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Objective: To investigate the physical activity levels of students enrolled in a standard fitness walking class versus a service-learning dog walking class. Participants: College students (N = 65) from a university in the Southeastern United States (71% female; 85% White; 72% seniors). Methods: Students wore NL-1000 pedometers twice a week for 50 minutes for a full academic year. Service-learning students also completed reflection papers. Pedometer data was analyzed using SPSS and papers were analyzed through inductive coding. Results: Significant differences were found in each quantitative measure collected between classes. Students in the service-learning fitness walking class took more steps, walked further, and obtained more minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity than the students in the standard fitness walking class. Results from student reflections provided insight into why these differences occurred as well as additional student experiences. Conclusions: Incorporating a service component into a physical activity course can be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guide dogs are sense-able agents that can assist Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) to achieve mobility. But could a guide dog be replaced by a robot dog? Based on video recordings and ethnomethodological 'conversation analysis' of VIPs who are mobile in a street environment with a remotely operated robodog or a guide dog, respectively, this paper shows the multisensory and semiotic capacities of non-human agents as assistants in navigational activities. It also highlights the differences between their type of agency and sense-ability, and thus their different roles in situations of assisted mobility and disability mobility. This paper contributes to research in assisted and disability mobility between humans and non-humans by showing how they work not as individual agents, but as 'VIP + guide dog' and 'VIP + robodog + operator' assemblages, and by demonstrating that these assemblages distribute and co-construct the practical perception of the material world which is necessary for accomplishing mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we observed pupils reading to a dog in a school reading course and asked: How can the pedagogic rituals of schooling explain the dog's role as a non-judgmental listener? In a qualitative case-study design, video observation was conducted over seven months in a Norwegian primary school to observe year-three pupils' (average age 8 years) reading experiences with a dog as part of their ordinary reading instruction course. The dog was a male, 10-year-old standard poodle. The children's school and their socioeconomic status (SES) were average for Norway. Fourteen children participated, four girls and ten boys, with a total of 112 reading sessions with the dog. Interviews and online data supplemented the observations. A narrative analysis found three main categories of the reading sessions: opening sequence, reading sequence, and concluding sequence. To report our findings in this paper, we present a typical narrative informed by the three categories. We conclude that the role of the dog as a non-judgmental listener in a school reading course can be explained by an invisible pedagogy ritualizing the sessions: The ritual assigns the dog a unique educational role in the school setting as a hybrid between animal and human; an unaware pedagogical agent. When reading to the dog, the instructional intention is reinterpreted as a game of pretense that is potentially enjoyable for the pupils and reduces stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the topic of student wellbeing using the lens of a different type of support mechanism – 'dog borrowing' – which builds on prior research about emotion work and human-animal interactions but in the context of student transitions and pastoral care in higher education. This novel study was about the experiences of students settling into their university life and how, through a facilitated opportunity for students to connect to a dog and community partners, universities can meet mental health standards for wellbeing support. The findings outlined in this paper provide new insight into; how the university ethos and environment can be viewed as more personalised and emotionally supportive, how different kinds of relationships can support emotion state regulation conducive to wellbeing and effective learning and the ways that a human-animal bond can enhance connection with the community and provide social support for university students who have moved away from home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the judicial ordeal was the subject of a lively debate in the ninth century. Research on the medieval ordeal has mainly focused on opposition to the practice in the twelfth century, attaching little significance to earlier controversy. When Carolingian-era opinions of the ordeal are discussed, they are usually seen in terms of the later ordeal debate. Using as a case study the anonymous mid ninth-century Bavarian poem, the Song of Count Timo, this paper argues that the ninth-century ordeal debate revolved around Carolingian-era concerns, rather than twelfth-century ones. Thus, the Song of Count Timo opposed the ordeal because it saw it as undermining royal control of justice in the context of the political turbulence of the 830s. Examining the Carolingian-era ordeal debate on its own terms allows us to better understand the medieval ordeal, and also the law, politics and religious thought of the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the shifting and contemporary manifestations of menstrual taboos in central Kerala, India, particularly through the evocation of zoomorphic language and symbolism. It specifically focuses on a seemingly commonplace metaphor, pattiyayi (has become a dog), and argues that its connotative and cultural meanings have negative consequences for the construction of gender in