Search Results (240)

Climate change is radically altering the Earth’s natural ecosystems, with temperature/precipitation alterations resulting in mismatches between specific ecosystems and their ‘new’ climatic profiles. Without political action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, most plant/animal species will need to move to higher latitudes to ensure survival. Many are incapable of migrating rapidly and will thus be reliant on human intervention to relocate to new regions (assisted migration). The first hypothetical steps of assisted migration are explored here, using the UK as a model. Urban parks/gardens have a history of hosting non-native plant species and could be used to test the validity of moving non-native plants and animals to regions of higher latitude. In this perspective paper, we added a small experimental component to examine public attitudes to species introductions into urban parks/gardens. Results showed support for using parks and gardens to protect both UK native and non-native wildlife. Indeed, >50% of respondents favoured utilising urban landscapes to conserve small non-native animals (e.g., tortoises and bee-eaters). These results imply there may be some public acceptance of assisted migration. Thus, the paper explores the potential to develop novel, but more sustainable ecosystems in new localities. Full article

Animal-Assisted Services (AAS), together with art therapy, represent an innovative resource in prisons, promoting the emotional and relational well-being of inmates. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated protocol of Animal-Assisted Services and art therapy, with a focus on the selection and monitoring of dogs included in AAS. Forty-two male inmates from a prison in southern Italy were involved. The year-long intervention included weekly group activities with three trained AAS dogs chosen by their personality profiles. The dogs’ well-being was monitored at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the program; data was also collected on the occurrence of critical events for the inmates. The results showed that the dogs maintained a stable profile of psychological and physical well-being and good behavioral regulation, while the inmates showed a significant reduction in critical events. In conclusion, the integrated approach tested, based on the careful selection of dogs, activities tailored to the needs of inmates, and continuous monitoring, proved effective in ensuring animal well-being and promoting improvement in prison conditions. Full article

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are emerging as a promising treatment avenue for adolescent social anxiety. However, the behavioral mechanisms underlying positive results remain unclear. In addition, behavioral signs of discomfort or stress in therapy dogs may suggest concerns about the dog’s welfare. This study examined the associations between stress-linked and affiliative behaviors of adolescents and therapy dogs with adolescent stress reactivity outcomes within an experimental setting in a sample of 50 participants. Linear regression models primarily indicated null findings, with no significant relationships between adolescent affiliative, dog affiliative, or adolescent stress behaviors to self-reported anxiety or psychophysiological arousal. However, the stress-linked behaviors of shake-off and yawning in dogs were negatively associated with adolescent stress reactivity, although the relationships had small effect sizes. These findings provide preliminary insights into the behavioral mechanisms related to changes in adolescent arousal and implications for dog welfare within AAIs. Future research should replicate with larger samples, test for effects with different dogs, and use diverse physiological stress markers for both species involved in the intervention. Additionally, examining the temporal relationships between adolescents and therapy dog behaviors to stress reactivity outcomes would provide insight into causal relationships. Full article

Tactile contact is a key element of animal-assisted interventions (AAI), yet its effects on the animals involved remain poorly understood. Seven adult goats were included in the experiment, which examined three factors influencing tactile contact: the body region (head/neck, trunk, hindquarters; R1–R3), the ordinal position in the stroking sequence (first, second, third; O1–O3) and the location context (slightly enriched goat house and a highly enriched pasture; L1, L2). It was found that when stroking occurred first in the position of the sequence (O1), the duration of touch was significantly shorter (p < 0.0001). In addition, it was observed that when the session started with the trunk (R2), the total contact duration (T) was significantly longer (p < 0.039). No differences were found between the duration of contact in different locations (p = 0.179). These results may indicate that the initial phase was critical for the overall contact. Furthermore, the longer duration of contact, when initiated on the trunk, may indicate a relative preference for this body region. These findings suggest that human contact remains equally attractive to goats regardless of the enrichment of their location. Full article

Children diagnosed with autism face many barriers to learning. Animal Assisted Services and Interventions (AAS/AAI) have been adopted to support children within schools. The Dog Mentor is a UK-based organisation that provides training for handlers and assesses dogs to be integrated within schools. It adopts a rigorous and continuous training package and ensures the safety and welfare of all involved by adopting a whole school approach. This research uses content analysis to understand the types of activities and outcomes in The Dog Mentor programme, as established by teachers and dog handlers, across 58 schools. Teachers and dog handlers perceived that The Dog Mentor successfully supported children with autism, using a variety of sessions. This variability is seen as a benefit as it enables the intervention to be tailored to meet the needs of the students. Handler-reported benefits include creating a calm environment, promoting engagement, and supporting learning. Improved self- and emotion regulation, mental health, and resilience were also noted by the handler reports. Future research needs to investigate these perceived benefits using quantitative data, as well as look into outcomes relating to the dogs supporting others with bereavement and trauma. This topic was briefly mentioned by two of the schools, but there was not enough data to understand the impact in depth. Full article

