FORTHCOMING
A WAG PARTNERSHIP FOR MONTHLY “MEET THE ANTHROZOOLOGIST” WITH THE HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION SECTION OF APA
The Human Animal Interaction Section of the American Psychological Association (APA) s dedicated to professional and scholarly activities that advance the understanding of human-animal interactions.
The HAI Section offers several anthrozoological events that are available to all HAI section members (membership is free, and open to all students and professionals interested in the field of HAI). You can join and sign up for any events here
Ongoing events include:
Monthly Journal Club - 3rd Wednesday of month 10 MT.
These club meetings include a short presentation by a HAI researcher about his/her research followed by a casual Q and A session.
Meet the Anthrozoologist – TBA as a partnership with WAG
These interactive, casual meetings allow you to meet experts in the field of HAI.
Monthly Behavior and Enrichment webinar series - First Thursday every month 1 MT
presented by Emily Tronetti, MS, CTC, CPDT-KA, UW-AAB
The HAI section also sponsors the Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin (HAIB).
HAIB is a free, open access, online, peer-reviewed publication devoted to the dissemination of research in the field of the interaction between non-human animals and their human counterparts. No publication charges. Submit articles here
WAG Faculty Interest Groups by Species
With UCD faculty engaged in studying a wide range of species, WAG scholars have found it useful to get together occasionally by species focus to share information on their current research projects. The Department of Population Health and Reproduction currently facilitates two of these discussion groups.
Feline Interest Group: Melissa Bain, Tony Buffington, Cindi Delany, Emma Grigg, Ben Hart, Lynette Hart, Kate Hurley, Liz Stelow, Geoffrey Wandesforde-Smith, Leslie Lyons (University of Missouri)
This group of feline researchers has strong interest in research involving cat behavior and cat-human interactions. The group has met quarterly for a couple of years to discuss ongoing UCD feline research projects and possible collaborations of mutual interest. Leslie Lyons joins meetings when visiting UCD and recently spearheaded a grant proposal that included several members of our UCD group. A new Frontiers in Veterinary Science Research Topic is now open for submissions with four of the co-editors from UCD: “Exploring Cats: Their Behaviors and Human-Cat Interactions.” The primary edited resource on cats currently available is Turner and Bateson’s The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behavior (3 editions). Considering that cats are the most numerous animal companion, the shortage of scholarly resources is surprising.
Farm Animal Interest Group: Rosie Busch, Fernanda Ferreira, Lynette Hart, Tina Horback, Gaby Ute Maier, Noelia Silva-Del-Rio
This group of farm animal researchers is a community of scholars that work with dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. The group has held its first meeting for discussions on animal welfare and human-farm animal interactions and identified some research questions and opportunities for further exploration. These include approaches to assess methods that may improve caregiving of animals. Programs involving prison inmates in caregiving of dairy cows or swine is a therapeutic context in California that the group discussed. This group plans to meet every two months and deepen collaborative possibilities.
For more information: contact Lynette Hart: lahart@ucdavis.edu
WAG ACTIVITIES SPRING 2021
WAG-Connect: UC Student/Alumni Advisory Group, April 20, 2021
- Sara Clarkson UC Davis Honors undergraduate: Psychology and Animal Science, founded a student club
- Kimberly Conway DVM: MPVM Candidate, UC Davis
- Serene Liu BS (UC Davis, Genetics): UC Davis graduate student in Epidemiology, founder of Davis Puppy Pals
- Ashley Tringali BS (UC Davis, Animal Science): Starfleet Service Dogs
- Sandra Walther Honors BS (UC Davis, Animal Science): Canine Companions, assisting Emily Bray in research
- Liya Levanda MA PsyD candidate (California School of Professional Psychology)
This advisory group aims to get the word out to students about Anthrozoology---"Animal Science is more than cows and clinical vets!” Possible approaches include increasing outreach efforts to reach freshman students at Decision Day, Orientation, Freshman seminars, career panel on non-vet, non-livestock options, pre-health conference, or high school students. The group emphasized the importance of contacting students as soon as they are arriving to campus to inform them about opportunities in anthrozoology.
