Chicago, US (July 22, 2013) --- Positive results from three new studies on human-animal interaction (HAI) are being presented today at the triennial conference of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO) in Chicago, IL. The studies, supported by funding from Mars and the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition (WALTHAM®), examined how pets impact our physical and emotional well-being and our social relationships and community connectedness. WALTHAM® is the state-of-the-art petcare science centre for Mars Petcare and provides the science and expertise underpinning leading Mars Petcare brands.
"We are seeing a number of critical advances in the field that are expanding our understanding of the benefits of human-animal interaction for human, animal, and community well-being. We are proud to support important research in this area and advance and share knowledge of the positive and lasting effects of pet ownership," said Dr. Sandra McCune, Scientific Leader - Human-Animal Interaction, at WALTHAM®.
As a lead sponsor in this year's conference and long-term supporter of HAI research, WALTHAM® sponsored several studies presented at the IAHAIO conference, including the following:
The involvement of Mars Petcare and WALTHAM® in IAHAIO is part of a broader commitment to human-animal interaction research, which also includes major sponsorship of the annual conference hosted by the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) that took place earlier this week on July 18-19 in Chicago and also featured research by WALTHAM®, their collaborators and grantees.
For additional information about the research results, go to http://www.iahaio.org .
References:
Associations Between Momentary Emotion, Basal Cortisol Production and Reactivity, and Observed Behavior in a Sample of Normal and At-Risk 5th Through 8th Grade Children During Their First Mounted Equine Facilitated Learning Activity. Patricia Pendry, Alexa Carr, Annelise Smith, Stephanie Roeter, (All: Washington State University, US)
[Presented at the triennial conference of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations - "IAHAIO 2013: Humans and animals: The inevitable bond"]
Experimental Trial Demonstrates Positive Effects of Equine Facilitated Learning on Child Social Competence. Pendry. P & Roeter.S, Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin 2013, Vol 1, No 1, 1-19.
The Pet Assisted Living intervention for functional status in assisted living residents. Erika Friedmann (University of Maryland, US), Elizabeth Galik (University of Maryland, US), Sue A. Thomas (University of Maryland, US), P. Sue Hall (University of Maryland, US), Sandra McCune (WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition, UK)
Pounding the pavement: Does dog walking influence perceptions of safety? Hayley Christian (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Lisa Wood (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Andrea Nathan (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Karen Martin (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Stephen Houghton (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Ichiro Kawachi (Harvard University, US), Sandra McCune (WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition, UK)
Companion animals as a conduit for fostering social networks and social support. Lisa Wood (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Hayley Christian (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Andrea Nathan (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Claire Lauritsen (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Karen Martin (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Stephen Houghton (The University of Western Australia, Aus), Ichiro Kawachi (Harvard University, US), Sandra McCune (WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition, UK)
About the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition:
Celebrating 50 years of innovative science, the WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition serves as a leading scientific authority in advancing the frontiers of research into the nutrition and health of companion animals. Located in Leicestershire, England, the renowned state-of-the-art science institute for Mars, Incorporated generates knowledge that enables the development of innovative products that meet pets' needs in a practical way. Since the publication of its first original research in 1963, WALTHAM® has pioneered many important breakthroughs in the field of pet nutrition and human-animal interaction, resulting in more than 1,700 publications, including over 600 peer-review scientific papers. Today, WALTHAM® continues to collaborate with the world's foremost scientific institutes, driving Mars' Petcare vision to create a better world for pets and providing the science and expertise that underpins leading Mars brands such as WHISKAS®, PEDIGREE®, NUTRO®, TRILL®, CESAR®, SHEBA®, KITEKAT®, DREAMIES™, AQUARIAN®, WINERGY®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital and the ROYAL CANIN brand.
About Mars, Incorporated
In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 72,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.
Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, NUTRO®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and CESAR®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food –UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA ® Coffee Roasterscoffee, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.® tea,DOVE®/GALAXY® Hot Chocolate, and FLAVIA® brewer; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA®, WISDOM PANEL® and SERAMIS®.
For more information, please visit http://www.mars.com . Follow us: facebook.com/mars , twitter.com/marsglobal , youtube.com/mars .