anthrozoology.org

Bagcgl, A. F.; Ikz, S.; Ozgur, N. Y.; Ilgaz, A.;

Childs, J. E.; Gordon, E. R.;

Souza, M. J.

Mani, Indu.  Maguire, James H.   Natick Animal Clinic, Natick, MA USA, and Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Demetriou, J. L.; Geddes, R. F.; Jeffery, N. D.;

Demetriou, J L.  Geddes, R F.  Jeffery, N D.   Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge

  Downes, Martin.  Canty, Mary J.  More, Simon J.

 Rowan, Andrew N.  

The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, DC 20037, USA.

arowan@hsus.org    

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.  35(4):477-82, 2008. 

This article outlines the development of academic veterinary interest in the human-animal bond (HAB) and provides short summaries of the various centers currently studying the HAB at North American universities. Although most of these centers are at veterinary schools, the level of involvement by veterinarians is surprisingly low, considering how important a strong HAB is for the average veterinary practitioner (the stronger the bond, the more the client will be willing to pay for veterinary services).

Beck, Alan M.  Martin, Francois. 

Center for the Human-Animal Bond, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2027, USA.

 abeck@purdue.edu   

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.  35(4):483-6, 2008. 

The human-animal bond (HAB) is viewed as growing in importance for practicing veterinarians, veterinary students, and society in general. The fields and activities concerning the HAB are interdisciplinary and varied. There is widespread belief that HAB programs are important for veterinarians, although many practitioners feel that their instruction on this topic was not as complete as desired. Most activities associated with the HAB are conducted in specific centers, but only about half of the veterinary schools in North America have such centers, and the instructional programs they offer to students show much variation. The purpose of this study was to survey North American veterinary schools and to document the activities related to the HAB and HAB centers that are available to veterinary students.

Sherman, Barbara L.  Serpell, James A. 

Department of Clinical Sciences, Animal Behavior Service, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27606-1499, USA.

 barbara_sherman@ncsu.edu 

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.  35(4):496-502, 2008. 

Knowledge of animal behavior is an extremely important component of modern veterinary practice. Appreciation of species-typical behavior helps to ensure that veterinary patients are handled safely and humanely, and plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of health and welfare problems in animals, including the recognition of pain and distress. Veterinary students who acquire a good understanding of animal behavior will be better clinicians and will be best able to promote and repair the "human-animal bond," that important connection between people and their pets. Animal behavior problems can negatively impact this critical relationship, leading to abandonment, re-homing, relinquishment to an animal shelter, and sometimes premature euthanasia of the animal. Therefore, identifying, preventing, and treating behavior problems is important in maintaining the human-animal bond. Education in animal behavior should be an essential part of the veterinary curriculum; a board-certified veterinary behaviorist should be an integral member of the veterinary college faculty.