/quarter-life-117947?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=UK+YP2022&utm_content=InArticleTop">This article is part of Quarter Life</a></strong>, a series that explores those issues and comes up with solutions.</em></p>
<p><em>More articles:</em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/body-image-issues-affect-close-to-40-of-men-but-many-dont-get-the-support-they-need-179046?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=UK+YP2022&utm_content=InArticleTop">Body image issues affect close to 40% of men – but many don’t get the support they need</a></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/news-of-war-can-impact-your-mental-health-heres-how-to-cope-178734?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=UK+YP2022&utm_content=InArticleTop">News of war can impact your mental health — here’s how to cope</a></em></p>
<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-your-colleagues-affect-your-home-life-and-vice-versa-175889?utm_source=TCUK&utm_medium=linkback&utm_campaign=UK+YP2022&utm_content=InArticleTop">How your colleagues affect your home life and vice versa</a></em></p>
<hr>
<p>Research shows that social benefit is often identified as a key <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-4359(03)00007-1">motivation</a> of retail shopping. Its importance can be explained with <a href="https://youtu.be/D7Xz_1Y1AYI">Maslow’s hierarchy of needs</a>, a theory from psychology that explains the connection between human needs and desires. Social shopping may fulfil some people’s need for love and belonging, or for esteem (for example, by being seen as part of the in-crowd at popular stores or high-end retailers like Harrods). Our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.1487">research</a> shows that the social experience of shopping through entertainment activities, is correlated with spending more time and money in shopping malls. </p>
<p>But <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2010.02.007">academic research</a> has focused mainly on socialising with humans – friends, family and store personnel. This definition is increasingly limited, as new forms of interactions are emerging in the retail sector, like between <a href="https://hbr.org/2020/10/what-robots-can-do-for-retail">humans and robots</a>. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesinsights/2019/07/09/what-millennials-want-when-they-shop-online/?sh=27d155814ed9">Reports suggest</a> that young people find online shopping more convenient, effortless and economical. But online shopping does not have the same <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJRDM-10-2020-0412/full/html">social benefit</a> as in-person shopping, especially when four-legged friends are taken into consideration. Recognising new forms of social shopping may be one way to bring people back to our high streets.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-19-is-giving-us-a-new-appreciation-for-physical-shops-154525">COVID-19 is giving us a new appreciation for physical shops</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Dogs are our family</h2>
<p>In many countries, the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-pets-are-family-the-benefits-extend-into-society-109179">definition</a> of “family” is not confined to humans, but also includes pets. With this in mind, is it not unjust to exclude our dogs from family activities like shopping? </p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.12.025">Another study</a> indicates that human-pet relationships are no less intimate or intense than human-human relationships. The anxiety or guilt we experience in having to leave our four-legged family behind while going shopping could be alleviated with completely pet-friendly stores, or specific hours when pets are allowed.</p>
<p>Disallowing people from shopping with their pets could even be seen as contributing to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consumer-vulnerability-challenges-and-potential-solutions/consumer-vulnerability-challenges-and-potential-solutions">consumer vulnerability</a>. This term broadly describes any situation in which a person is unable to engage effectively in a marketplace.</p>
<p>Shoppers do not take time to browse and explore in stores when they are driven by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-2963(99)00007-7">negative emotional states</a>. Shopping in a hurry, knowing one has to get back to their dog or cat at home, can cost stores sale opportunities and lead to shoppers making purchases too quickly and later returning for a <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/52d26de8-c0e6-11e5-846f-79b0e3d20eaf">refund</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Close up of a person typing on a computer with their credit card in one hand, and a ginger cat snuggling on their other arm" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451052/original/file-20220309-19-1pi9hel.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451052/original/file-20220309-19-1pi9hel.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451052/original/file-20220309-19-1pi9hel.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451052/original/file-20220309-19-1pi9hel.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451052/original/file-20220309-19-1pi9hel.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451052/original/file-20220309-19-1pi9hel.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451052/original/file-20220309-19-1pi9hel.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Our pets keep us company when we shop online, so why not in-person too?</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-typing-computer-keyboard-holding-creadit-1379180654">Konstantin Aksenov / Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Pet-friendly retail</h2>
<p>Allowing dogs and cats into stores could bring further economic benefits to brands. Pet-owners might spend more money buying accessories for their pets (a <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/revealed-how-much-dog-owners-9264401">lucrative</a> industry) or dining at a dog-friendly cafe. Plus, imagine the joy they’ll get from walking around a store with their furry friend and interacting with other animals. </p>
<p>It’s also an opportunity for retailers to trial pet-friendly merchandise, or special events to lure shopper traffic. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.1487">Research</a> suggests that events provide a source of entertainment to shoppers and in turn promote socialising and exploration at the stores. This leads to shoppers spending more time and more money with retailers. </p>
<p>It would be easy for retailers to mitigate concerns about hygiene, fears and messy pets. They could designate pet-friendly shopping hours, and design creative signs to set shoppers’ expectations: “When your pooch messes up, please clean up”, for example.</p>
<p>As more people welcome pets into their home, it would be a wise strategy for retailers to welcome them too. It could create new opportunities to do business, and encourage shoppers to stretch their legs (and their pets’ legs) on the high street.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178112/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kokho Jason Sit is affiliated with the Chartered Institute of Marketing. </span></em></p>Thousands of young people became pet owners during the pandemic - retailers should let them bring their furry friends to stores.Kokho Jason Sit, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, University of PortsmouthLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1767692022-02-24T13:54:01Z2022-02-24T13:54:01ZHow the presence of pets builds trust among people<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/447866/original/file-20220222-19-1ab9poz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C24%2C8164%2C6086&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Pet ownership can often enhance feelings of trust among strangers.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/seniors-friendly-talk-in-the-neighborhood-royalty-free-image/1055217100?adppopup=true"> FOTOGRAFIA INC./Collections E+ via Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Companion animals are a core part of family life in the United States, with <a href="https://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp">90 million American households</a> having at least one pet. Many of us view pets as beloved family members who provide nonjudgmental <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279309X12538695316149">emotional support and companionship during times of stress</a>. </p>
<p>That’s not all. Research shows our pets can also strengthen our relationships and trust with other people. In addition, pets contribute positively to trust in our broader social communities. </p>
<h2>Companion animals as social facilitators</h2>
<p>As many of us know, animals provide an avenue for approaching another person socially, serving as a conversational starting point for connection. Pet ownership alone could be a source of shared interest and knowledge, even among people who may not have similar interests otherwise. </p>
<p>Simply walking down the street with a dog can lead to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/000712600161673">significantly more social interactions</a> than walking without a dog. Assistance dogs can also facilitate these interactions. One study found that individuals using a wheelchair were more likely to be approached when their <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279388787058696">assistance animal was present</a>. </p>
<p>The presence of an animal can also enhance perceptions of trustworthiness and responsibility, which in turn fosters positive social interactions. Researchers found that people were <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/175303708X371564">more likely to help a stranger with a dog</a> than one without a dog, suggesting that the presence of an animal conferred perceptions of trust. </p>
<p>For children, interacting with a pet can also provide an additional opportunity to practice positive social interactions and <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/089279309X12538695316383">develop empathy</a> and <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/5/490/htm">compassion</a>. Recent research indicates that living with dogs is associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2021.1878680">better social and emotional skills for children</a>. In our own research at the <a href="http://sites.tufts.edu/tpawlab/">Tufts Pets and Well-Being Lab</a>, we also found that teenagers with high levels of attachment to their pets were likely to have higher <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2014.864205">levels of social skills and empathy toward others</a> than those without such attachments. </p>
<h2>Pets and social capital</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="A man walking his dog bends down to pet a woman's dog on a neighborhood street." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/447868/original/file-20220222-23-1jsr16x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/447868/original/file-20220222-23-1jsr16x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447868/original/file-20220222-23-1jsr16x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447868/original/file-20220222-23-1jsr16x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447868/original/file-20220222-23-1jsr16x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447868/original/file-20220222-23-1jsr16x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/447868/original/file-20220222-23-1jsr16x.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Two neighbors stop for a conversation while walking their dogs.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/living-with-pets-businessman-and-the-morning-dog-royalty-free-image/841762168?adppopup=true">Spiderplay/Collection E+ via Getty Images</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Pets have also been shown to foster social capital in communities. <a href="https://www.socialcapitalresearch.com/literature/definition/">Social capital</a> is a concept that encompasses the broader community and neighborhood networks of social relationships, and the degree to which the community has a culture of helping others. The trust inherent in these connections can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230287624_5">lead to better health and well-being</a>. </p>
<p>Interestingly, pet owners have consistently reported <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.05.002">higher levels of social capital in their communities than people without pets</a>, both in the United States and internationally. </p>
<p>In addition to social facilitation, pets can contribute to social capital by strengthening social trust within communities. Neighbors may rely on one another to assist with animal care, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.01.017">which builds reciprocal trust</a>. Pet owners’ use of shared spaces, such as dog parks or green spaces, can lead to better social relationships.</p>
<p>In spite of it, during the COVID-19 pandemic <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2022.2027093">dog owners were more likely than those without dogs to go for regular walks outdoors</a>, providing an opportunity for community engagement during a period of extreme social isolation. The presence of an animal has even been found to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2017.1270595">increase positive social interactions in the workplace</a>. </p>
<p>While evidence continues to support the idea that pets foster positive interactions between people, animals are not a universal solution for creating trust. There is still a lot we need to learn about the interrelated relationships between pets and people. </p>
<p>[<em>Get fascinating science, health and technology news.</em> <a href="https://memberservices.theconversation.com/newsletters/?nl=science&source=inline-science-fascinating">Sign up for The Conversation’s weekly science newsletter</a>.]</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/176769/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Megan K Mueller receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not represent the official views of the funders.</span></em></p>The presence of pets makes people seem more trustworthy, research has found. People are more likely to help a stranger with a dog or another pet than a person without one.Megan K Mueller, Associate Professor of Human-Animal Interaction, Tufts UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1687152021-10-26T21:21:57Z2021-10-26T21:21:57ZDog bites happen every day but urban pet policies can help prevent them<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427722/original/file-20211021-13-14oiykb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=64%2C0%2C1133%2C900&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">City of Calgary vehicles used to enforce dog rules and transport dogs.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Morgan Mouton)</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/animal-bites">World Health Organization</a> estimates that dogs bite tens of millions of people per year, mainly children. <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/injury-prevention/canadian-hospitals-injury-reporting-prevention-program/injury-reports.html">Canada</a>, meanwhile, has not published a report on dog-bite injuries in children and youth since 2003.</p>
<p>That <a href="https://www.dogbitelaw.com/images/pdf/CHIRPP_INJURY_BRIEF_DOG_BITE_update.pdf">2003 report</a> contained alarming information. Among infants and toddlers, for example, more than two-thirds required emergency treatment because dogs had bitten their faces, heads or necks. And more children between the ages of five and nine received emergency treatment for dog-bite injuries than for ice-hockey injuries. As for youth aged 10 through 14, dog-bite injuries accounted for more emergency department visits than trampolining. </p>
<p>Beyond health care, policies do exist to prevent dog-bite injuries and lessen their impact. The Calgary model hinges on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dau017">dog licensing</a>. <a href="https://www.calgary.ca/csps/abs/animal-services/responsible-pet-ownership-and-licenses.html">Calgarians currently pay</a> $42 to license a sterilized (spayed or neutered) dog, and $67 per unaltered dog. As of January 2022, these fees will increase by $1. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Diagram illustrating interactions between pet policies and human and animal welfare" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=565&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=565&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/428626/original/file-20211026-25-1r29n1w.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=565&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">How urban pet policies contribute to human and animal well-being.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Melanie Rock)</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Licensing augments traceability following dog-bite injuries, or after aggressive behaviour that stops short of dog-bite injuries (for example, chasing people in parks). People who purchase licences for their dogs contribute to society in other ways too. Due to its licensing program, Calgary has the highest return-to-owner rate and the lowest pet euthanization rate in North America, <a href="https://www.calgary.ca/csps/abs/animal-services/responsible-pet-ownership-and-licenses.html">according to the city’s department of animal services</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427033/original/file-20211018-15-12y9ehg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427033/original/file-20211018-15-12y9ehg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427033/original/file-20211018-15-12y9ehg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427033/original/file-20211018-15-12y9ehg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427033/original/file-20211018-15-12y9ehg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427033/original/file-20211018-15-12y9ehg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427033/original/file-20211018-15-12y9ehg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dog-catching equipment goes digital: Interior of a vehicle used to enforce dog rules and transport dogs in Calgary.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Morgan Mouton)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Our team’s previous research underscored that the potential for reunifications and for saving the lives of dogs impounded by the city has contributed to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2012.749343">buy-in with dog-licensing compliance in Calgary</a>. After all, few people anticipate that their pet dogs will attack other dogs or bite other people — not least children.</p>