This article examines how Turkey’s 2024 amendment to the Animal Protection Law reshapes volunteer caregiving for free-roaming dogs in Istanbul by reconfiguring the practical conditions under which care is sought, coordinated, and sustained. Drawing on 43 in-depth interviews and five months of fieldwork (1 July–30 November 2025), this study combines constructivist grounded theory with reflexive thematic analysis to trace how legal change is encountered through everyday governance interfaces and how these encounters reorganize caregivers’ routines, capacities, and moral worlds. The analysis yields four interlocking findings. First, caregivers describe a temporality of “living in pre-loss,” in which anticipated removal, disappearance, and uncertain outcomes generate chronic vigilance, anticipatory grief, and ambiguous loss without closure. Second, caregiving is increasingly recalibrated as risk management: commitments persist, but intervention narrows through heightened exposure to complaints, reputational scrutiny, and fears that help-seeking may backfire. Third, institutional pathways—hotlines, shelter intake, and municipal responses—are experienced as discretionary and opaque, producing a fluctuating threshold between assistance and harm that conditions whether caregivers engage official systems at all. Fourth, this study identifies a recurring veterinary bottleneck at the street–clinic–recovery handover, where limited short-term holding capacity stalls treatment trajectories and displaces recovery labor into precarious domestic and informal spaces. Together, these findings argue that caregiver well-being is not ancillary to animal welfare governance but constitutive of it. It shapes the continuity of monitoring, the timeliness of intervention, and the everyday mediation through which coexistence is maintained under intensified legal and political pressure. Full article

Temperature is a critical abiotic factor regulating the physiology, growth, and reproduction of ectothermic aquatic animals. In China, the rapid expansion of the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii) industry faces significant challenges due to seasonal temperature fluctuations (optimal growth at 20–25 °C and reproduction favored at 18–22 °C). This review focuses specifically on TRP channels, particularly TRPA1 as a key thermosensor in crayfish, and on downstream signaling pathways involving heat shock proteins (HSPs) and antioxidant defenses. We further link these biological mechanisms to aquaculture applications by evaluating best management practices for mitigating thermal stress, including integrated rice–crayfish co-culture, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), molecular marker-assisted breeding for thermal tolerance, and nutritional modulation (e.g., probiotics and immunostimulants). By maintaining thermal stability within the optimal range and directly enhancing physiological resilience through genetic and nutritional interventions, these practices provide a foundation for more sustainable and climate-resilient crayfish aquaculture. Full article

Cervical spinal cord injury causes severe functional impairment with limited spontaneous recovery, and while spinal cord stimulation has emerged as a promising neuromodulatory strategy, evidence for cervical applications remains fragmented. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review synthesizing preclinical and clinical evidence on cervical spinal cord stimulation for functional rehabilitation following spinal cord injury. The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251088804) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, with PubMed, Embase, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science searched from inception to July 2025 for animal and human studies of cervical spinal cord stimulation, including epidural, intraspinal, and transcutaneous approaches, reporting functional neurological outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools, and due to substantial heterogeneity, results were synthesized narratively. Thirty-one studies comprising 119 animals and 156 human participants, met inclusion criteria. Across studies, outcome measures such as GRASSP, ISNCSCI, and dynamometry consistently demonstrated improvements in hand strength, dexterity, and voluntary motor activation. Several studies also reported gains in sensory and autonomic function, whereas respiratory outcomes were infrequently assessed. Adjunctive interventions, including cortical stimulation, brain–computer interface priming, and task-specific training frequently augmented recovery. Adverse events were generally mild, although overall risk of bias was predominantly serious. Overall, cervical spinal cord stimulation demonstrates preliminary assistive and therapeutic effects on motor recovery, with additional sensory, autonomic, and potential respiratory benefits. Full article