UCD WAG: Farm Animals, April 26, 2021
- Roselle Busch
- Fernanda Ferreira
- Lynette Hart
- Virginia Buechner-Maxwell DVM MS DACVIM: Large Animal Veterinary, Virginia Tech (V)
This meeting considered the special challenges in farm environments for veterinarians who see their clients infrequently, lack technical support, and have no oversight of the animal caregivers. How does animal welfare and caregiver wellbeing progress? Feedlot consultants (e.g., Academy of Veterinary Consultants), nutrition experts, and veterinary extension contribute educational support. State inspectors examine use of drugs and antibiotics and require paperwork. Finding ways to build pride in producing high quality animals is a goal, as opposed to it being just a job. Addressing the caregivers’ needs is difficult to deliver. One approach for increased training on the farms would be an on-farm training approach using communities of practice (CoPs). A CoP pilot project developed by Martin Smith, in UCD Cooperative Extension, using CoPs that focuses on professional development of farmers and farm employees to address the effective and appropriate use of antibiotics on dairy farms and other livestock operations in California is underway currently. Communities of practice (CoPs) have the potential of being transferable and could help influence farmer or farm employee decision-making behavior as it relates to the judicious use of antimicrobials. Early results from the project have revealed improved communication between farm employees and middle management, as well as improved on-farm practices.
WAG Anthrozoology Educators International, May 4, 2021
- Andrea Beetz MA PhD: Germany; International University of Applied Sciences (U&G)
- Pauleen Bennett Masters Psychology, PhD: Australia; La Trobe University (U&G)
- Lynette Hart MA PhD: US, formerly visiting prof in Grenada; University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine (V&U&G)
- Karin Hediger PhD: Switzerland, Netherlands; University of Basel, Open University in Netherlands (U&G)
- GwiHyang (Lisa) Lee PhD: South Korea; The Catholic University of Korea (IACUC)
- Daniel Mills BVSc PhD FRCVS: UK; University of Lincoln (U&G)
- Quixi Sonntag BVSc: South Africa; University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science (UV&UVN)
- Mariko Yamamoto MS PhD: Japan; Teikyo University of Science (U&G)
- Donald Broom MA PhD: UK; Cambridge; Animal Welfare, Cambridge University (V&G)
- Ludwig Huber Mag rer nat Dr rer nat: Austria; Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute (V&M)
- Locksley Messam Dr Med Vet PhD: Jamaica, Hungary, Ital, US, Ireland: Vet Epidemiology, University College Dublin (V)
UV, undergrad vet education; UVN, undergrad vet nursing education; V, veterinary school; U, undergraduate education; G, graduate education; IACUC, animal care and use committees)
This inaugural meeting of international Anthrozoology Educators featured a strong contingent of both veterinarians and human health professionals involved in teaching and research on anthrozoology, with only two participants working primarily in veterinary schools. Each person’s context differed in specific subject matter in curricula, types of research opportunities available to students, and emphasis on animal and/or human welfare. Much of the discussion focused on the breadth of anthrozoology, and how best to address that with students. While the anthrozoology field can be a strong vehicle for fostering students’ critical thinking skills, practical needs also arise on issues such as assistance dogs or animal caregivers’ stress. Both undergraduate and graduate students manifest strong interest in human-animal interactions; these faculty focused on considering core competencies that are fundamental for graduate students. Offering a collaborative portfolio of instructional modules could be a possibility, perhaps leading to some type of certificate. A cautionary note was that endeavors already underway for some years with animal-assisted therapy curricula have progressed slowly (perhaps a narrower focus than envisioned here). How course and research opportunities would relate to future professional options available to students remains an open question.