<p>The Calgary model has influenced policy debates and decisions elsewhere. Examples include <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13604813.2021.1981026">Edmonton</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-021-00550-3">Montréal</a> and as far away as <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/SCEI/Dogs_Inquiry/DOGS_report.pdf">Australia</a>. At least fourin five dogs have licences in Calgary, compared with about two-thirds of <a href="https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/city-of-edmonton-updates-pet-registration-process-hopes-for-higher-numbers-1.1762605">Edmonton’s dogs</a>, and fewer than a third <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/01/11/pet_licences_would_you_tag_your_pooch_for_a_discount.html">in Toronto</a>.</p>
<p>Such stark differences translate into dog-bite prevention that is more effective and efficient <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13604813.2021.1981026">in Calgary than in Edmonton</a>, for instance. The more owners license their dogs, the quicker-biting dogs and their owners can be located — first in a database and then within a city. And the more people who license their dogs, the more money that a municipality can invest in human-animal services.</p>
<h2>Stella the Rottweiler</h2>
<p>The case of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13604813.2021.1981026">Stella the Rottweiler</a> illustrates the Calgary model for dog-bite prevention. Two dogs were fighting in a Calgary park, when one of the dogs bit the other dog’s companion. A bystander telephoned the city to report the incident. The bystander identified the biting dog as a Rottweiler called Stella. Within minutes, by consulting the city’s database for licensed dogs and their legal owners, a peace officer on patrol nearby could list addresses and owners for 17 Rottweilers named Stella.</p>
<p>After spotting a handful of potential matches, the officer reached the owner and issued fines for the dog-bite injury plus the dog fight, all the while recommending ways to stop dog-bite injuries from happening. Calgary’s database for licensed dogs allowed Stella the Rottweiler to be traced and this dog’s legal owner to be confronted and fined, all in a day’s work. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1401701002407866371"}"></div></p>
<p>Not all biting dogs and their owners can be traced so readily, not even in Calgary. For example, on June 6, 2021, at 6:42 p.m., <a href="https://twitter.com/CalgaryPolice/status/1401701002407866371">Calgary Police Services</a> turned to Twitter to warn residents about a dog and to seek assistance with finding this animal. The dog, described as a white pit bull, had “bitten two people and should be considered dangerous.” </p>
<p>Later that evening, at 9:39 p.m., <a href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/dangerous-pit-bull-on-the-loose-in-southwest-calgary-cps-1.5458955">CTV amplified this bulletin</a>. At 10:20 p.m., Calgary Police Services sent out an update via Twitter: the injured child had been “transported to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries,” but the dog still had “not been captured.” </p>
<p>When policy-makers (<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/columnists/dog-attacks-are-a-public-health-issue-and-should-be-treated-as-one/article30516631/">or journalists</a>) call for more ambitious dog-bite policies, they tend to highlight bans and restrictions based on dog breeds. This policy approach is often called <a href="https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/breed-specific-legislation-considerations-for-evaluating-its-effectiveness-and-recommendations-for-alternatives">breed-specific legislation</a>. This emphasis on dog breed is unsurprising, considering that media coverage of dog-bite injuries <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.03.001">tends to fixate on dogs described as pit bulls</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Orange sign with a white silhouette of a dog, reading 'vicious animal on premisies' " src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/427085/original/file-20211018-7324-q3oj55.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">City of Calgary vicious animal signage approved June 2021, effective January 2022.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(City of Calgary)</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Even so, terriers such as pit bulls were no more likely to bite people and cause serious injury than other types of dogs, including miniature or “toy” dogs, according to <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9060324">Calgary’s own dog-bite data</a>. Internationally, <a href="https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/dog-bites-attacks-research-review/">breed bans</a> have not consistently decreased <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208393">dog-bite frequency or severity</a>. By emphasizing dog licensing, dog welfare and a collaborative approach to public safety and enforcement, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.06.036">the Calgary model</a> has achieved recognition as a viable alternative.</p>
<p>Calgary’s experience in dog-bite prevention teaches us that while public discussion and media debates often focus on dog breed or type, policy implementation remains critical. For this reason, changes approved in June 2021 to Calgary’s <a href="https://newsroom.calgary.ca/responsible-pet-ownership-bylaw-update-passed-by-calgary-city-council/">Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw</a> may not be opportune. These changes emphasize stricter enforcement, without much consideration for licensing and traceability of dogs.</p>
<h2>Policy priorities</h2>
<p>In our view, government policies should address two key issues that remain neglected in dog-bite prevention. First, more should be done to improve co-ordination across sectors. During Calgary’s pet policy review, for instance, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/cem.2016.68">Alberta’s health-care records on dog-bite injuries</a> did not receive consideration, neither did <a href="https://doi.org/10.1503/cjs.005617">medical charts for children bitten by dogs</a>.</p>
<p>The second issue is social justice. Traceability is a key element for dog-bite prevention, and despite success stories such as “Stella the Rottweiler,” traceability is still sorely lacking. The unsuccessful search on June 6, 2021, for a “<a href="https://twitter.com/CalgaryPolice/status/1401701002407866371">white pit bull</a>” serves as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.03.001">but one tragic example</a>. Even so, traceability following aggressive incidents involving dogs — up to and including dog-bite injuries — is far better in Calgary than in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dau017">other cities</a> across Canada and internationally.</p>
<p><a href="https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/city-of-calgary-seeks-public-input-on-responsible-pet-ownership-bylaw-amendments-1.5069524">Calgary considered licensing subsidies</a> for low-income households with dogs while reviewing its Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, but has yet to pursue that policy option. That’s a shame, because in lower-income neighbourhoods, dog licensing might fall below Calgary’s enviable average. If so, then the children and families at highest risk for dog-bite injury and life-long trauma have the least protection. We suspect that traceability remains lowest in lower-income neighbourhoods under the Calgary model, but we cannot say for sure. That’s not due to a lack of data. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, Calgary’s pet policy review did not extend to the geographic and socio-economic distribution of dog-bite injuries and investigations, which could have informed the policy recommendations put before council in June 2021. </p>
<p>Fortunately, it’s not too late to look for geographic and socio-economic patterns in the dog-bite data held by Alberta Health Services, the City of Calgary and the Public Health Agency of Canada. And it’s not too late to hear directly from dog-bite victims and their families, people whose dogs have attacked or bitten others, citizens who report dog-bite injuries as well as concerns about dogs’ own welfare, and health-care professionals such as paramedics, pharmacists, physicians, psychologists, social workers and veterinarians. </p>
<p>Research like this can and should inform policy implementation, starting with Calgary. That would make the Calgary model for dog-bite policy and prevention worth emulating for years to come.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/168715/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Funders for the research underpinning this article include the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (CIHR).
</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>For this work, Morgan Mouton has been funded by the O'Brien Institute for Public Health and Cumming School of Medicine (University of Calgary). Previous funding sources include the French Ministry for Higher Education and Research, as well as the French National Research Agency.</span></em></p>Dogs bite people daily, especially young children. There is concern that disadvantaged families may suffer most. Dog-bite facts remain scarce because prevention has yet to become a policy priority.Melanie J Rock, Professor of Community Health Sciences, University of CalgaryMorgan Mouton, Associate researcher, Urban Planning and Geography, Université Gustave EiffelLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1662632021-09-12T20:03:55Z2021-09-12T20:03:55ZResearch reveals why pet owners keep their cats indoors – and it’s not to protect wildlife<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420255/original/file-20210909-16-1eeo7hq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C41%2C5499%2C3614&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Cat owners are urged to keep their pet indoors for a variety of reasons, including protecting wildlife and preventing the spread of disease. But <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.502">our research</a> has found an entirely different motivator for containing cats.</p>
<p>Concern for their cat’s safety is the primary reason people keep cats inside. And people who allow cats to roam are also motivated by concern for the animal’s well-being.</p>
<p>Keeping domestic cats properly contained is crucial to protecting wildlife. Cats are natural predators – even if they’re well fed. Research <a href="https://theconversation.com/one-cat-one-year-110-native-animals-lock-up-your-pet-its-a-killing-machine-138412">last year</a> found each roaming pet cat kills 186 reptiles, birds and mammals per year. </p>
<p>If we want more domestic cats kept indoors, it’s important to understand what motivates cat owners. Our research suggests messages about protecting wildlife are, on their own, unlikely to change cat owners’ behaviour.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="cat watches bird through window" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420391/original/file-20210910-15-7ffxzr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420391/original/file-20210910-15-7ffxzr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420391/original/file-20210910-15-7ffxzr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420391/original/file-20210910-15-7ffxzr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420391/original/file-20210910-15-7ffxzr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420391/original/file-20210910-15-7ffxzr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420391/original/file-20210910-15-7ffxzr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Cats are natural predators, and can kill many animals each year if left to roam.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Why keep your cat indoors?</h2>
<p>Cat containment involves confining the animals to their owners’ premises at all times.</p>
<p>In the Australian Capital Territory, <a href="https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/pets-and-wildlife/domestic-animals/cats/cat-containment">cat containment is mandatory</a> in several areas. From July next year, all new cats must be contained across the territory, unless on a leash. </p>
<p>In Victoria, about half of local councils have some form of cat containment legislation. Current revisions to <a href="https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/domestic-animals-act/registration-legislation-and-permits/domestic-animal-management-plans">Domestic Animal Management Plans</a> could mean the practice becomes more widespread.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/one-cat-one-year-110-native-animals-lock-up-your-pet-its-a-killing-machine-138412">One cat, one year, 110 native animals: lock up your pet, it's a killing machine</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Cats have long been part of human societies and play an important social role in their owners’ lives. But our affection for the animals means efforts to keep cats contained can be met with opposition. </p>
<p>Officials, conservation groups and others put forward a range of reasons for containing cats, including:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>preventing cats from spreading diseases and parasites such as toxoplasmosis to both <a href="https://theconversation.com/toxoplasma-cat-poo-parasite-infects-billions-so-why-is-it-so-hard-to-study-120688">people</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/toxoplasmosis-how-feral-cats-kill-wildlife-without-lifting-a-paw-32228">wildlife</a></p></li>
<li><p>reducing threats to wildlife, especially at night</p></li>
<li><p>reducing unwanted cat pregnancies</p></li>
<li><p>avoiding disputes with neighbours, including noise complaints, and cats defecating or spraying in garden beds and children’s sandpits</p></li>
<li><p>protecting cats from injury or death - such as being hit by a vehicle, attacked by dogs, snake bite and exposure to diseases and parasites.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>So which argument is most persuasive? Our research suggests it’s the latter.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/416933/original/file-20210819-25-1u51qbo.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/416933/original/file-20210819-25-1u51qbo.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416933/original/file-20210819-25-1u51qbo.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416933/original/file-20210819-25-1u51qbo.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=536&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416933/original/file-20210819-25-1u51qbo.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=673&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416933/original/file-20210819-25-1u51qbo.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=673&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416933/original/file-20210819-25-1u51qbo.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=673&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The Safe Cats Safe Wildlife campaign focuses on keeping cats safe.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Zoos Victoria.</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What we found</h2>
<p>We surveyed 1,024 people in Victoria – 220 of whom were cat owners.</p>
<p>We found 53% of cat owners did not allow roaming. These people were more likely to hold concerns about risks to cats’ safety than cat owners who allowed roaming. They were also less likely to believe cats have a right to roam. </p>
<p>Some 17% of cat owners allowed their cats unrestricted access to the outdoors day and night, while 30% contained their cats at night but allowed some unrestricted outdoor access during the day.</p>
<p>Both cat owners and other respondents generally believed cat owners should manage their pet’s roaming behaviour. But for cat owners, concern about harm to wildlife was not a significant predictor of containment behaviour. </p>
<p>Instead, people who keep their cats contained were more likely to be worried that their cat might be lost, stolen, injured or killed.</p>
<p>It’s not that cat owners don’t care about native animals - only about one in ten cat owners said they’d never seriously considered how their cat affects wildlife. But our survey results show this isn’t a big motivation for keeping cats indoors.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/416919/original/file-20210819-19-bv250y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/416919/original/file-20210819-19-bv250y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=319&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416919/original/file-20210819-19-bv250y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=319&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416919/original/file-20210819-19-bv250y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=319&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416919/original/file-20210819-19-bv250y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416919/original/file-20210819-19-bv250y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/416919/original/file-20210819-19-bv250y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">What Victorian cat owners are doing, based on our survey findings.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided.</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Roaming is dangerous</h2>
<p>A roaming lifestyle can be risky to cats. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/9/703">A 2019 study</a> of more than 5,300 Australian cat owners found 66% had lost a cat to a roaming incident such as a car accident or dog attack, or the cat simply going missing. </p>
<p>Despite the risks, people who let their cats roam are more likely to think the practice is better for the animal’s well-being – for example, that hunting is normal cat behaviour.</p>
<p>Owners who let their cat roam were more likely than those who contained their cat to believe their cat did not often hunt. While not all cats kill wildlife, those that do typically only bring home a small proportion of their catch. That means owners can be unaware of their cats’ impact.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/street-life-aint-easy-for-a-stray-cat-with-most-dying-before-they-turn-1-so-whats-the-best-way-to-deal-with-them-164796">Street life ain't easy for a stray cat, with most dying before they turn 1. So what's the best way to deal with them?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Cat owners must be made aware of the risks of roaming and equipped with the tools to keep their cats happy and safe <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716">at home</a>. Unfortunately, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612x19890189">research shows</a> many Australian cat owners are not providing the safe environment and stimulation their cat needs when contained.</p>