Keralan society. The metaphor likens a menstruating woman to a dog. Further correlations between dogs and rabies patients culturally place the three categories – the domesticated carnivore, the person with a stigmatized illness, and the menstruating woman – as liminal entities, equivalent by association. Additionally, examining dog idioms (patti) in Kottayam that refer to the Dalit castes, the paper elucidates how idiomatic expressions evince societal juxtapositions of menstruating women with socially disparaged castes. These allegorical concurrences also draw attention to how the body and its organic activities and the propensity of certain bodies to incur permanent and internal pollution are at the root of symbolic denigration and gender and caste hierarchies. Furthermore, through the Foucauldian perspective on language, the paper links the dog metaphor to a micro theory of power by signifying the role of gendered power relations and the coalescence of discursive and material processes in historically shaping it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst dogs are adored companions worldwide, high numbers continue to be relinquished each year due to perceived behavioral concerns. Subsequently, this paper addresses the question; What are guardian's expectations of canine behavior and companionship? A total of 175 participants responded to a qualitative semi-structured survey, distributed online. Following a reflexive thematic analysis , five themes are discussed; A well-balanced dog, Obedient, Affection and Connection, Shared Interests, and Commitment. The findings highlight a wide range of expectations typically moving beyond realistic behavior and capabilities for both dogs and guardians. Resultantly, we call for clearer conceptualization of canine behavior, particularly in relation to the distinction between observable behavior and behavioral interpretations (personality, temperament etc.). Clarification on the facets of dog behavior, in addition to better understanding guardian expectations, will aid the development of educational materials aimed at supporting existing human-dog relationships and the adoption matching process within canine adoptions. Cumulatively, this would aid successful human-dog bonding, reducing the risk for relinquishment. These findings build on the recently proposed Perceived Canine Reactivity Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal-assisted interventions, such as the use of service dogs, represent an increasingly popular therapeutic avenue for youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Before engaging anyone in this type of intervention, it could be justified to assess their level of attraction to animals. However, this aspect is rarely documented, and no existing instrument suits the specific challenges of ASD clients and the reality of the clinical setting. This paper describes the use and preliminary validation of an observation-based assessment tool developed by the Mira Foundation to evaluate the level of attraction toward dogs. The 9-item scale has been used by the team throughout the evaluation process of 1,010 potential candidates for a service dog. It is designed to describe and quantify observed behaviors during a standardized encounter with a non-familiar dog. The participants were aged between 2 and 26 years old (mean age = 8.13, SD = 4.3 years) and 87% had an ASD diagnosis. A total of 323 participants were assessed by a second rater, which allowed for interrater reliability analyses on each item of the scale. The factorial structure of the scale was determined by applying an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on one-half of the sample, followed by a cross-validation study consisting of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the other half. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency. Based on weighted kappa statistics, interrater reliability showed strong agreement for individual items (Kw between 0.66 and 0.85). A two-factor solution was produced with EFA and confirmed through CFA. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 when items from the first factor (attitude) were combined and 0.92 for the second factor (interaction) indicated good internal consistency for the identified subscales. These findings support the reliability of this assessment tool and its potential use in clinical and research domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary society, humans interact with nonhuman animals in a number of ways, many of which involve the captivity of the nonhuman animals involved. Nonhuman animals trained for sport (sled dogs, horses trained for dressage, etc.), nonhuman animals confined for human entertainment (zoos, aquariums, circuses, etc.), and companion animals are all held captive by the human beings who interact with them. However, the moral acceptability of these forms of captivity seems to vary widely; this variance isn't only a function of the conditions of the captivity itself, but the reasons, attitudes, and intentions of the captors. Martha Nussbaum's conception of species-specific flourishing allows for what she calls 'respectful paternalism' in the case of nonhuman animals, and in this paper, we will explore (a) Nussbaum's account of 'respectful paternalism' as an aspect of justice that governs our interactions with nonhuman animals, (b) what the 'respectful' aspect of that paternalism involves by examining what it means for a captor to limit the autonomy of a nonhuman animal respectfully and (c) implications for our interactions with nonhuman animals in sport and entertainment environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern life requires increasingly complex and diverse travel behavior. We attend multiple destinations for multiple purposes, and trips are chained together as households negotiate the demands and opportunities presented by cities. To compete with the autonomy and flexibility of the private car, a successful public transport system should accommodate this complexity. Drawing from