Background: Anxiety is highly prevalent among individuals living with disability, chronic illness, or hospitalisation, yet it often remains insufficiently addressed in healthcare settings. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been proposed as a complementary intervention to reduce anxiety; however, existing evidence is fragmented across populations and methodologies. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024494109); no amendments were made to the protocol after registration. Four databases (Scopus, APA PsycInfo, Web of Science, and PubMed) were searched for empirical studies (2013–2023) evaluating AAT delivered by trained professionals using domesticated species and reporting anxiety outcomes in individuals with disability, illness, or hospitalisation. Results: Thirty-one studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Across heterogeneous designs, most interventions—primarily using dogs or horses—reported significant post-intervention reductions in anxiety. Randomised clinical trials consistently showed superior results compared with control conditions. AAT demonstrated beneficial effects across populations including PTSD, paediatric hospitalisation, chronic illness, disability, acute care, and trauma exposure. Long-term outcomes were mixed, and methodological variability limited comparability across studies. Conclusions: AAT appears to be a promising complementary intervention for anxiety management within clinical, psychosocial, and healthcare settings. Evidence supports short-term anxiolytic effects across diverse populations, although standardisation and long-term evaluations remain insufficient. Future research should establish optimal intervention parameters, mechanisms of action, and strategies for integrating AAT into multidisciplinary mental healthcare. Full article

Shelter environments frequently expose dogs to chronic stress and anxiety, which can compromise their welfare and reduce their chances of adoption. Recent interest in psychedelic-assisted approaches has suggested potential therapeutic applications in veterinary behavioral medicine, although empirical evidence remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of low-dose 1-cyclopropionyl lysergic acid diethylamide (1cp-LSD), a legal lysergamide prodrug of LSD in several countries, and ethological intervention (EI) on the behavior and welfare of shelter dogs. Twenty dogs were randomly assigned to four groups: pharmacological intervention, ethological intervention, combined treatment, or control. The ethological sessions were conducted by veterinary behaviorists, and pharmacological treatment consisted of 10 µg of 1cp-LSD administered orally for three weeks. Blinded evaluators assessed animals using validated anxiety and welfare scales, including a treatment expectation scale, before, during and after the intervention. Results showed that the combined condition consistently outperformed single interventions, significantly enhancing sociability, calmness, and positive emotional reactivity. Importantly, these improvements persisted for three weeks following treatment cessation, indicating sustained benefits beyond the active intervention phase. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the potential of integrating low doses of psychedelics with behavioral therapy in shelter settings. Future studies with larger cohorts and refined pharmacokinetic data are required to confirm safety, elucidate mechanisms, and optimize protocols for clinical application in veterinary practice. Full article

Background: Hospitalisation for paediatric oncohaematological diseases entails significant physical and psychological stress, often compromising children’s emotional regulation and daily functioning. In this context, complementary interventions can provide additional support to the clinical work conducted with children and adolescents undergoing treatment, fostering emotional awareness and well-being. This study evaluates the feasibility and perceived benefits of an animal-assisted psychoeducational intervention to enhance emotional coping during hospitalisation. Methods: A single-centre observational study was conducted at Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital in Italy in collaboration with the ZOOM Foundation (Turin, Italy), between September 2023 and May 2025. Sixty patients aged 6–15 years participated in an intervention combining observation of an in-ward aquarium, virtual animal encounters, and completion of a psychoeducational booklet promoting emotional reflection through symbolic identification with animal behaviours. Results: The intervention showed high feasibility and acceptability: 90% of participants (54/60) reported positive emotions and enjoyment, 80% (48/60) found the booklet engaging, and all participants (100%) perceived care and attention from facilitators. The activities fostered engagement, curiosity, and well-being, though their impact on deeper emotional processing appeared limited. Conclusions: Animal-assisted psychoeducational interventions are feasible and well-received in paediatric oncohaematology, offering complementary support to clinical care by promoting emotional resilience and enriching the hospital experience. Full article

Background/Objectives: Evaluating the feasibility of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) represents a critical next step for advancing human–animal interaction (HAI) science and rigorously exploring the role of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) in psychiatric acute care. This study presents strategies for conducting a pilot RCT comparing an animal-assisted intervention involving dogs (AAI) with an active conversational control (CC), which incorporated conversation with a human volunteer, and treatment as usual (TU) for improving mental health outcomes in psychiatrically hospitalized adults. Methods: We recruited participants from an acute-care psychiatric unit at an academic medical center. AAI and CC were delivered by volunteer handlers with and without their registered therapy dogs. Feasibility data included number of recruitment contacts, recruitment rate, and reasons for non-enrollment. We describe recruitment challenges encountered and mitigating strategies for successful study completion. Results: Recruitment occurred over 23 months with a goal of 60 participants participating in at least one intervention day. A total of 264 patients were referred to the study and 72 enrolled. The additional 12 people were recruited to replace participants who did not complete any intervention days and did not provide any intervention data. Study recruitment goals were met with a recruitment rate of 27.30%. Conclusions: Research to improve the lives of patients in acute psychiatric care is a vital public health goal, yet RCTs are difficult to conduct in acute care settings. Studies like this strengthen HAI and psychiatric science by providing a roadmap for implementing successful AAI RCT designs. Full article