<p>Cat containment doesn’t have to mean keeping the animal permanently in the house – nor does it require building them a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-16/catio-protects-western-ringtail-possum-from-cats/12440316">Taj Mahal</a> on the patio.</p>
<p>Cats can be outside while supervised or walked on leash. You can also <a href="https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/cats/enclosures-and-fencing/cat-proof-fencing">cat-proof</a> your backyard fence to keep them in.</p>
<p>Resources such as <a href="http://www.safecat.org.au">Safe Cat Safe Wildlife</a> help owners meet their cat’s mental, physical and social needs while keeping them contained. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xOUKQDoseVQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Moonee Valley City Council partners with the <em>Safe Cats Safe Wildlife</em> campaign to promote responsible cat ownership.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Changing containment behaviour</h2>
<p>Our study shows cat containment campaigns can be more effective if messaging appeals to owners’ concern for their cats’ well-being. These messages could be delivered by trusted people <a href="https://youtu.be/wzqrMzQuZvs">such as vets</a>.</p>
<p>Helping owners understand that cats’ needs can be met in containment, and giving them the tools to achieve this, may be the best way to protect wildlife.</p>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-blame-cats-for-destroying-wildlife-shaky-logic-is-leading-to-moral-panic-138710">Demonising cats</a> is not the answer. The focus must shift to the benefits of containment for cats’ well-being if we hope to achieve a cat-safe and wildlife-safe future.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/ive-always-wondered-can-i-flush-cat-poo-down-the-toilet-159340">I've always wondered: can I flush cat poo down the toilet?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/166263/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Lily van Eeden works for the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research and is affiliated with ICON Science (RMIT University) and BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash University). </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emily McLeod works for Zoos Victoria, a not-for-profit zoo-based conservation organisation.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Fern Hames and Zoe Squires do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Roaming pet cats can kill more than 180 animals each year. But most people who keep cats inside do so for the welfare of their pet.Lily van Eeden, Postdoctoral research fellow, Monash UniversityEmily McLeod, PhD Candidate, Queensland University of TechnologyFern Hames, Director, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental ResearchZoe Squires, Policy Officer, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental ResearchLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1663312021-08-25T04:06:44Z2021-08-25T04:06:44ZAt home with your dog? 3 ways to connect and lift your spirits<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/417725/original/file-20210825-26-wgaq5b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=2%2C1%2C995%2C664&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/people-pet-together-1677424648">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>It may come as no surprise to dog owners in lockdown, but walking the dog can be the highlight of the day.</p>
<p>With exercise being one of the few reasons for leaving the house for millions of Australians, walking the dog clearly <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/1/240">benefits both dog owners</a> and their furry friends.</p>
<p>But walking the dog isn’t the only thing you can do to lift your spirits and <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0020764020944195">ease loneliness</a>. </p>
<p>Our <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/2104">study</a> found three things you can do at home with your dog to make you feel better, which your dog will probably love too.</p>
<h2>1. You can meditate with your dog</h2>
<p>Our study showed it helped to take time out to focus on your dog’s fur or the warmth of their body using “<a href="https://theconversation.com/mindfulness-meditation-in-brief-daily-doses-can-reduce-negative-mental-health-impact-of-covid-19-165163">mindfulness meditation</a>”.</p>
<p>This type of meditation involved people listening to a recording that guided them to activate their senses (for instance, touch) as a way of enhance their engagement with the task.</p>
<p>Dog owners who did this for seven minutes once a week or more felt relaxed, calm, enjoyed the process, said they felt more connected to their dog, and helped them focus on the present.</p>
<p>For many dog owners in our study, these effects also lasted for several minutes or hours after stopping the activity.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/mindfulness-meditation-in-brief-daily-doses-can-reduce-negative-mental-health-impact-of-covid-19-165163">Mindfulness meditation in brief daily doses can reduce negative mental health impact of COVID-19</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>If you want to try this for yourself, create a space in your home where you are not likely to be interrupted and turn off your phone. Sit comfortably on the floor, on a mat, cushion or blanket and invite your dog to come and sit next to you or on your lap. </p>
<p>Place one or two hands on your dog and sit up tall. Start by closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Be aware of your sense of touch and notice the sensations in your hand and fingertips. Stay with this awareness and if your mind starts to wander, gently escort it back to your feeling of touch and your dog’s fur. Stay with this practice for seven minutes or more. </p>
<p>Although we didn’t specifically measure the impact on dogs, we suspect they appreciate the close, calm and private space this creates for both of you.</p>
<h2>2. You can play hide and seek</h2>
<p>If mindfulness meditation isn’t your thing, our study showed setting aside seven minutes of undivided playtime with your dog had similar results. This might be an interactive game, such as hide and seek. </p>
<p>Dog owners who did this said they enjoyed this, had a better connection with their dog, and helped them focus on the present. They also thought their dog had fun.</p>
<p>How might this work as well as mindfulness meditation? <a href="https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1093%2Fclipsy.bpg016">Mindfulness</a> is simply about being present in the moment. So if we put the phone away, pets can be great facilitators to help bring us into the present and centre our mind on one thing — them.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/routine-and-learning-games-how-to-make-sure-your-dog-doesnt-get-canine-cabin-fever-134248">Routine and learning games: how to make sure your dog doesn't get canine cabin fever</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>3. You can talk to your dog</h2>
<p>If you really want to increase the connection with your dog, try some
calm and focused interactions. This might be seven undivided minutes of affection with your dog, such as giving them a good belly rub, or spending seven undivided minutes talking to them.</p>
<p>Out of all the activities we tried, these worked best to connect with your dog. </p>
<p>While some people in our study said they felt awkward talking to their dog, our earlier research showed others seem to love it.</p>
<p>For people living alone in lockdown, having a pet dog was an <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0020764020944195">excuse to talk out loud</a>, and this may play an important role in their well-being.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1429541174788780033"}"></div></p>
<p>Making time to be affectionate towards your dog also made owners feel relaxed and calm, at similar levels to those who practised mindfulness meditation.</p>
<p>Completely focusing on your dog this way increases the release of molecules associated with relaxation (such as oxytocin) and reward (such as dopamine) in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109002330200237X">both owner and dog</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lockdown-can-be-stressful-for-pets-too-heres-how-to-keep-your-dog-entertained-135156">Lockdown can be stressful for pets too – here's how to keep your dog entertained</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Making time for your dog</h2>
<p>Not all dog owners are spending their time in lockdown going on long walks with their furry friends. One study found <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159121001829#aep-article-footnote-id2">some dog owners</a> walked their dog less often or went on shorter walks during the pandemic.</p>
<p>Whether that’s been your experience, or if you want to try something new, these three types of interactions with your dog don’t take a lot of time. You could even continue them after lockdown’s over.</p>
<p>This might end up become the new highlight of your dog’s day, making the long wait for you to return home from work completely worth it. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/your-dogs-nose-knows-no-bounds-and-neither-does-its-love-for-you-148484">Your dog's nose knows no bounds – and neither does its love for you</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/166331/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jessica Oliva does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Talking to your dog really helps. Here’s what else you can do.Jessica Oliva, Lecturer, Psychology, James Cook UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1552022021-02-22T18:58:09Z2021-02-22T18:58:09ZCan I have a pet and be housed, too? It all depends…<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385477/original/file-20210222-15-qpmiwj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=1425%2C0%2C2568%2C1994&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Darren Fisher</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Barriers to housing for people with pets around Australia are the focus of newly released <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/350">national research</a> by an interdisciplinary team. Why? Because laws are changing nationally but are highly inconsistent. A systematic national approach is needed to reduce the numbers of people who have to give up their pets to secure housing – especially as we return to post-COVID “normal”. </p>
<p>Six housing experts spanning five Australian universities undertook the study of animal-inclusive housing and options for reform, the first of its kind internationally. It assesses state and territory housing and legislative reforms in the private rental sector, social housing, homelessness services, strata title, aged care and caravan parks. Here they explain what they found.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/as-pet-owners-suffer-rental-insecurity-perhaps-landlords-should-think-again-63275">As pet owners suffer rental insecurity, perhaps landlords should think again</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385467/original/file-20210222-23-cplk7g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385467/original/file-20210222-23-cplk7g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=3967&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385467/original/file-20210222-23-cplk7g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=3967&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385467/original/file-20210222-23-cplk7g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=3967&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385467/original/file-20210222-23-cplk7g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=4986&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385467/original/file-20210222-23-cplk7g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=4986&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385467/original/file-20210222-23-cplk7g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=4986&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385468/original/file-20210222-19-sdbytd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385468/original/file-20210222-19-sdbytd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=698&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385468/original/file-20210222-19-sdbytd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=698&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385468/original/file-20210222-19-sdbytd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=698&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385468/original/file-20210222-19-sdbytd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=878&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385468/original/file-20210222-19-sdbytd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=878&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385468/original/file-20210222-19-sdbytd.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=878&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385470/original/file-20210222-21-10prpnx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385470/original/file-20210222-21-10prpnx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=2975&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385470/original/file-20210222-21-10prpnx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=2975&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385470/original/file-20210222-21-10prpnx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=2975&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385470/original/file-20210222-21-10prpnx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=3739&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385470/original/file-20210222-21-10prpnx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=3739&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385470/original/file-20210222-21-10prpnx.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=3739&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385472/original/file-20210222-21-1bhj9z8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385472/original/file-20210222-21-1bhj9z8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=1136&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385472/original/file-20210222-21-1bhj9z8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=1136&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385472/original/file-20210222-21-1bhj9z8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=1136&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385472/original/file-20210222-21-1bhj9z8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1427&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385472/original/file-20210222-21-1bhj9z8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1427&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385472/original/file-20210222-21-1bhj9z8.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1427&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385473/original/file-20210222-23-rva7m5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385473/original/file-20210222-23-rva7m5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=963&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385473/original/file-20210222-23-rva7m5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=963&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385473/original/file-20210222-23-rva7m5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=963&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385473/original/file-20210222-23-rva7m5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1210&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385473/original/file-20210222-23-rva7m5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1210&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385473/original/file-20210222-23-rva7m5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1210&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385486/original/file-20210222-19-eelyn3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/385486/original/file-20210222-19-eelyn3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=2780&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385486/original/file-20210222-19-eelyn3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=2780&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385486/original/file-20210222-19-eelyn3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=2780&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385486/original/file-20210222-19-eelyn3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=3494&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385486/original/file-20210222-19-eelyn3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=3494&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/385486/original/file-20210222-19-eelyn3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=3494&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/155202/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Wendy Stone receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC), the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and the Victorian Government, including HomesVictoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC).</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Amity James receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Caitlin Buckle receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI). </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Debbie Faulkner receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emma Power currently receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI). </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Selina Tually receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Zoe Goodall receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and the Victorian Government, including HomesVictoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) and the Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC).</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Darren C Fisher does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Trying to find housing can be a nightmare for pet owners, especially those who need it in a crisis. The inconsistencies from state to state and between different forms of housing demand reform.Wendy Stone, Professor of Housing & Social Policy, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of TechnologyAmity James, Senior Lecturer, School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Curtin UniversityCaitlin Buckle, Research Associate in Housing Studies, University of SydneyDarren C Fisher, Lecturer- Animation, Swinburne University of TechnologyDebbie Faulkner, Senior Research Fellow, UniSA Business, University of South AustraliaEmma Power, Senior Research Fellow, Geography and Urban Studies, Western Sydney UniversitySelina Tually, Senior Research Fellow, The Australian Alliance for Social Enterprise, University of South AustraliaZoe Goodall, Research Associate, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of TechnologyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1409752020-07-24T13:25:20Z2020-07-24T13:25:20Z‘My dog is my home’ – the need for pet-friendly accommodation for homeless people<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/349348/original/file-20200724-37-64jb47.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C5358%2C3475&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/chicago-usa-october-5-homeless-old-252294511">Lucas Photo/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Homeless people are being forced to sleep rough to avoid giving up their pets, our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10530789.2020.1754602">recent study</a> found.</p>
