Speaker biographies and abstracts
Friday, 29 May
Plenary 1: Advancing HAI beyond boundaries and across societies: Developing a roadmap towards the future
ABSTRACT
How do we advance the field of HAI beyond cultural boundaries? This presentation unpacks the complexities of moving HAI beyond boundaries and societies by increasing an understanding of people’s interactions with animals across cultures; and highlighting ongoing and changing global HAI challenges and concerns. The presentation will draw on the speaker’s research in HAI with world cultures on attitudes and values towards animals in different societies that impact AAI and other issues in HAI such as quality of relationship between humans and animals in professional (therapist/client/handler-animal) and domestic (caregiver-companion animal) capacities and animal welfare in HAI. The presentation will include directions for the future, including implications for practitioners, researchers and policy makers.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Brinda Jegatheesan is Associate Professor in Educational Psychology at the University of Washington and Vice-President- Development for the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO). Her research examines the cultural contexts of HAI; children’s experiences with animals and the cultivation of moral reasoning and reverence for life; culturally responsive animal-assisted interventions; and animal welfare in HAI. Jegatheesan is a member of several HAI scholarly committees and boards including: the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ), Human-Animal Bond Research Initiative Foundation (HABRI), Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin (HAIB), and a Fellow at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection, Denver.
Friday, 29 May
Plenary 2: Achieving quality assurance in AAI: current directions, successes and challenges
ABSTRACT
Performing “good work” is a central element of the self-image of people working in animal-assisted therapy. In everyday language “good work” is mostly used in connection with high or good quality. If something is unsuccessful one speaks of “poor quality”. But what characterises good work? What does “high quality” mean? The development and assurance of quality standards for animal-assisted interventions is not simply important for performing good work for clients but also vital for the animals used in our work.
The term “quality” is used in a variety of contexts and has been given many, often misleading, meanings. The quality of animal-assisted interventions is meant in a general sense – when desired effects are achieved and undesirable effects are prevented. The criteria which will be presented are intended to offer practitioners a framework of suggestions that can be used to assess the quality of one’s own work or can be used for peer review.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Dr Rainer Wohlfarth works as a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and researcher. He is head of the departments “Professional Training and Education for AAI” and “Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy” at Anima Tierwelt, Breitenbrunnen – a unique project in the field of HAI. He is also president of the European Society of Animal Assisted Therapy (ESAAT) and serves on several committees in the area of AAI. He has published scientific papers and lectures on HAI and AAI.
Saturday, 30 May
Plenary 3: Ten Steps to Program Success and Sustainability: Lessons Learned at Green Chimneys
ABSTRACT
Green Chimneys, a school for children founded in 1947 in Brewster, NY, USA was conceived to bring students and animals together from the start for the benefit of both. To this day the program implements animal assisted and nature based education, therapy and recreation. Many experts in the field consider Green Chimneys a model worth replicating. From humble beginnings Green Chimneys today serves hundreds of children, maintains 300 animals of diverse species and operates with a 40 million dollar budget. What are the secrets to this success and can lessons learned at this not-for-profit organization be helpful to other programs? Join Michael Kaufmann, Director of the Farm and the Sam and Myra Ross Institute at Green Chimneys for a fast paced review of „the basics“ that might be worth considering.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Michael Kaufmann is the Farm & Wildlife Director at Green Chimneys and the Director of The Sam and Myra Ross Institute at Green Chimneys, dedicated to research on the human connection to animals and the natural world. He served the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the American Humane Association (AHA) as a key program director in animal-assisted activities/therapy, humane education and animal welfare. He has contributed to defining publications in the field and has served on numerous national boards and committees. He has lectured internationally on humane education, animal-assisted activities as well as how the link between child abuse and animal cruelty offers opportunity for collaboration between various helping professions
Saturday, 30 May
Plenary 4: The significance of HAI and AAI in an ageing society – Global Perspectives
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Rebecca Johnson is Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing & Public Policy at University of Missouri and a Full Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). She founded and directs the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) at the MU CVM. Her innovative and timely externally funded research program demonstrates that companion animals may provide a unique source of social support and facilitate motivation for exercise and other wellness-promoting behaviors. Author of many publications, Dr. Johnson’s two books (Purdue University Press) are based on her research and promote the importance of dog walking for health of both ends of the leash, “Health Benefits of Dog Walking,” and “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound.”
Saturday, 30 May
Plenary 4: HAI and AAI in an ageing society – current research activities in Denmark
ABSTRACT
The use of visiting dogs in nursing homes is widespread, however, there is a need to obtain more scientific knowledge about this type of intervention if we want to know the causal pathways of short and long term effects. This is important if dog visits are to be applicable to a large range of nursing home residents with different levels of cognitive impairment and other challenges.
I will talk about the need for more quantitative studies and why this is important. I will give a short overview of the research projects I am in charge of and involved in, where we have implemented quantitative and objective behavioural measures in addition to more traditional effect measures.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Karen Thodberg has taken the initiative to start up scientific work on therapy animals in Denmark and established this research area at the University of Aarhus, by implementing the competences in her own group and by taking initiative to an interdisciplinary co-operation with psychiatric and psychological researchers. Apart from this she has worked with a range of ethological issues, including coping strategies, maternal behaviour, human-animal interactions in husbandry animals, behaviour test, housing and grouping of horses, housing of chickens and tail biting in pigs.
Saturday, 30 May
Introducing Workshop 2: Considerations for animal welfare in AAI – real life case examples
ABSTRACT
Animal Assisted Interventions can bring great benefit to clients. However the various potential risks to the animals’ welfare in visiting and residential programmes need to be identified, understood and addressed. Comprehensive preventive protocols are effective and include detailed multidisciplinary planning with veterinary involvement; careful species matching with facility environs and with client groups; careful animal selection including screening for health, temperament and behaviour; individual animal care plans; regular veterinary checks; record keeping; volunteer and staff training, including in early recognition of stress symptoms. Animal welfare issues cause stress, leading to animal ill health and behaviour problems. They also reduce the effectiveness of the interventions and may put people at risk from injury. Stressed animals may have to be withdrawn.
This workshop will provide opportunities for delegates to discuss their concerns and to share examples of good practice. Animal welfare is of paramount importance in AAI and should not be compromised. We must honour the bond.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Dr Elizabeth Ormerod (BVMS MRCVS FRSA) is a veterinarian who has pioneered bond-centred veterinary practice and community outreach programmes, introducing AAI to many settings for diverse client groups.
Elizabeth is a Vice President of IAHAIO, a Director of SCAS, BVA Animal Welfare Foundation representative for Scotland and is a visiting lecturer on the bond at UK veterinary schools. She co-founded Canine Partners, is a Churchill Fellow and is the recipient of the Inaugural William F McCulloch Award for Excellence in Human Animal Interaction Practice.