The ethical and legal governance of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) remains conceptually and normatively fragmented. Although animals engaged in therapeutic, educational, and assistive activities make valuable contributions to human well-being, they continue to be defined by law as property or welfare objects, despite their meaningful yet limited forms of relational participation within structured human-controlled environments. This perspective obscures their context-dependent responsiveness and their institutional embeddedness. The present paper addresses this gap by adopting a normative and interdisciplinary approach grounded in relational legal theory and vulnerability scholarship. The concept is developed by drawing on Jennifer Nedelsky’s notion of relational autonomy and Martha Fineman’s theory of universal vulnerability. This results in the conceptualisation of AAI animals as correlated subjects: beings whose ethical and legal significance derives from the relationships and institutional contexts that shape their participation. The analysis identifies weaknesses in current medico-legal practices that frame veterinary certification and welfare assessment as static technical acts, ignoring their relational and systemic dimensions. The paper puts forward a relational ethical–legal framework for Animal-Assisted Interventions, centred on relational vulnerability, context-sensitive oversight and continuous institutional accountability. A number of practical recommendations are put forward, including the introduction of renewable ethical licences, inter-institutional monitoring and the establishment of multidisciplinary oversight mechanisms. By redefining animals’ normative status through relational ethics, in alignment with the interconnected human, animal, and environmental dimensions emphasized by the One Welfare principles, the study advances a shift from welfare-based protection toward a model of justice grounded in interspecies interdependence and institutional responsiveness. Full article

The contribution of members of the agri-food system to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is a key element in the global transition to sustainable development. The use of sustainable management systems supports the development of an integrated approach with a spirit of continuous improvement. Such organization is based on risk-management tools that are applied to multiple stakeholders, e.g., those responsible for product quality, occupational health and safety, and environmental impact, thus enabling better global performance. In this review, the term “ethical food systems” is used in our discussion of the concrete methods that can be used to endorse fairness and concern across the food chain. This comprises safeguarding equitable access to nutritious foods, defending animal welfare, assisting ecologically accountable production, and addressing social and labor justice within supply chains. Ethical factors also include transparency, cultural respect, and intergenerational responsibility. Consequently, the objective of this review is to address how these ethical values can be implemented within a One Health framework, predominantly by assimilating plant-based diets, developing governance tools, and resolving nutritional insecurity. Within the One Health framework, decoding ethical principles into practice necessitates a set of concrete interventions: (i) raising awareness of animal rights; (ii) distributing nutritional and environmental knowledge; (iii) endorsing plant-based food research, commercialization, and consumption; (iv) development of social inclusion and positive recognition of vegan/vegetarian identity. At the same time, it should be noted that this perspective represents only one side of the coin, as many populations continue to consume meat and rely on animal proteins for their nutritional value; thus, the role and benefits of meat and other animal-derived foods must also be recognized and discussed. This operational definition provides a foundation for asking how ethical perspectives can be applied. A case study from Africa shows the implementation of a sustainable and healthy future through the One Health approach. Full article

Background/Objectives: Late-life depression is prevalent yet frequently underdiagnosed, underscoring the need for accessible and safe non-pharmacological approaches. Pet-assisted interventions, including live animal-assisted therapy and robotic pets, have gained attention, but their comparative effectiveness remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate and rank different pet-assisted approaches for reducing depressive symptoms in older adults using network meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to August 2025 for randomized controlled trials involving adults aged 60 years or older with depression. The protocol was prospectively registered on INPLASY (INPLASY2025100023). Depression severity, assessed using validated scales, was synthesized using a frequentist random-effects network meta-analysis framework. Results: Twenty trials involving 1073 participants were included. Live animal-assisted therapy produced the greatest reduction in depressive symptoms versus passive control (SMD −2.04; 95% CI −3.03 to −1.04). Combining it with gait training (structured walking-based activity conducted with the animal) was associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms (SMD −4.82; 95% CI −6.69 to −2.95). Robotic pets showed a directionally beneficial but non-significant effect (SMD −1.21; 95% CI −2.79 to 0.38). Conclusions: Pet-assisted interventions are effective in reducing depressive symptoms among older adults. Live animal-assisted therapy, particularly when delivered in structured or combined formats, shows the greater benefit. Robotic pets may serve as a practical alternative when live animals cannot be implemented. Full article