<p>We conducted an online survey of homelessness accommodation providers in the UK to find out if they accepted pets on their premises. Although 77% of the 117 providers who took part are asked to house pets, only 37% allow animals inside. </p>
<p>Those that accept pets told us it was for both the welfare of the animals and for the owners. Some providers said that other residents and staff enjoyed interacting with pets, suggesting extended benefits to having a pet-friendly policy.</p>
<p>Accommodation providers that refuse pets did so for a variety of reasons, but health and safety was the most often cited reason. All pet owners know there is an increased risk of mess, particularly when an animal is young or getting used to a new environment. </p>
<p>However, the pet-friendly services were able to manage these risks with contracts and policies, such as it being the owner’s responsibility to care for, exercise and clean up after the pet. Use of similar policies could allow other providers to successfully accommodate pets.</p>
<p>Pet ownership raises all sorts of ethical questions, for owners, for the veterinary profession and for society. You could argue that if someone is unable to provide a home for themselves, they shouldn’t be allowed to have a pet. But this ignores the fact that owners may have had their pet before becoming homeless. </p>
<p>About <a href="https://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1620236/Homelessness_in_Great_Britain_-_the_numbers_behind_the_story_V2.pdf">320,000 people</a> are homeless in the UK, equating to 0.5% of the entire population. Since around 45% of UK households <a href="https://www.pfma.org.uk/_assets/docs/annual-reports/PFMA-Pet-Data-Report-2018.pdf">are pet owners</a>, when people become homeless, their pets become homeless, too.</p>
<p>Critics of homeless pet ownership also ignore the positive impact of the human-animal bond on homeless people. Many studies have highlighted the importance of <a href="https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2318-14-106">pet ownership</a>, especially for people who are <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2466/pr0.1994.75.2.747">isolated</a> and socially excluded. Pets, and especially dogs, are the primary and often exclusive <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2000.tb00089.x">source of physical, psychological and social support for homeless people</a>. </p>
<p>Homeless people with pets have been shown to have lower levels of depression and loneliness compared with <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2015.1082772">those without</a>, and pets are often described as “family” in interviews. </p>
<p>Following over a decade of austerity and the challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit, further restrictions on public services are likely. But preventing a single person from one year of homelessness is <a href="https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/homelessness-knowledge-hub/cost-of-homelessness/better-than-cure-2016/">estimated to save over £9,000</a> in public expenditure. Early intervention in people either newly homeless or at risk of homelessness is therefore likely to be <a href="https://www.crisis.org.uk/media/20677/crisis_at_what_cost_2015.pdf">extraordinarily cost effective</a>. </p>
<p>As well as the financial cost, the human cost of homelessness is clear. The mean age at death for homeless people is <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsofhomelesspeopleinenglandandwales/2018">45 for men and 43 for women, compared with 76 and 81 years</a> for men and women in the general population. Thinking about pets in this wider crisis may seem frivolous, but evidence strongly suggests that pets are a social linchpin for some of the most excluded members of our society. </p>
<p>Many respondents, both in our work and others, report that they would rather sleep rough than give up their pet. Yet if pet owners refuse to relinquish their pets, local authorities categorise them as “intentionally homelessness”, thereby abrogating their responsibility to house them. So it’s important to encourage more accommodation providers to allow pets.</p>
<h2>Homelessness is probably going to increase</h2>
<p>Lockdown has ended and the UK is now braced for the economic impact of the pandemic. Housing systems are under increasing strain and without government intervention, homelessness is likely to rise. The government’s recent “Everyone In” initiative in response to COVID-19 has moved around <a href="https://localpartnerships.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Rough-sleeper-accommodation-guidance-final.pdf">15,000 homeless people</a> from the streets into hotels and other safe spaces, often with dramatic results. </p>
<p>Despite efforts by organisations such as the Big Issue to <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/896650/24-6-20_-_Letter_to_All_LAs_with_annexes.pdf">retain momentum</a> in continuing to provide housing for homeless people and <a href="https://www.bigissue.com/community-partnerships/introducing-the-ride-out-recession-alliance/">avoiding further homelessness</a>, significant challenges remain, including access to mental health resources and employment opportunities. As businesses collapse and redundancies increase, and as the temporary ban on evictions is set to lift, <a href="https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/opinion/uk-poverty-crisis-and-covid-19-the-collateral-damage-of-a-decade-of-austerity/02/06/">numbers of homeless people may increase</a>.</p>
<p>A safe place to sleep is a fundamental need that should be available to everyone. Likewise, companionship is a basic requirement. (During lockdown, many of us have experienced the stress of being forcibly separated from our families and social support network.) Our work shows that, when people are already vulnerable and socially excluded, keeping them together with their family should be a priority, even if their family members have fur and a tail.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/140975/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jenny Stavisky has received funding from Dogs Trust. She is founder of Vets in the Community, a charity providing free student-led veterinary care for homeless people's pets.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Pru Hobson-West has received funding from Dogs Trust. Her research on human-animals in the laboratory is currently funded by the Wellcome Trust: grant number 205393/B/16/Z</span></em></p>Pets are a source of physical, psychological and social support for homeless people.Jenny Stavisky, Assistant Professor in Shelter Medicine, University of NottinghamPru Hobson-West, Associate Professor, Social Sciences, University of NottinghamLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1380742020-05-24T12:22:53Z2020-05-24T12:22:53ZHow the coronavirus pet adoption boom is reducing stress<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/335950/original/file-20200519-83367-13qp66r.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=24%2C0%2C5367%2C3597&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Research consistently shows the benefits of pet ownership during stressful times.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>As has been discussed in so many articles, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-5072-z">sharing our lives with pets is good for our health</a>. Not only do they make us healthier in normal times, in stressful times the benefit of a pandemic puppy (or cat), or other non-human companion, goes even further. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/when-pets-are-family-the-benefits-extend-into-society-109179">When pets are family, the benefits extend into society</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>During a pandemic, people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113003">can be stressed and fearful for their lives and the lives of those they love</a>. Research has shown that where there is a bond between human and animal, the presence of a non-human companion — especially a dog — <a href="https://doi.org/10.2752/175303710X12750451258977">decreases psychological arousal and stress, and creates physiological changes that make us feel better</a>. </p>
<h2>Pandemic pets</h2>
<p>Early in the COVID-19 pandemic there was <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taaa046">pet abandonment in large numbers in Wuhan, China</a>. Fearful that the same would happen locally, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/call-has-been-answered-animal-shelters-across-u-s-are-n1186351">many animal rescue organizations set out to empty their shelters</a>. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/us/dogs-adoption-surge-trnd/index.html">Worldwide there was an unprecedented upsurge in adoptions and fostering</a>. </p>
<p>Although many people did this for the animals, they, perhaps unwittingly, set themselves up for better mental health during the pandemic. Aside from the stress-mitigating impacts of pets mentioned above, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F019394502320555377">having a pet may be a powerful influencer in maintaining health-protective behaviours</a>, such as eating well or going out for a walk. </p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.3233/nre-2010-0592">Dogs and cats can increase physical rehabilitation goals</a> through behaviour such as “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000000156">bending, reaching, ambulating and using both arms in a functional manner to provide food, water, and grooming</a>.” These basic activities involved in animal care actually provide exercise, which is very important for people who spend the day in a stationary position.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/336468/original/file-20200520-152344-1fe8dow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">With stay-at-home orders required in many places, having a pet at home can help reduce feelings of anxiety and frustration.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Human-animal relationships</h2>
<p>When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I had just started a <a href="https://queensu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKrBi1ERiZw56eh">research study asking people about their relationships with their non-human companions</a>. The preliminary results of this online survey include people between their late 30s and early 90s. They live in Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland and come from all walks of life. One-third have completed high school or less, 30 per cent completed college and/or an apprenticeship and the rest completed some kind of university degree. At the time of the survey, almost all of them were spending their time at home, some were alone, others with family and for others pets were their only companions.</p>
<p>When asked, in an open-ended question, what it has been like having animal companions with them during the pandemic, their answers included words like “comforting,” “good/great,” “helpful.” Several people said that they work full-time, so they were enjoying the time with their animal and getting to see what their pet does all day. Several people indicated that they would be lost without their pet. </p>
<p>One participant said, “I don’t know what I would do without the company of my dog, she has kept me going.” Another said, “It is the only thing that is keeping me sane.” And others said the presence of a pet was salvation (a life saver) and brought joy. There were also those who said they talk with their pet and that it <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020927051">helped stave off loneliness</a>.</p>
<h2>Artificial pets?</h2>
<p>Another question I ask in my research is <a href="https://theconversation.com/robopets-using-technology-to-monitor-older-adults-raises-privacy-concerns-132326">whether robot pets can be used to replace live animals</a>, so it was interesting to see that <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/us/therapy-robot-pets-wellness-trnd/index.html">robot pets were being provided to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/robopets-using-technology-to-monitor-older-adults-raises-privacy-concerns-132326">Robopets: Using technology to monitor older adults raises privacy concerns</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>In my survey during the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents were asked whether, given the choice, they would choose a robot pet or a live animal. Out of 102 people who answered this question, not one of them said they would choose a robot pet — even those who currently did not have a pet did not want a robot pet. The vast majority said they would choose a live pet, and a few said that they would rather have no pet at all. </p>
<p>When asked why, they said things like, “It is not about the companionship alone. It is about the emotional connection. To get that from a robotic creation is not love. We need the love that comes with these pets.” It was very clear that the robots were “not the same as a living breathing animal.” That a robot could not take the place of a pet because pets are “unique and make me smile and love them.”</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tLjtOMBWvTo?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A <em>Washington Post</em> video comparing Sony’s robot dog Aibo to a live puppy.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The results of this survey are similar to those found during non-pandemic research: pets stave off <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122085">loneliness</a>, and living with pets helps people to be more active, even if it is only the movement associated with basic tasks, such as cleaning the litter box or filling food bowls. Most importantly, we are comforted by these non-human companions. The presence of a dog or a cat in the home may be the only thing between an isolated person and despair.</p>
<p>Given how important dogs, cats and other non-human companions are to our well-being, it is important to remember them when developing programs to support isolated people. When there is not enough money to go around, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000000156">it is not unheard of for people to feed their dog before they feed or acquire medications for themselves</a>.” </p>
<p>As the economic reality of sustained unemployment unfolds, it is important for public services to consider not only food security for humans, but also for their non-human companions in order to prevent the possibility of a tsunami of pet abandonment due to an inability to provide care.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/138074/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>L.F. Carver does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Pets can relieve anxiety during the pandemic and reduce the effects of social isolation. However, there have been waves of pet adoptions and abandonment related to the pandemic.L.F. Carver, Assistant Professor & Privacy and Ethics Officer at the Centre for Advanced Computing, Queen's University, OntarioLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1161202019-05-22T12:04:53Z2019-05-22T12:04:53ZHow dogs help keep multiracial neighborhoods socially segregated<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/273867/original/file-20190510-183106-1wrtgas.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=12%2C235%2C4236%2C2586&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Dogs can connect neighbors, but in multicultural areas they can also reinforce racial barriers.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/download/success?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload.shutterstock.com%2Fgatekeeper%2FW3siZSI6MTU1NzUzNTE1OSwiYyI6Il9waG90b19zZXNzaW9uX2lkIiwiZGMiOiJpZGxfNDAzMTYxNzU0IiwiayI6InBob3RvLzQwMzE2MTc1NC9odWdlLmpwZyIsIm0iOjEsImQiOiJzaHV0dGVyc3RvY2stbWVkaWEifSwiMDNVejVmNkFjdUloa0hYVndQbjdjMzQxSWtrIl0%2Fshutterstock_403161754.jpg&pi=33421636&m=403161754">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Cities in the United States are getting <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/national/segregation-us-cities/?utm_term=.d0958980114c">less segregated</a> and, according to a <a href="https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2019/05/08/americans-see-advantages-and-challenges-in-countrys-growing-racial-and-ethnic-diversity/">recent national survey</a>, most Americans value the country’s racial diversity.</p>
<p>But the demographic integration of a neighborhood doesn’t necessarily mean that neighbors of different races are socializing together. </p>
<p>Diverse urban areas remain socially segregated in part because white gentrifiers and long-time residents have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-2427.12128">differing economic interests</a>. And the racial hierarchies of the United States are simply <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cico.12371">not erased when black and white people share the same space</a>. </p>
<p>White residents of multicultural areas tend to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-6040.2005.00109.x">overlook</a> inequality in their neighborhoods, studies show. That further reinforces racial barriers.</p>
<p>My <a href="https://www.uncpress.org/book/9781469618630/behind-the-white-picket-fence/?title_id=3567">sociological research in one such multicultural neighborhood</a> identifies a more surprising vehicle of racial segregation: dogs.</p>
<h2>‘A very doggie neighborhood’</h2>
<p>I spent 18 months studying <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/socf.12425">Creekridge Park</a>, a diverse and mixed-income area of Durham, North Carolina, to understand how black, white and Latino residents interacted with each other. Between 2009 and 2011, I interviewed 63 residents, attended neighborhood events and conducted a household survey.</p>