Pauleen Bennett at LaTrobe, Karin Hediger at University of Basel, and Andrea Beetz at International University of Applied Sciences are in psychology contexts with considerable flexibility in their teaching of undergraduates and conducting research. Mariko Yamamoto does extensive undergrad teaching at Teikyo University of Science, a more animal-oriented institution. Quixi Sonntag is on the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort, where she teaches veterinarians and veterinary nurses. GwiHyang (Lisa) Lee at Catholic University spearheads education regarding uses of animals in research, teaching, and testing in Korea, and prepares explanatory literature. Daniel Mills, at University of Lincoln, participates in an undergraduate degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour.
WAG Anthrozoology NA Educators A, May 27, 2021
- Beth Daly PhD: Anthrozoology/Education, University of Windsor (U&G)
- Nancy Gee MA PhD: Psychiatry/Medical, Virginia Commonwealth University (M)
- Gaylene Fasenko MS PhD: Animal and Range Sciences, NMSU (U&G)
- Phyllis Erdman MEd PhD: Education, Washington State University (V)
- Robert Mitchell MS PhD: Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University (U&G)
- Virginia Buechner-Maxwell DVM MS DACVIM: Large Animal Veterinary, Virginia Tech (V)
- Christy Hoffman MA PhD: Anthrozoology, Canisius College (U&G)
- Lori Kogan PhD: Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Colorado State University (V)
- Zenithson Ng DVM MS DABVP: Clinical Sciences, Veterinary, University of Tennessee (V)
- Brinda Jegatheesan MEd PhD: Education, University of Washington (U&G)
- Gretchen Carlisle PhD Med RN: HAI and Autism, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine (V)
- Janet Hoy-Gerlach LISW-S PhD: Social Work, University of Toledo (U) (M, medical school; V, veterinary school; U, undergraduate education; G, graduate education)
North American (NA) veterinary schools give a DVM degree, whereas the rest of the world generally offers a BVSc. Veterinary schools offering a DVM, like other professional schools, have their own administrations and budget and usually have little involvement with undergraduate education. This poses hurdles for numerous educators situated at NA veterinary schools (usually scientists who may be very knowledgeable about anthrozoology), with no easy method or incentives for reaching undergraduate students. Yet, the undergraduates are seeking opportunities and would welcome research experience, and often these are the most talented students. This helps explain why undergraduate offerings in anthrozoology often lag on campuses with veterinary schools, and some of the most extensive offerings are at smaller schools. Much of the discussion focused on considering the types of resources that would be useful to share with other educators interested in offering courses or developing minors or majors, or graduate offerings. Virginia Buechner-Maxwell offered to host a site for these resources, and Beth Daly also offered to assist in this effort that will be explored.
This group offered a broad variety of contexts for anthrozoology. Beth Daly at Windsor spearheaded an anthrozoology minor with numerous course offerings. Bob Mitchell at EKU has hosted a relevant major for over a decade; he mentioned that the graduating students consistently are employed in positions related to their majors. Both undergrads and masters students are served by Gaylene Fasenko at NMSU and Christy Hoffman at Canisius. Nancy Gee at Virginia Commonwealth University works in a medical school context in rotations and therapeutic interventions, and Zenithson Ng at University of Tennessee and Virginia Buechner-Maxwell at Virginia Tech are at veterinary schools, providing varied opportunities. Phyllis Erdman at Washington State and Lori Kogan at Colorado State bring a counseling perspective to their veterinary schools.