a series of data sources, this paper applies a discourse analysis to examine perspectives on the implementation of a public transport policy designed to accommodate one specific, but surprisingly common, user need: travel with dogs. In 2015, A bespoke survey of 1250 dog-owners in Sydney, Australia revealed a high level of car use for dog-related trips. This reflects, in part, the fact that dogs are prohibited on the public transport network in the case study city. Recognizing that any change to this policy requires an evidence base of community sentiment, a further survey (n = 1091) of both dog and non-dog owners was conducted in 2017 to assess attitudes to dogs on public transport. Over 20 percent of the representative sample opposed apolicy change. In 2019, a discourse analysis was conducted on 163 comments to an article on dogs on public transport published on the academic news site, The Conversation. Several themes emerged, extending from concerns about cleanliness, to a basic distrust of dog owners. These three data sources, in combination, establish both the need for change and the nature of resistance to change, revealing the complexity of advocating for potentially positive developments in transport policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article references David Bowie's face as cultural capital in Diamond Dogs: a modernist 'whole' work comprised of Bowie's rock musicality, literature, album cover, stage-show and performative mask. The paper interrogates Chris Rojek on religion and descent and Richard Dyer's Stars on facial signage asking how celebrity discourse is inscribed within Dogs as anxiety about the artist's face. The paper finds that Bowie's fascination with facial desecration risks his celebritisation, yet cements his celebrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of pet companionship – and of dog walking in particular – has been long acknowledged across academic disciplines. Much of the research values – even romanticizes – it as mutually beneficial, catalysing both human sociability and canine well-being. However, walking a dog displaying aggressive or other unwanted behaviour – dogs that fall short of expectations – severely undermines the virtues of pet companionship, extracting a considerable social and emotional toll for those seeking greater inter-species commonality. Drawing on empirical work on walking practices and the author's autoethnographic account, the paper solicits interpretations more attuned to the complexities of our cohabited socio-spatial worlds, particularly against contexts of discordance. The research demonstrates how these circumstances influence relationships with humans, often forcing dogs and their owners into liminal and contested socio-spatial existences, though also occasionally revealing exploratory opportunities. The dog walk therefore emerges as an activity that is heavily negotiated and contingent. Ultimately, the quest to 'make space' for seemingly transgressive dogs demonstrates the necessity and potentiality for a trans-species co-habitation that is more sensitive to the spectrum of animals that share our more than human worlds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A relatively novel application of dogs' olfactory capabilities involves training them to detect and alert to the odor of human diseases. Drawing on research using ethnographic methods of participant observation and semi-structured interviews at two medical detection dog training and research facilities, this paper examines interspecies relationships and knowledge production during the medical detection dog training process. This study aimed to understand how trainers experience this work. However, the analysis moves beyond a wholly anthropocentric focus by considering the agency of both human and nonhuman animal. Within the medical detection dog domain, ambivalent human perceptions towards the dogs are identified. On the one hand, the dogs are perceived as machine-like, extra-sensory tools that can be employed to identify odors imperceptible to the human nose. Simultaneously, however, the trainers understand the dogs as agentic individuals: a perception associated with the potential for unpredictability or ambiguity in a dog's search behavior. To overcome such ambiguity, trainers learn to "listen" to the dogs and rely on interpretive flexibility in order to successfully interpret a dog's behavior. The analysis finds medical detection dog training encounters to be mutually affective as both parties are changed in the process. In this context, knowledge is produced collaboratively, though not equally as attention to the power relations that underpin this interspecies work reveals asymmetries reflected in the training system. This study builds on previous literature that shows ambivalence to be central to the relationships between humans and other species, and extends our understanding of interspecies work practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nobel prize places scientists who have usually not been the object of attention outside of their own area of expertise in the public eye. This paper investigates two aspects of this. First, it describes theoretically how a public persona that to a significant extent depends on a process of 'celebrification' has been constructed, not so much of the individual laureate but of the role as Nobel laureate. Second, it investigates the historical roots of this. Looking at the process from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective, we find that the Nobel laureates become a special kind of scientific celebrities, since their fame is based not so much on their public achievements as on the selection by a committee. This is traced to the first decades of the prize's history, using examples from the first award in 1901 to the early 1930s. We also see how the annual repetitions of the media representations of the prize helped create the persona of the Nobel laureate. The conclusion is that the laureates are not celebrities in their own right, but as