<p>I learned that white, black and Latino residents led rather separate social lives in Creekridge Park. Eighty-six percent of white people said their closest friends were white, and 70% of black residents surveyed reported that their best friends were black.</p>
<p>One black resident lamented that neighbors weren’t as “friendly as I had hoped and thought that they would be – or at least, this image I had in my head of what ‘friendly’ would be like.” </p>
<p>White, black and Latino people in Creekridge Park even had different experiences with something as seemingly innocuous as <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/socf.12425">pet ownership</a>. </p>
<p>Many white residents described friendships growing as a result of walking their dogs around the neighborhood, with chance encounters on the sidewalk turning into baseball games, dinners and even vacations together.</p>
<p>“It’s the dogs that are our connectors,” said Tammy, a white homeowner in her fifties. “That’s how a lot of us have gotten to know each other.” </p>
<p>Such positive interactions did not necessarily happen across racial boundaries. More often, I found, dogs reinforced boundaries.</p>
<p>When Jerry, a black homeowner in his sixties, stopped to chat with some dog-owning customers, who were white, in the outdoor seating area of a neighborhood bakery, the staff asked him to leave. </p>
<p>“I owned some dogs like that at one particular time. And I was just speaking to them. All of a sudden, I’m a panhandler,” Jerry said, incredulous and hurt.</p>
<p>Jerry is a black disabled veteran who was wearing his old army uniform that day. He figures they thought he was begging for money.</p>
<p>The dogs didn’t create the interracial boundaries at the bakery, which caters to a primarily white, middle-class clientele. In fact, the dogs presented an avenue to connect black and white neighbors. But they gave bakery staff a reason to intervene, to maintain interracial boundaries. </p>
<h2>Neighborhood watch</h2>
<p>The treatment of dogs in Creekridge Park also divided neighbors of different races. </p>
<p>Tammy, the same resident who said dogs served as “connectors” in the neighborhood, disliked that her Latino neighbors wouldn’t let their dog into the house, leaving her tied up in the backyard.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275769/original/file-20190521-23845-1i1yfkp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Tethering dogs is a common practice in Durham, NC.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/download/success?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload.shutterstock.com%2Fgatekeeper%2FW3siZSI6MTU1ODQ5MzE1NCwiYyI6Il9waG90b19zZXNzaW9uX2lkIiwiZGMiOiJpZGxfOTIyNTA0MzYiLCJrIjoicGhvdG8vOTIyNTA0MzYvaHVnZS5qcGciLCJtIjoxLCJkIjoic2h1dHRlcnN0b2NrLW1lZGlhIn0sIjRTT0cxZ2hvajVsLzQ2V2RnZFBuOUhsNUNPZyJd%2Fshutterstock_92250436.jpg&pi=33421636&m=92250436&src=2969qvASJLEB7Nvnt5bKRQ-1-10">Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>One day, when she heard her neighbor’s dog barking, she decided to monitor their backyard with binoculars, to make sure the dog was OK. When the father spotted her doing her surveillance, Tammy lied. She said she was looking at a different dog.</p>
<p>Tammy was not, however, embarrassed when recounting this story. She felt she was justified in considering the dog’s well-being. She offered the family a bigger dog house and began to take the dog on hour-long walks twice a day. Eventually, she adopted the dog as her own. </p>
<p>Tammy said that she always intervened whenever she saw dogs mistreated in the neighborhood. However, the only examples she shared during our interview involved Latino families. </p>
<p>Latino families are not the only Creekridge Park residents who tied up their dogs. The practice is common enough across Durham that a <a href="https://beyondfences.org/fence-program/">local group</a> was formed in 2007 to build free dog fences.</p>
<h2>Police come ‘almost immediately’</h2>
<p>Several white residents of Creekridge Park have even reported their neighbors to the police for suspected animal abuse. </p>
<p>Emma, a white homeowner in her thirties, called the police when she thought her neighbors were involved in dog fighting. </p>
<p>They “came almost immediately,” she said.</p>
<p>Generally, Emma told me, if she knows her neighbors, she will confront them directly about problems she perceives. Otherwise, she prefers to call the police.</p>
<p>Given how segregated friendship networks are in Creekridge Park, this seemingly non-racial distinction between “known” and “unknown” neighbors means that in practice Emma involved police in conflicts only with black and Latino neighbors.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=386&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=386&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=386&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=485&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=485&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/275770/original/file-20190521-23814-10hx17l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=485&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dogs can connect neighbors – but they can also divide them.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/download/success?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload.shutterstock.com%2Fgatekeeper%2FW3siZSI6MTU1ODQ5MzY1MCwiYyI6Il9waG90b19zZXNzaW9uX2lkIiwiZGMiOiJpZGxfNzY0NjIyODAyIiwiayI6InBob3RvLzc2NDYyMjgwMi9odWdlLmpwZyIsIm0iOjEsImQiOiJzaHV0dGVyc3RvY2stbWVkaWEifSwiT20xK0c4N0RSUlNhbnVnUzNkeHY2bVV3MFJRIl0%2Fshutterstock_764622802.jpg&pi=33421636&m=764622802&src=RqjDEdfroFCgckYeE3PoMA-1-76">Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>How white people enforce their rules</h2>
<p>This white willingness to report non-white neighbors for “unruly” behavior recalls numerous recent incidents nationwide in which white people have called the police on black people for perfectly legal activities.</p>
<p>In July 2018 a white woman in San Francisco <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/us/permit-patty-black-girl-water.html">threatened an 8-year-old black girl</a> for “illegally selling water without a permit.” A few months before, a white woman dubbed by internet users as “<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/bbq-becky-white-woman-who-called-cops-black-bbq-911-audio-released-im-really-1103057">BBQ Becky</a>” called the cops on a black family barbecuing in an Oakland park for using an “unauthorized” charcoal grill. </p>
<p>Other examples of white people using police to enforce their unspoken social norms have occurred at <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04/14/602556973/starbucks-police-and-mayor-weigh-in-on-controversial-arrest-of-2-black-men-in-ph">Starbucks</a>, a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/09/nyregion/yale-black-student-nap.html">Yale University dorm</a> and a <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/06/09/412913702/who-gets-to-hang-out-at-the-pool">Texas swimming pool</a>.</p>
<p>In U.S. neighborhoods, middle- and upper-class white residents enjoy a <a href="https://apps.urban.org/features/wealth-inequality-charts/">privileged social position</a> by virtue of their race and class. They understand that police, local businesses and government agencies <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/5/11/17340908/racial-profiling-starbucks-yale-police-violence-911-bias">exist to serve them</a> – the same social institutions that often underserve or even target racial minorities.</p>
<p>By drawing arbitrary lines between right and wrong, insider and outsider – even good pet owner and bad – white people like Tammy and BBQ Becky use that power to try to shape diverse neighborhoods into their preferred mold. </p>
<p>As a result of white residents’ focus on <a href="https://libjournal.uncg.edu/ijcp/article/viewFile/249/116">their own comfort</a> in diverse places, racial inequality can pervade everyday life – even, my research shows, when walking the dog.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/116120/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sarah Mayorga-Gallo received funding from the National Science Foundation in 2011 in support of her research.</span></em></p>American cities are getting more diverse, but neighbors of different races don’t necessarily socialize with each other. A sociologist in North Carolina discovered one surprising reason why.Sarah Mayorga, Assistant Professor of Sociology, UMass BostonLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1024102018-10-17T05:08:26Z2018-10-17T05:08:26ZSenate inquiry calls for tougher rules on pet food in Australia<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/240946/original/file-20181017-165891-1cu13iu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Pet owners need to know the food they feed their pets is safe.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tiomax80/15332082634/">Flickr/Tiomax</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Compulsory rules for the standards and labelling of pet food in Australia are among the recommendations in a <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/SafetyofPetFood/Report">Senate inquiry report</a> released late Tuesday.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressrel%2F6039580%22">Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry</a> was set up in June following several cases in which <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-20/inquiry-to-be-held-into-pet-food-industry/9890398">dogs fell ill</a> after eating pet food.</p>
<p>Currently, the pet food industry in Australia is <a href="https://www.pfiaa.com.au/Feeding-Pets/Safety-Labelling-and-Regulation-of-Pet-Food.aspx">self-regulated</a>. The Australian Standards for the manufacturing and marketing of pet food are voluntary, and published behind a <a href="https://www.standards.org.au/standards-catalogue/sa-snz/other/ft-033/as--5812-colon-2017">paywall</a>. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/is-your-dog-happy-ten-common-misconceptions-about-dog-behaviour-97541">Is your dog happy? Ten common misconceptions about dog behaviour</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>There is no mandatory recall system for pet food, and no mechanism for consumers to report adverse events. Essentially, there is minimal government oversight of this industry. This makes it hard for pet owners to be confident the food they feed their beloved pets is both safe and nutritious. </p>
<p>The Senate report makes seven recommendations including calls for:</p>
<ul>
<li>the standards to be made mandatory and publicly accessible</li>
<li>a national pet food manufacturing and safety policy framework to be established </li>
<li>for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to create a consumer reporting mechanism and improved recall systems. </li>
</ul>
<p>The inquiry considered more than 150 public submissions from veterinarians, welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, industry groups, and concerned individuals. It also included two days of public hearings. Most of those submissions and presentations called strongly for change.</p>
<h2>Sick dogs prompt food recall</h2>
<p>This inquiry into pet food regulation started after public outcry around the recall of <a href="https://www.advancepet.com.au/update-on-advance-dermocare-product-recall/">Advance Dermocare</a> dog food. The product was recalled in March this year <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-30/popular-dog-food-suspected-of-making-dogs-sick-advance-dermocare/9699866">after several dogs</a> developed life-threating oesophageal weakness (megaoesophagus) while being fed the food.</p>
<p>It took the pet food manufacturer <a href="https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/pets/advance-dermocare-pet-food-recall-after-police-dogs-fall-sick-in-victoria-ng-b88785488z">three months</a> to announce the recall after being notified of the cluster of sick dogs in December 2017. </p>
<p>Although this seems slow, there are actually no specific laws in Australia that force a pet food manufacturer to initiate a recall if their food is making pets sick.</p>
<p>There is a system called <a href="https://www.ava.com.au/petfast">PetFAST</a>, which is a voluntary recall initiative between the Australian Veterinary Association and the pet food industry body, the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (<a href="https://www.pfiaa.com.au/">PFIAA</a>). </p>
<p>The PetFAST system arose after two incidents spanning 2007 to 2009 resulted in the deaths and illnesses of dozens of cats and dogs. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00475.x">Irradiated cat food</a> imported from Canada caused paralysis in cats and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/avj.12100">imported chicken-jerky treats</a> for dogs from China caused kidney toxicity. </p>
<p>At the time, no recall mechanisms for pet food safety incidents existed. The PetFAST system has helped with recent recalls of both <a href="https://www.ava.com.au/node/89041">cat</a> and <a href="https://www.ava.com.au/node/101842">dog</a> food. But it isn’t perfect.</p>
<p>It relies on veterinarians to recognise a possible link between a disease and a pet food, and on the pet food manufacturer to investigate and recall a product if required. Unfortunately it isn’t able to be used by consumers to report safety incidents, only veterinarians. </p>
<p>There are some <a href="http://consumerlaw.gov.au/">laws</a> that restrict what a pet food manufacturer can and can’t claim about a particular pet food. There are also <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00597">restrictions</a> around the importation of pet food products. </p>
<p>But <a href="https://www.pfiaa.com.au/TechnicalInfo.aspx">the standards</a> around the safety and nutrition of pet food aren’t mandatory. Combined with the lack of independent oversight of the industry, this creates a situation in which consumer trust and industry transparency are thin on the ground.</p>
<h2>We’ve been here before</h2>
<p>This week’s Senate report isn’t the first to call for improvements in the pet food industry.</p>
<p>A government working group into pet food regulation was formed in <a href="http://www.agriculture.gov.au/animal/health/pet-food-safety">2009</a> after the pet food safety incidents involving irradiated cat food and chicken-jerky treats. </p>
<p>Another working group into pet food regulation was set up this month by the federal government, pre-empting the Senate inquiry report. Although some improvements arose from the original working group, such as the <a href="https://www.ava.com.au/petfast">PetFAST recall system</a> and voluntary standards, what we really need now is definitive action.</p>
<p>The pet food industry in Australia has a revenue of more than <a href="http://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AMA_Pet-Ownership-in-Australia-2016-Report_sml.pdf">A$4 billion a year</a> and pet owners want to know that food is both safe and nutritious. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/SafetyofPetFood/Submissions">Submissions to the inquiry </a> from the main manufacturers in Australia, as well as industry body the PFIAA, show increased regulation and mandatory standards are likely to be supported if recommended by government.</p>
<p>These measures are also supported by veterinarians, animal welfare groups such as the <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/SafetyofPetFood/Submissions">RSPCA</a>, and consumer groups such as <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/outdoor/pets/products/articles/pet-food-regulation#case">Choice</a>.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/whose-best-friend-how-gender-and-stereotypes-can-shape-our-relationship-with-dogs-84273">Whose best friend? How gender and stereotypes can shape our relationship with dogs</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>What are the next steps? Both federal and state governments need to take action. <a href="https://www.rspca.org.au/media-centre/news/2018/pet-food-industry-needs-better-oversight-regulation-says-rspca">The RSPCA</a> also recommends mandatory auditing against the standards and expanding the standards to cover other pets such as rabbits and birds.</p>
<p>We know what needs to happen and there is widespread support for change. The new working group formed by the federal government to investigate pet food safety in Australia will report within 12 months. </p>
<p>Let’s hope the federal and state governments are willing to act on the report this time around. It’s been a decade since this issue was brought to the government’s attention. Australian pet owners shouldn’t have to wait any longer for real change.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102410/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Bronwyn Orr is the Scientific Officer for Companion Animals at RSPCA Australia. She is representing RSPCA Australia on the working group of the upcoming federal government review into the safety of pet food in Australia. She is also a member of the Australian Veterinary Association. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Richard Malik does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Another review into the safety of pet food leads to another review into pet food. It’s been a decade since this issue was brought to the government’s attention, so what needs to happen now?Bronwyn Orr, Veterinarian and PhD candidate, University of SydneyRichard Malik, Veterinary Internist (Specialist), University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1005302018-07-27T05:30:09Z2018-07-27T05:30:09ZAre you walking your dog enough?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229396/original/file-20180726-106524-hsrxju.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A running dog is a happy dog!</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">James Ting/Unsplash</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Australia has <a href="http://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AMA_Pet-Ownership-in-Australia-2016-Report_sml.pdf">nearly five million dogs</a>, with nearly <a href="http://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AMA_Pet-Ownership-in-Australia-2016-Report_sml.pdf">40% of Australian households owning one</a>.</p>
<p>But it seems that 40% of Australian dogs are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11837871">not walked enough</a> and that a similar percentage of dogs are <a href="https://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/156/22/695">overweight or obese</a>. With colleagues at the University of Sydney, we are interested in collecting more recent data on these trends.</p>