WAG Anthrozoology NA Educators B, May 28, 2021
- Megan Mueller MA PhD: Clinical Sciences Veterinary Tufts University (V&U)
- Maggie O’Haire PhD: Comparative Pathobiology Veterinary Purdue University (V)
- Harriet Ritvo PhD: History MIT (U&G)
- James Serpell PhD: Clinical Studies Veterinary University of Pennsylvania (V)
- Leslie Sinn DVM ACVB: formerly, Northern Virginia Community College Veterinary Technology Program (UVN)
- Evan MacLean PhD: Anthropology University of Arizona (U&new V)
- Emma Grigg MA PhD CAAB: Population Health & Reproduction Veterinary UC Davis (V&U)
- Lynette Hart MA PhD: Population Health & Reproduction Veterinary UC Davis (V&U)
- Nancy Ann Dreschel DVM PhD: Animal Science Pennsylvania State University (U&G)
- Brian Ogle AAS Vet Tech MS EdD: Anthrozoology Beacon College (U)
- Lisa Townsend LCSW PhD: Children Medical Virginia Commonwealth University (M)
- Shelly Volsche MA PhD: Anthropology Boise State University (U&G)
- (M, medical school; V, veterinary school; UVN, undergrad vet nursing; U, undergrad education; G, graduate education)
This group examined some of the barriers between undergraduate and veterinary education that had been revealed in earlier groups. For example, two faculty are located at veterinary schools but provided no time or credit for teaching undergraduates, e.g., Maggie O’Haire at Purdue and James Serpell at University of Pennsylvania. O’Haire announced the Centers for the Human-Animal Bond Conference that will be held November 4-5, virtually. Serpell’s involvement in an on-line certificate that is popular and growing has proven very time-demanding. Megan Mueller at Tufts, with a longstanding masters program and other partnership options, experiences few barriers between veterinary and undergraduate education. She also mentioned that their graduates are easily employed. Leslie Sinn, while not currently teaching, has extensive past experience in vet tech undergraduate education. Evan MacLean teaches large undergrad courses at University of Arizona in animal cognition and dog behavior with GE credit, plus has PhD offerings, and a new veterinary school, promising a context lacking barriers that are common elsewhere. Lynette Hart and Emma Grigg at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine offer courses and research opportunities for undergraduates. Finally, strongly representing the humanities, Harriet Ritvo taught a scholarly undergrad/graduate seminar at MIT for many years, on people and other animals, for which she has provided several of her syllabi for posting.
Exceptional lecture: Video is posted and open for viewing
2nd Annual WAG Lecture: Donald Broom, May 18, 2021
How does One Biology alter human interactions with other species?
New Book on Potential Careers for Students!
Career Paths in Human-Animal Interaction for Social and Behavioral Scientists
edited by Lori Kogan, Phyllis Erdman, 2021, Routledge
Personal accounts from many people who have careers dealing with anthrozoology
Upcoming Conference from Purdue University!
2021 Virtual Centers for the Human-Animal Bond Conference, November 4-5, 2021
- November 4: Free and open to the public
- November 5: Invitational
https://vet.purdue.edu/ce/chab.php
New Book for Lab Animal Settings!
Behavioral Biology of Laboratory Animals edited by Kristine Coleman, Steven J. Schapiro, 2021, CRC Press
A close behavioral look at the wide range of species that may be found in laboratories
UCD WAG, June 4, 2021
- Emma Grigg
- Ruth Gustafson
- Lynette Hart
- Tina Horback
- Carly Moody
- Anita Oberbaue
- Sandra Walther
The major asset of the field of anthrozoology is the large number of motivated and involved students seeking to learn about the field—they are the most talented students! (And we are not yet delivering anthrozoology coursework and research opportunities to them efficiently.) A discussion of how to notify incoming students about anthrozoology opportunities, as suggested by the WAG Alumni/Student Group, mentioned the numerous special animal-oriented days: goat, horse, mule, sheep. All of these would be ideal for informing students about anthrozoology with handouts or an information table. With the new student clubs, it was suggested that they acquire an enthusiastic faculty advisor, and develop a succession plan, perhaps merging clubs into one.
Regarding undergraduate minors, our next steps could include working within the 5 animal science minors already available. Conversations with departments of Public Health Sciences, NPB (urban wildlife), and Psychology also will be useful. With considerable turnover underway in our campus administrative leadership, opportunities are possible for expanding anthrozoology courses.