The Complexity of the Human–Companion Animal Bond

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2024 | Viewed by 643

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE, USA
Interests: human-animal social bonds; pet-owner relationship; animal behavior; behavioral neuroendocrinology; wellness; animal welfare

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Social relationships and early life histories play an important role in the physical and psychological well-being of many animal species. The close relationships some humans form with companion animals can be both beneficial and, in some cases, detrimental, to the well-being of that animal and their human. While numerous studies have examined the benefits of the human–animal bond to humans, few investigations have been performed on the benefits or their lack thereof to the animals. In addition, studies investigating the early life histories and husbandry of animals on future behaviors such as forming beneficial bonds with humans are also sparse.

In this Special Issue, studies or review papers exploring the variables important for forming healthy human–companion animal bonds are encouraged. Similarly, studies or review papers examining unhealthy or dysfunctional relationships between humans and companion animals are also encouraged.

Dr. Rosemary Strasser
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • human–animal bond
  • human–animal relationships
  • companion animals
  • early life histories
  • social behavior
  • stress
  • welfare

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 1168 KiB  
Article
Where Do They Come From and Where Do They Go? Socioeconomic Patterns in Dog Acquisition and Rehoming
by Tom Kremer and Sue M. Neal
Animals 2024, 14(9), 1378; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ani14091378 - 3 May 2024
Viewed by 459
Abstract
This research examines the ways people acquire dogs in the US as well as the ways the dogs leave the household and the way these differ by income level in seven geographically diverse study communities. A web-based panel survey was distributed and received [...] Read more.
This research examines the ways people acquire dogs in the US as well as the ways the dogs leave the household and the way these differ by income level in seven geographically diverse study communities. A web-based panel survey was distributed and received 6318 responses. Individuals were asked a series of demographic and socioeconomic questions as well as how they acquired their current dogs, how previous dogs left their household, and where they left to. The results indicate that the likelihood of acquiring a dog through friends and family decreased monotonically as income increased, while the opposite was observed for adopting and purchasing a dog. The likelihood of giving a dog away to a friend or family member also decreased as income increased, as opposed to shelter surrender—a person earning over USD 100,000 annually was more than four times likelier to surrender to a shelter than a person earning under USD 15,000. The results suggest a stronger reliance on informal social networks in lower-income communities for both obtaining and placing dogs. As these dogs would otherwise end up in the shelter system, animal shelters may support low-income pet owners to help keep their dogs within their community of care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Complexity of the Human–Companion Animal Bond)
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