<p>So why do we need to walk our dogs? And how much is enough?</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-walkies-says-about-your-relationship-with-your-dog-71245">What 'walkies' says about your relationship with your dog</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Why do dogs need to be walked?</h2>
<p>Some people assume that a big backyard gives dogs enough exercise to keep them happy and healthy. </p>
<p>But dogs need to be walked for several reasons. As well as exercise, being walked lets them socialise with other dogs, explore the tantalising smells beyond their home and play with their preferred playmates. Dogs are <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4057173.htm">opportunists and optimists</a>, which is why so many turn themselves inside out with joy at the prospect of a romp around the park.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229564/original/file-20180727-106511-1lyzeac.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Go go go go!</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Leo Rivas/Unsplash</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Walks also allow dogs to spend time with their human social group. We shouldn’t underestimate the value of one-on-one attention between owners and their dogs. People who are <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3660-2">strongly bonded with their dogs are most likely to exercise them</a>. Dogs, in turn, act as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10717771">catalysts for humans to engage with others</a> in their community.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/our-pets-strengthen-neighbourhood-ties-79755">Our pets strengthen neighbourhood ties</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Without enough <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3660-2">exercise</a> dogs can develop physical problems, such as muscular, cardiovascular or metabolic diseases, and behavioural problems that are manifestations of frustration and increased irritability.</p>
<h2>How much walking is enough?</h2>
<p>Clearly, the exact amount of exercise time your dog needs will vary according to its age, breed and size. A <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-09-dogs-regularly.html">ten-year study in Perth</a> found that people may not walk their dogs as much if the dog is sick, older, or a smaller breed. Yet all dogs need some time out of the house and yard every day.</p>
<p>As part of <a href="https://www.pawgust.com.au">Pawgust</a>, Guide Dogs Australia is encouraging owners to take their dogs for <a href="https://www.pawgust.com.au/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlNbngom83AIVj6uWCh2uXgYLEAAYASAAEgIp6fD_BwE">two 30-minute walks a day</a> – one in the morning and one in the evening. If this seems too demanding for the humans in your dog’s world, it may be worth checking that everyone in your household is engaged in dog-walking, so that the opportunity can be shared.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=673&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=673&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=673&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=845&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=845&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229568/original/file-20180727-106521-19ke6rl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=845&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Get the whole family to help walk your pets.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Terricks Noah/Unsplash</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Fortunately, dogs don’t always need extremely long walks. If your dog has health issues or is elderly, just 20 minutes out of the house can do wonders.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/walking-a-dog-wont-make-your-child-fitter-but-it-can-give-them-a-healthier-start-91800">Walking a dog won't make your child fitter, but it can give them a healthier start</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>If you have particular worries about your dogs, or they have previously been very inactive, it’s worth consulting with your veterinarian to create an exercise plan. Remember that, like humans, dogs need to warm up and warm down. Walking dogs to the park can be enough to get their blood moving before a vigorous game of fetch. </p>
<h2>Some barriers to walking</h2>
<p>There are rare dogs that don’t seem to enjoy themselves when out on a leash. These are most commonly dogs that were not adequately socialised as pups. Others have learned that there is little they can do to assert themselves while on the leash and, as such, are examples of learned helplessness.</p>
<p>Also, although many dogs enjoy playing with other dogs throughout life, a significant number do not. As they age, they develop prejudices, aches and pains, and learned play styles that may not gel well with other dogs. These are the dogs that should be kept out of off-leash dog parks. </p>
<p>A reasonable strategy for exercising urban dogs with these tendencies is to take them for walks at night. This is generally less stressful, as there is less activity and less chance of bumping into other dogs.</p>
<p>Comments from other people is another possible barrier. Some breeds provoke <a href="http://www.the-standard.org/news/pit-bull-ordinance-receives-pushback-from-bully-dog-breed-owners/article_4458fa38-d972-11e7-b6d6-b374f549c34f.html">negative feedback</a> from others, and there is evidence that overweight dogs <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3660-2">embarrass their owners</a>. Unwelcome dog behaviour can also sometimes cause embarrassment. So, it’s important to train your dog to respond to you on and off the leash, both at home and away, and to remember that the secret to having a happy, healthy and well-socialised dog starts with regular mental and physical exercise.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/229565/original/file-20180727-106505-satvt1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Some breeds, like pitbulls, have bad reputations.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Christopher Ayme/Unsplash</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Bad weather may also act as a deterrent, but don’t let that stop you! Dog owners in the UK confront more cold, rainy days but are <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/diet/6666409/Average-dog-owner-gets-more-exercise-than-gym-goers.html">more committed</a> to exercising their dogs than Australians. </p>
<p>Clearly, the heat of summer is a consideration for Australian dog owners, and it is generally more comfortable to exercise dogs in the early mornings and late evenings in midsummer.</p>
<h2>The benefits of dog-walking for humans</h2>
<p>So the benefits of dog-walking for dogs is clear. The good news is that it’s also hugely beneficial to people. </p>
<p>Regular physical activity for humans has <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm">major health benefits</a>, yet around half of adult Australians are still <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health-2018/contents/table-of-contents">insufficiently active for health</a>, and have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12699">remained so for 22 years</a>.</p>
<p>Dog-walking offers an unrealised, but simple, community-wide solution to the challenge of human physical inactivity. One benefit is that walking can improve <a href="https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/get-walking/why-walk/healthy-minds">mental well-being</a> and increase social connections for many people. Modelling the concept of universal dog-walking provides surprising results.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/four-ways-having-a-pet-increases-your-lifespan-88640">Four ways having a pet increases your lifespan</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>If most of the dog owners in Australia who currently don’t walk their dogs started going on 20-minute walks every day, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22851954">12-17% more adult Australians</a> would be sufficiently active.</p>
<p>This would halve inactivity, and <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/impact-of-physical-inactivity-chronic-conditions/contents/table-of-contents">could prevent</a> up to 5% of all cases and deaths from heart disease and stroke, and up to 10% of major colon and breast cancers.</p>
<p>Dog-walking is also a great way to get the whole family moving, as a dog can be walked by children and parents. Increased walking has health, social and mental benefits. Isn’t it time you walked your dog more?</p>
<p><br></p>
<hr>
<p><em>If you are interested participating in studies on dog-walking and human health, visit our <a href="https://sydney.edu.au/charles-perkins-centre/our-research/current-research/physical-activity-exercise-and-energy-expenditure/dog-ownership-and-human-health.html">dog ownership and human health research node</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/100530/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Paul McGreevy has received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. He is an Honorary Fellow of the International Society for Equitation Science and a life member of the RSPCA NSW. He is the co-author of Making Dogs Happy and the Veterinary Ambassador for Pawgust.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Adrian Bauman has received research funding from NHMRC, ARC, CIHR, NSW Ministry of Health, the Sax Institute, and in previous decades, other public sector - Government - research funding agencies, as well as the Heart Foundation and Cancer Council. </span></em></p>All dogs need regular exercise outside of the home (and it’s good for people too).Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of SydneyAdrian Bauman, Professor of Public Health, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/969842018-06-27T19:59:43Z2018-06-27T19:59:43ZEven a microchipped pet can be lost if your data is out of date<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220700/original/file-20180529-80650-1lwcnb4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Pets are beloved family members. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/girls-sleep-cats-dogs-631869404?src=3SXkH_Dzzcyyw_GsZLKDsA-1-50">from www.shutterstock.com </a></span></figcaption></figure><p>From July 1st 2018, every <a href="http://kb.rspca.org.au/is-microchipping-mandatory-for-cats-and-dogs_287.html">state and territory</a> of Australia (excluding the Northern Territory) will have laws making microchipping cats and dogs compulsory. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/goodliving/posts/2018/03/microchipping-pets">South Australia</a> is the latest state to make microchipping mandatory, part of a series of reforms aimed at increasing responsible pet ownership. </p>
<p>Microchipping – and appropriate use of associated databases – can help you keep track of your pets, and aid governments in tracking down unethical animal breeding practices. But data must be kept up to date. </p>
<p>A microchip is only as good as the information it unlocks. If you move, change your phone number or transfer ownership of your pet, update your pet’s microchip registry details. A lost animal with out-of-date microchip details is no more identifiable than a stray animal with no ID. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/four-ways-having-a-pet-increases-your-lifespan-88640">Four ways having a pet increases your lifespan</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/05SHNfbpXwA?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">After watching this, make sure to check your pet’s microchip details are up to date.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Smaller than a rice grain</h2>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220699/original/file-20180529-80640-71nb68.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220699/original/file-20180529-80640-71nb68.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=603&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220699/original/file-20180529-80640-71nb68.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=603&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220699/original/file-20180529-80640-71nb68.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=603&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220699/original/file-20180529-80640-71nb68.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=758&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220699/original/file-20180529-80640-71nb68.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=758&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220699/original/file-20180529-80640-71nb68.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=758&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Could you stop panting, please?</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ppKcYi1CXcI">Anusha Barwa on Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A pet microchip is an implant smaller than a grain of rice, inserted under the skin of an animal. It is inactive until a microchip scanner is passed over the microchip, completing an electric circuit and allowing a message to be passed to the scanner. The message is a unique number which allows permanent identification of the animal. </p>
<p>Microchips are implanted by an authorised implanter, though the definition of “authorised” varies across each state and territory. </p>
<p>Generally, implanters have to complete an <a href="http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/pets/registration-legislation-and-permits/Microchipping-of-Dogs,-Cats-and-Horses/microchipping-information-for-authorised-implanters#anchor1">approved course</a> and include veterinarians, veterinary nurses and council officers. Once authorised, the implanter will be given a licensing number to allow completion of paperwork and grant access to databases containing owner information. </p>
<p>Microchipping of pets is an important part of being a responsible owner. It indicates ownership, allowing lost, stray or stolen pets to be reunited with their owners. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/as-selling-pets-online-becomes-normal-we-need-to-regulate-it-91478">As selling pets online becomes normal, we need to regulate it</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Databases are complex</h2>
<p>In an ideal world, all lost dogs and cats would be reunited with their owners through their microchip. However, while the microchips are relatively simple, the databases used to maintain the records of the microchipped animals are more complicated.</p>
<figure class="align-left ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220701/original/file-20180529-80653-w088aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220701/original/file-20180529-80653-w088aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220701/original/file-20180529-80653-w088aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220701/original/file-20180529-80653-w088aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220701/original/file-20180529-80653-w088aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220701/original/file-20180529-80653-w088aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220701/original/file-20180529-80653-w088aq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">It’s nice inside the house.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/dD75iU5UAU4">Alexis Chloe on Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There are currently eight <a href="http://kb.rspca.org.au/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=500">databases</a> in Australia, with six privately owned and two state government owned. </p>
<p>The privately owned databases have developed a website called <a href="http://www.petaddress.com.au/">Pet Address</a>, which allows someone to look up a pet’s microchip number and be directed to the database which owns the information. </p>
<p>However, the two state government registries are not part of this website. This means that approved implanters still have to search across multiple databases for your pet’s details, increasing the risk for human error. </p>
<p>It can also lead to situations where animals that are microchipped are unable to be identified. For example, if a dog was microchipped in NSW, but then moves to QLD, vets in QLD would be unable to access the client’s details as only NSW authorised implanters can access this data. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/seven-ways-to-protect-your-pets-in-an-emergency-83484">Seven ways to protect your pets in an emergency</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>New system for dogs and cats</h2>
<p>The system being set up by the South Australian government, called Dogs and Cats Online [<a href="http://www.dogandcatboard.com.au/dogs-and-cats-online/">DACO</a>] will include dog and cat microchip numbers. It also combines the dog registers of 69 councils as well as the new SA dog and cat breeder register and existing databases on accredited assistance dogs and dog attacks. </p>
<p>One advantage of DACO is entering and changing details will be free for pet owners. Changing details on the private systems may involve a fee, which can mean owners are less likely to update them.</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220703/original/file-20180529-80637-17tut8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/220703/original/file-20180529-80637-17tut8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220703/original/file-20180529-80637-17tut8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220703/original/file-20180529-80637-17tut8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220703/original/file-20180529-80637-17tut8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220703/original/file-20180529-80637-17tut8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/220703/original/file-20180529-80637-17tut8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">We love you. And your treats.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/CdK2eYhWfQ0">Jay Wennington on Unsplash</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In developing its new DACO system, the <a href="http://www.dogandcatboard.com.au/">SA Dog and Cat Management Board</a> has worked through the access that each user will require. While it is an advantage to quickly be able to identify a dog or cat when they are lost, there are also privacy issues with unlimited access to the database. </p>
<p>Many vets and shelters have suggested DACO be integrated with the other six microchip databases in Pet Address. However, this also has privacy implications. </p>
<p>Should a council or shelter in Victoria have access to the personal information of pets owners in SA? Can the two systems be synchronised in a limited way, so that a search on one system will only let the searcher know which database the information is stored on? </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/cat-plague-is-back-after-nearly-40-years-in-hiding-heres-what-you-need-to-know-91234">Cat plague is back after nearly 40 years in hiding – here's what you need to know</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Tracking pets is useful</h2>
<p>Some state governments are using microchips beyond their original intended purpose. For example, in <a href="https://qdbr.daf.qld.gov.au/information/buying-a-dog/">Queensland</a> all dogs born after May 2017 are now required to have a Supply Number attached to their microchip number. When an approved implanter fills out the microchipping paperwork of a dog in Queensland, the Supply Number is also included, linking the animal to its former owner (breeder) and current owner. This will allow tracking of unethical breeding practices.</p>
<p>Compliance with microchipping laws, even in states which have had them for many years, can be poor. For example, the <a href="http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/sl/2001-17/current/pdf/2001-17.pdf">ACT</a> has had compulsory microchipping for all dogs and cats by 12 weeks of age since 2001. Despite this, data presented at a recent conference indicated only 68% of adult dogs and 23% of adult cats entered the RSPCA ACT shelter microchipped. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-how-can-you-tell-if-your-cat-is-happy-and-likes-you-82834">Curious Kids: How can you tell if your cat is happy and likes you?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>All of the concerns around databases and privacy with microchips are heavily outweighed by the benefits to pets and their owners. Pets that are microchipped with up to date contact details are far more likely to be reunited with their owners, as shown by a <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/2/332">Queensland study</a>. </p>
<p>After you’ve finished reading this, take the time to look up your pet’s microchip details and ensure they are up to date. You might just save your pet’s life.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96984/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Bronwyn Orr works as a Scientific Officer for RSPCA Australia.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Susan Hazel is a Board Member of the Dog & Cat Management Board of South Australia.</span></em></p>After you’ve finished reading this, take the time to ensure your dog or cat’s microchip details are up to date. It might just save your pet’s life.Bronwyn Orr, Veterinarian and PhD candidate, University of SydneySusan Hazel, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/904282018-02-04T20:37:50Z2018-02-04T20:37:50ZThe growing demand for pet-friendly workplaces<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204451/original/file-20180201-123826-183heus.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Millennial women are choosing pets over kids. And they want to bring those pets to work. What can employers do?</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The times, they are a-changin’ when it comes to families.</p>
<p>No longer is the traditional family configuration a mom, a dad, 2.4 kids and a pet. </p>
<p>So what’s happening?</p>
<p>There appears to be a trend towards men and women delaying marriage. Millennial women in their 20s and 30s have <a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/03/07/millennials-in-adulthood/">decided to stay single a lot longer than women did in the past</a>. And instead of kids, <a href="http://www.millennialmarketing.com/2017/07/pets-vs-parenthood-why-millennials-are-owning-pets-instead-of-having-kids/">they have pets</a>. The new family profile today, indeed, may very well consist of a mom and Fluffy.</p>
<p>Employers, meantime, are clamouring <a href="https://www.business.com/articles/how-are-companies-changing-their-culture-to-attract-and-retain-millennials/">to attract millennials.</a> And many of those millennials <a href="https://www.investors.com/etfs-and-funds/personal-finance/millennials-its-ok-to-seek-a-job-with-a-pet-friendly-company/">are looking for pet-friendly workplaces</a>.</p>
<p>Statistics reveal there are lots of dogs and cats in North American households. In the United States, the number of small dogs under 25 pounds has increased from 34.1 million in 2008 to 40.8 million in 2012, according to the <a href="http://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp">American Pet Products Association</a>.</p>
<p>In Canada, <a href="https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/.../canadian-pet-population-figures-cahi-2017">there’s an estimated 8.8 million cats and 7.6 million dogs</a>. Over the past 10 years, cat and dog ownership has increased by about 10 per cent. Approximately 41 per cent of Canadian households now include at least one dog, and similarly around 37 per cent include at least one cat.</p>
<p>Look at the number of pets we’re now seeing in public places, with some owners citing them as service animals that help them with anxiety. We bring them to restaurants, to shops, we travel with them — we take them everywhere. </p>
<p>One woman from New York even recently tried to <a href="http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/emotional_support_peacock_denied_entry_on_united_flight_out_of_newark_video.html">bring her pet peacock</a> on board a flight as her service animal. She was denied this right for obvious reasons — the mammoth wingspan of the peacock.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204329/original/file-20180131-157481-ma03vb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204329/original/file-20180131-157481-ma03vb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=411&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204329/original/file-20180131-157481-ma03vb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=411&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204329/original/file-20180131-157481-ma03vb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=411&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204329/original/file-20180131-157481-ma03vb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=517&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204329/original/file-20180131-157481-ma03vb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=517&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204329/original/file-20180131-157481-ma03vb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=517&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Pretty. But would it be as pretty sitting across the aisle from you on a flight to Los Angeles?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(AP Photo/Esteban Felix)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Peacocks aside, perhaps, our pets are very much a large part of our lives.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, owning a pet brings with it a number of challenges that makes it difficult to balance work and family. </p>
<p>What do you do with Fluffy when you go to work? Cats and other animals are pretty self-sufficient, but dogs need a little more thought in this regard. </p>
<p>There are pet owners who have the means to hire dog walkers or bring their pet to doggie day care. Others aren’t as lucky.</p>
<p>And just like day-care centres, there are drop-off and pick-up times. If you’re late, no one’s going to report you to Dog Services, but you might have to pay for an overnight charge — obviously not an option with a child, so pets do offer us a different kind of freedom than children do. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204484/original/file-20180201-123833-k1vtp1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204484/original/file-20180201-123833-k1vtp1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204484/original/file-20180201-123833-k1vtp1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204484/original/file-20180201-123833-k1vtp1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204484/original/file-20180201-123833-k1vtp1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=558&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204484/original/file-20180201-123833-k1vtp1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=558&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204484/original/file-20180201-123833-k1vtp1.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=558&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Dogs enjoy the day at a doggie day care in the Niagara Region.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Niagara Pet Resort)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But owning a pet can be expensive if you choose these options. Other options, of course, include going home midday to walk and feed a beloved companion, or having a friend or neighbour willing to take on this task for you. </p>
<p>Yet there’s another way to deal with work-family balance that is growing in popularity: Taking pets to work. </p>
<p>This is fast becoming a sought-after perk that many employers are using as a new benefit — the battle for talent continues, after all, and employers have to compete in as many ways as possible. </p>
<p>As a longtime HR expert from Canada’s Goodman School of Business, in addition to being a devoted dog person myself, I know this raises a host of other issues, however. Your love for your pet might infringe upon the rights of others. What happens if your co-workers are allergic to Fluffy? Or scared of your beloved hound? </p>
<p>What happens if the office’s landlord prohibits animals on the premises? How about when a client who comes to meet with you does not appreciate your furry co-worker? Or if, in the middle of the meeting, Fluffy’s agitating for a quick walk?</p>
<p>As a small dog owner, I have a biased opinion because I love dogs and would be delighted to see a few at the office every day. Cats come a close second. But what happens if the pet your new co-worker hopes to bring to work is a snake, a rat, or even the famously grounded peacock?</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204486/original/file-20180201-123829-10j9wqz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/204486/original/file-20180201-123829-10j9wqz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204486/original/file-20180201-123829-10j9wqz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204486/original/file-20180201-123829-10j9wqz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204486/original/file-20180201-123829-10j9wqz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204486/original/file-20180201-123829-10j9wqz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/204486/original/file-20180201-123829-10j9wqz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">What if everyone at the office hates your cat?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Shutterstock)</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>What happens if that pet is loud and bothersome, jumping on everything in sight, or even chewing things it shouldn’t be? Those who do not love animals might be stressed out by their presence.</p>
<p>So now you have the prospect of workforces that are bitterly divided between those who love pets, view them as stress-relievers and become more productive as a result, and those who feel just the opposite and are stressed out having to be around pets they don’t like, and are producing less because of it. </p>
<p>A possible option for employers with a large number of dog people on staff —an on-site doggie day care or a subsidy for day care.</p>
<p>Whatever the option, most employers know they won’t be able to satisfy everyone, with or without a pet.</p>
<p>But make no mistake about it — workplaces are starting to grapple with the needs and financial pressures of their pet-loving employees, and want to ensure the long-term retention of valuable staff. </p>
<p>My prediction? Expect to see more dogs and cats at the office in the years to come. Probably not peacocks, though.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/90428/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Deborah McPhee does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Pets have become a major part of our lives, with many millennials opting for a dog or cat instead of children. What should employers do to accommodate pet owners?Deborah McPhee, Associate Professor, Human Resources Management and Occupational Health and Safety at The Goodman School of Business, Brock UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/870942017-12-10T19:12:56Z2017-12-10T19:12:56ZRiding in cars with dogs: millions of trips a week tell us transport policy needs to change<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/194761/original/file-20171115-19829-b52asq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Having a pet dog turns out to be a highly car-dependent affair.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Dog owners depend very heavily on their cars to transport and care for their pets. Our recently published <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856417302161">study</a> estimates that dog owners make about 2.4 million dog-related trips a week in Sydney. We also found pet owners overwhelmingly want to be able to travel on public transport with their pets. So why are they still excluded?</p>
<hr>
<p><em><strong>Further reading:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-need-a-better-understanding-of-how-we-manage-dogs-to-help-them-become-better-urban-citizens-64749">We need a better understanding of how we manage dogs to help them become better urban citizens</a></em></p>
<hr>
<p>Our study, involving more than 1,250 Sydney dog owners, looked at popular activities owners do with their dogs and how often these require a trip by car. Typical activities include:</p>
<ul>
<li>walking</li>
<li>visiting the park or other recreational areas</li>
<li>dog training</li>
<li>going to cafés, bars or shops</li>
<li>visiting family, friends or the vet. </li>
</ul>
<p>On average, we found people walk their dog twice or more a week. While this confirms <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743507003775">existing research</a>, we found that one in four dog walks actually began with a drive in a car. Of the more than 75% of dog owners who go to a recreational area twice or more a week, 45% get there by car. And of the two-thirds of people who go to the dog park three times a week, more than half travel by car.</p>
<p>This demonstrates a surprisingly high reliance on private cars for dog ownership. The table below clearly shows this. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/194753/original/file-20171115-19841-1c1ibfb.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/194753/original/file-20171115-19841-1c1ibfb.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=279&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/194753/original/file-20171115-19841-1c1ibfb.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=279&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/194753/original/file-20171115-19841-1c1ibfb.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=279&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/194753/original/file-20171115-19841-1c1ibfb.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=351&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/194753/original/file-20171115-19841-1c1ibfb.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=351&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/194753/original/file-20171115-19841-1c1ibfb.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=351&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Activities undertaken by dog owners and the number of dog-related car trips each week.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The survey also found that, on average, people visit a vet three times a year. They use a car for 86% of those trips. </p>
<p>However, 14% said lack of transport had prevented them from taking their dog to a vet. People who did not own a car were more likely to fall into this category.</p>
<h2>So, why does this matter?</h2>
<p>Our results indicate that enjoying and caring for a dog in Australian cities – which has <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-pets-strengthen-neighbourhood-ties-79755">proven health and social benefits</a> – is a relatively car-dependent affair. And car dependency is something urban <a href="https://theconversation.com/stuck-in-traffic-we-need-a-smarter-approach-to-congestion-than-building-more-roads-84774">planners want us to leave behind</a> for many reasons, including sustainability, health and <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685%20in%20our%20cities">liveability</a>.</p>
<p>If we are trying to reduce car use, understanding activities that lead to car dependence is important. We are particularly interested in the unintentional, often negative, consequences for individuals who, by choice or circumstance, do not have access to a car. A compromised ability to enjoy and care for a dog is one such consequence.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197467/original/file-20171203-5392-1lre7jv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">All European cities allow dogs on public transport but most cities in the US and Australia do not.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/chihuahua-arms-travels-public-transport-615671681?irgwc=1&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=TinEye&utm_source=77643&utm_term=">TIF Fotos/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A policy solution would be to allow dogs on public transport in Australian cities. Unsurprisingly, our survey of dog owners found an overwhelming 95% support this. </p>
<p>More than half indicated they would do more activities with their hound if this were allowed. And 20% said they would even consider getting by without one of their cars if they could take their dog on public transport.</p>
<hr>
<p><em><strong>Further reading:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-there-a-place-for-dogs-in-public-space-or-must-they-make-do-with-dog-parks-56147">Is there a place for dogs in public space, or must they make do with ‘dog parks’?</a></em></p>
<hr>
<h2>What are the rules in other countries?</h2>
<p>With these findings in mind, we investigated public transport policies on pets in 30 cities across Europe, the United States and Australia. We found all European cities allowed dogs on public transport. Most cities in the US and <a href="https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/using-public-transport/travelling-with-animals-pets">Australia</a> did not.</p>
<p>The policies allowing dogs vary. Some apply limits on where on the train, tram or bus a dog may travel, on travel during peak hours, and on the size of dog. In cities such as Paris, dogs must pass a “basket test” for riding in a carrier or small bag. </p>
<p>Most cities charge a fare for dogs at a concession or child price. Zurich has gone a step further by offering an <a href="https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/dogs.html">annual travel card</a> for dogs.</p>
<hr>
<p><em><strong>Further reading:</strong> <a href="https://theconversation.com/johnny-depps-dogs-show-evolving-ideas-of-animal-citizenship-41968">Johnny Depp’s dogs show evolving ideas of animal ‘citizenship’</a></em></p>
<hr>
<p>It is interesting that in cultures where private cars are dominant – such as Australia and the US – dogs are restricted from riding on public transport. In Europe, where car ownership and use are less common and public transport use is more the norm, dogs are welcome on trains and buses.</p>
<p>This perhaps says something about how we see public transport in Australia: it is for predictable and “clean” trips, such as the journey to work. </p>
<p>In reality, our lives are made up of messy trips, and to reduce car dependence we need to plan for this mess. This might include measures such as changes to timetables, making the interior of trains and buses more suitable for people carrying groceries, or allowing people to use the train to take their dog on an outing or to the vet. If public transport is for travel for all citizens and dogs are an important part of so many people’s lives, why should dogs be excluded from public transport?</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/87094/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Australian cities generally don’t allow pet dogs on public transport. Instead, owners need their own vehicle to travel with their dogs, and it’s a surprisingly important factor in our car dependency.Jennifer L. Kent, Senior Research Fellow in Urbanism, University of SydneyCorinne Mulley, Professor; Chair in Public Transport, University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/802162017-07-03T10:45:38Z2017-07-03T10:45:38ZDo cats purr when humans aren’t around?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/176426/original/file-20170630-23414-fufmih.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/happy-kitten-likes-being-stroked-by-507456550?src=TYXiUj_9AxXcJbcbp8sb2Q-1-15">PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Why do cats purr? Humans tend to think that purring is a sign of happiness in a cat – and indeed it can be – but there are other reasons why our feline friends produce this particular vocalisation. </p>
<p>Purring is a habit that develops very early in a cat’s life, while suckling from its mother, so clearly it is not a sound that is directed solely at humans. Cat owners will be well aware that a cat can produce more than one kind of purr, just as they have a whole repertoire of meows, chirps, growls, spits and other sounds.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xUf5WHqezSw?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>The purr that is produced during suckling, is quite different in quality to the purr that you will hear when your cat is sprawling across your lap being stroked. <a href="http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0960982209011683/1-s2.0-S0960982209011683-main.pdf?_tid=ca2feb88-5bde-11e7-a4e7-00000aab0f26&acdnat=1498639989_de63d91cbfcdfca568260fc9abd07b74">Analysis of the sound</a> has shown when a cat is asking for food, whether from its mother or a human – the purr contains a high-pitched note that is similar in frequency to a cry (though not as loud). It may have something of the effect of the cry of a newborn, which affects the hormonal state of female mammals and <a href="http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0166432807000897/1-s2.0-S0166432807000897-main.pdf?_tid=e02955ac-5d08-11e7-b2f7-00000aab0f01&acdnat=1498768017_ddab9098f69493f99acf804e0fd07bc3">elicits a care-giving response</a>.</p>
<p>When a cat is being petted or is snuggled up to its owner on the sofa, the purr it produces is much more soporific and generally soothing, and acoustic analysis shows that <a href="http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0960982209011683/1-s2.0-S0960982209011683-main.pdf?_tid=ca2feb88-5bde-11e7-a4e7-00000aab0f26&acdnat=1498639989_de63d91cbfcdfca568260fc9abd07b74">the “cry” component is missing</a>. </p>
<p>Adult cats will often purr when they are close to or in <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1016/j.jfms.2003.09.013">physical contact</a> with another cat, engaging in grooming for example. They will also do it when they play with an inanimate object, or while eating, which can be at a time when they are alone. However, the most usual time for purring is in company, and it can be the care soliciting sound, asking to be fed or stroked, or an indication of social pleasure. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/176421/original/file-20170630-8225-c6s6ug.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/176421/original/file-20170630-8225-c6s6ug.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176421/original/file-20170630-8225-c6s6ug.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176421/original/file-20170630-8225-c6s6ug.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176421/original/file-20170630-8225-c6s6ug.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=500&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176421/original/file-20170630-8225-c6s6ug.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=500&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176421/original/file-20170630-8225-c6s6ug.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=500&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Cats often purr whilst grooming one another.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/one-cat-grooming-another-105962432?src=RTOsf0lp6aBkWKFLT8JjRg-1-44">karamysh/Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>The darker side</h2>
<p>Strangely, vets also report that cats will purr when they are in <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=GgUwg6gU7n4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA67&dq=purring+in+solitary+felines&ots=V-aN4Ee6c9&sig=UqH6gx1KDoto8wtzJjgn7tS3g8M#v=onepage&q=purring%2520in%2520solitary%2520felines&f=false">great pain</a> or just before death. This seems to be illogical if it is a sound relating to pleasure, but in fact, it could be that the cat is asking for help. </p>
<p>It could also be a way of masking the fact that the cat is injured and vulnerable. If you are a small animal, even a carnivore, it is not good to show weakness as this could encourage larger predators to come along and eat you. The purr may be the cat equivalent of “everything’s fine, I’m on top of the world. Nothing to see here, move along please”.</p>
<h2>Can big cats purr too?</h2>
<p>There has long been a debate about whether the “big cats” can purr – and the belief has been that cats that roar, such as lions and tigers, cannot purr. Although there is no conclusive evidence on this subject, it seems that even cats that roar <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2907.2002.00113.x/full">purr as cubs</a> while suckling. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=482&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=606&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=606&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/176406/original/file-20170630-8242-n663ao.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=606&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">It is suggested that cheetahs may purr too.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dianasch/15650436564/">Diana Robinson/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>All mammals have a bone or series of bones in the throat called the hyoid apparatus, which supports the larynx and tongue. In cat species that roar the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00088.x/full">hyoid apparatus is not entirely made of bone</a> but retains some parts as cartilage, while cat species that purr have a hyoid that is completely bony. This modification may permit roaring, but does not necessarily mean that purring is impossible. It is believed that cheetah, ocelot, margay, serval, and lynx, among other species, can purr, and it is suggested that <a href="http://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Zeitschrift-Saeugetierkunde_59_0087-0104.pdf">jaguar, leopard, lion and tiger</a> cannot – or if they can they’ve kept it secret all these years.</p>
<h2>Process behind the purr</h2>
<p>The actual process of <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0034568772900643">producing the purring sound</a> is complicated, and is still not completely understood, but it involves the muscles of the larynx and the diaphragm being activated by bursts of nerve activity that originate in the brain and occur 20 to 30 times every second. This happens on both in and out breaths, which accounts for the continuous sound of the purr. </p>
<p>The fact that a cat can do all this and simultaneously eat, knead the cushions, rip the chair leg to pieces or weave complicated patterns through your legs without getting stepped on makes one wonder what they would have achieved with opposable thumbs.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/80216/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jan Hoole does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Humans tend to associate cats purring with happiness, but in turns out they also purr when in pain, hungry and alone.Jan Hoole, Lecturer in Biology, Keele UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/797552017-06-27T20:07:39Z2017-06-27T20:07:39ZOur pets strengthen neighbourhood ties<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/175749/original/file-20170626-29078-jm23rk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">When dog owners meet, it helps build a safe and connected community. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wrote/2918329823/in/photolist-5rTcMr-aqfvMb-4z9P3Y-7aJTaQ-ARKrrp-4z5yTe-SecDAN-4z5wVp-9pXNkj-aK9FXD-xysah-4z9TEf-4z9PtS-bksncp-7aHRG4-4z5uUX-4z5vv8-4z5yqD-4z9SCb-4z9Umj-rr4eqz-9NCE48-4z9KYm-iTKVws-9NKn2C-9NF42G-9fCKV9-7aHSeg-4z5Cs8-7aF5hT-7aHSfP-9ExnKi-aNVes8-SyBwoM-9JtbCE-SyBwAv-wUPpW-7kGhy8-5VeHBg-7kKYe7-9jndZx-iCistS-4yD9nu-snGMQ5-fEXEc1-8tfNUz-5Vj5Xq-9JsSaq-5Vj69b-fEFeQD">Wrote/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Talk to any pet owner and you are bound to invoke stories about the joy and companionship of having a pet. But evidence is mounting that the effect of pets extends beyond their owners and can help strengthen the social fabric of local neighbourhoods. Now a cross-national study involving Perth, Australia, and three US cities has lent weight to the observation that pets help build social capital.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qcsvDLgfjRw?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</figure>
<p>This is not a frivolous notion, given the erosion of sense of community is often lamented. As Hugh Mackay <a href="http://theconversation.com/hugh-mackay-the-state-of-the-nation-starts-in-your-street-72264">recently observed</a>, not knowing our neighbours has become a sad cliché of contemporary urban life. </p>
<p>I stumbled into pet-related research some 15 years ago when undertaking a PhD on neighbourhoods and sense of community. I was curious about the elements of a neighbourhood that might help people connect to one another, so I threw some in some survey questions about pets. </p>
<p>In what has become my most-cited <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953605000535">academic paper</a>, we found that pet owners were more likely to have higher social capital. This is a concept that captures trust between people (including those we don’t know personally), networks of social support, the exchange of favours with neighbours and civic engagement.</p>
<p>Fast-forward a decade to a much <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827317300344">larger study</a> to look at the relationship between pets and social capital. Pet owners and non-owners were randomly surveyed in four cities (Perth, San Diego, Portland and Nashville – four cities reasonably comparable in size, urban density and climate). </p>
<p>In all four cities, we found owning a pet was significantly associated with higher social capital compared with not owning a pet. This held true after adjusting for a raft of demographic factors that might influence people’s connections in their neighbourhood.</p>
<h2>How do pets help build social bonds?</h2>
<p>It is often assumed that the social benefits of pets are confined to social interactions that occur when people are out walking their dogs. Lots of dog owner anecdotes support this. In this large sample study, however, levels of social capital were higher among pet owners across the board. </p>
<p>We did nonetheless find that social capital was higher among dog owners and those who walked their dogs in particular. Dog owners were <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0122085">five times more likely</a> to have got to know people in their neighbourhood. This makes sense, as dogs are the most likely to get us outside the home.</p>
<p>Yet our survey data and qualitative responses show that a variety of pets can act as a social lubricant. Pets are a great leveller in society, owned and loved by people across social, age and racial strata. Perhaps it is having something in common with other people that strikes a chord, regardless of the type of pet.</p>
<h2>What does this mean for how we live?</h2>
<p>That pets can help build social capital is not just a social nicety or quirky sociological observation. Hundreds of studies internationally show that social capital is a positive predictor for a raft of important social indicators, including mental health, education, crime deterrence, and community safety.</p>
<p>Given pets are <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-the-rise-of-apartment-living-whats-a-nation-of-pet-owners-to-do-58738?sr=1">entrenched in the lives and homes</a> of many Australians, it makes sense to tap into this as a way to strengthen the social fabric of local communities. </p>
<p>Not everyone can or wants to own a pet. But two-thirds of the population does, so our cities and neighbourhoods need to be “pet friendly”. </p>
<p>Australian suburbs are generally pretty good for <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-there-a-place-for-dogs-in-public-space-or-must-they-make-do-with-dog-parks-56147">walkable parks</a> and streets. In this study, we also found that having dog walkers out and about contributes to <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3659-8">perceptions of community safety</a>. </p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=712&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=712&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=712&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=894&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=894&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/175751/original/file-20170627-21898-vaps3d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=894&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Given the broad social benefits of pet ownership, perhaps we need to rethink ‘no pets’ rules where possible.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rabbit_sharing_apple.jpg">Ed Brey/Wikimedia</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>However, in Australia, pets have traditionally belonged to people living in detached housing with backyards. Many rental properties, apartment complexes, and retirement villages still <a href="https://theconversation.com/as-pet-owners-suffer-rental-insecurity-perhaps-landlords-should-think-again-63275?sr=1">default to a “no pets” policy</a>. </p>
<p>Other countries, where renting and higher-density living is more the norm, seem more accepting of pets across the housing spectrum. </p>
<p>Given ageing populations, housing affordability and the need to curb urban sprawl are critical social trends in many countries (including Australia), maybe we need to <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-need-a-better-understanding-of-how-we-manage-dogs-to-help-them-become-better-urban-citizens-64749">recalibrate our notions</a> of who can own a pet and where they can live. This is not to say that pets have to be allowed everywhere, but the default to “no pets allowed” is questionable. </p>
<p>My father-in-law in his 80s, for example, couldn’t downsize to a retirement complex because his extremely docile rescue greyhound exceeded the “10kg pet” rule. He couldn’t bear to part with Moby, a faithful companion through whom he met many local residents daily at the park nearby.</p>
<h2>Constant companions in times of change</h2>
<p>A lot of my current research is around homelessness. Chatting recently with a man who was homeless with his dog on the streets of Melbourne, he told me how his dog gets him up in the morning, keeps him safe at night, and gets them both walking daily. </p>
<p>His dog was one of the few stable things in his life, so he needed a public housing option that would allow pets.</p>
<p>People who are homeless also need crisis accommodation options that accept their pets. Hence it is great to see places such as <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Find_Help/WA/Homeless_Mental_Health_Services/Tom_Fisher_House/">Tom Fisher House</a> in Perth, opening its doors to rough sleepers with pets needing a safe place to sleep. </p>
<p>Beyond the practical implications for pet-friendly cities, the potential for pets to enrich the social fabric of communities has strong appeal in an era of global uncertainty, frenetic “busyness” and technology-driven communications. As cultural analyst Sheryl Turkle has said, the ways people interact and forge relationships have undergone massive change and we can end up “<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together">connected, but alone</a>”. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MtLVCpZIiNs?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Sherry Turkle talks about why we expect more from technology and less from each other.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>By contrast, humans have been drawn to companion animals since early civilisation. In many people’s lives, they remain a tangible constant that can yield enduring social capital benefits.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/79755/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>This research had ethics approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee at UWA. The study received funding from WALTHAM (Centre for Pet Nutrition) but the funder did not influence the data collection, analysis or study findings and the interpretation of results and content of the published paper remained the final decision of the UWA research team. </span></em></p>A study of Australian and US cities has demonstrated that pet ownership strengthens people’s connections with their neighbours.Lisa Wood, Associate Professor, Centre for Social Impact and School of Population Health, The University of Western AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.