a representative of a type – a constructed cultural persona called the Nobel laureate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers autoethnographic storytelling and analysis, considering what multispecies framing can offer post-war memorialisation discourse and practice. During 2019, I undertook initial scoping and consultation around the potential of a new museum or memorial site for post-war Kosova. The aim for this new site is to encourage reflection, peace building, and action around human rights. In Kosova there are multiple and conflicting memorialisation practices enacted by war veterans, politicians, mourning widows and mothers, activists, and survivors. These all take different forms from statues to protests, oral histories and curatorial interventions. As in all wars, the physical landscape of Kosova is the site of crime and resistance, mythologising and denial. Amidst the human memorial activity live the stray dogs of Prishtina. The dogs activated my attentiveness to the potential of a living landscape as a site of multispecies enquiry for rethinking processes of memorialisation and heritage-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consensual assessment technique (CAT) represents one of the most popular evaluation techniques used by researchers to assess creative artifacts. In this paper we discuss how the prototypical use of the CAT, while useful for identifying unambiguous examples of creative artifacts, can inadvertently kill the curiosity of researchers interested in interpreting and understanding more ambiguous, contested, and divergent examples of creative expression. More specifically, we open the article by briefly describing the CAT and how it can simultaneously help and hinder researchers in making judgments about the creativity of artifacts in and across domains. We then introduce a methodological elaboration on the CAT, called the Divergent, Open-Ended, and Generative (DOG) approach to interpreting creative artifacts. Next, we present a secondary analysis of CAT data to illustrate the DOG approach and how it can extend insights about creativity when used in conjunction with the CAT. We close with a discussion of implications for creativity theory and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the physical activity levels and experiences of students enrolled in a service-learning dog walking class. Participants: College students (N = 10) from a rural university in the Eastern United States (age = 20.8 years ±1.2; 80% female; 90% White). Method: Students wore NL-1000 pedometers twice a week for 50 minutes for ten weeks. They also completed reflection papers at the end of the class. Pedometer data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and the papers were analyzed through inductive coding. Results: Students obtained approximately 40% of their recommended daily physical activity requirements during class time. Reflection papers revealed that student beliefs about shelter dogs were challenged and that their primary motivations for attending class involved the physical activity needs of the dogs. Conclusions: Incorporating a service component into a physical activity course whereby the physical activity needs of others are the focus can be beneficial for all involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing Canine–Human communication during training is an important research. We aim to strengthen the communication between canines and humans during the training of canine remote control using robotic technology. Training using rewards is a widely known technique to boost canine ability. So far, this method has consisted of giving rewards from humans, thus creating a strong connection between humans and canines; however, this method can also cause canines to become overly fixated on the people who feed them. Fixation prevents canines from performing behaviors away from people. For that reason, this study explores the possibility of using robotic technology to reduce canine fixation on their trainer. This paper evaluates dog behavior during training with reduced human intervention using a backpack-like device, which provides food as a reward. This method of training is assessed in two dogs by comparing the training time, number of feedings, and number of times the dog looks at nearby humans, as compared to the traditional method. The suit-mounted feeder was used to train the two dogs to follow a spot-light, achieving a success rate of 96.4% in feeding during training. There was no significant difference in training time or number of feedings required for training with this method compared to traditional human-rewarded training methods. On the other hand, it was suggested that the device could reduce the number of times the dogs looked at their trainer by up to 84.7%. Changes in gait caused by the suit and feeder were also evaluated based on the percentage of the swing phase of gait. The results indicate that the presence or absence of the feeder device does not affect the dog's gait. Continued canine training without fixation on the feeder or the trainer could allow the working dogs to demonstrate its abilities in remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs and cats have exceptionally developed sensory systems and abilities to recognize human signals and emotional states. It makes them invaluable in roles such as working dogs and therapy animals in human society. Understanding each other's emotional state is essential to working with them effectively. However, the low accuracy of human emotional estimation in dogs and cats is a significant issue. Due to individual differences and cognitive biases affecting human subjective assessments, automatic emotional estimation is crucial. To address this issue, there is a demand for automated emotional estimation technology. This paper provides an overview of emotional research in dogs and cats, their senses, and their roles in interaction with humans. In addition, we described automated emotional estimation technology using image/video and electrocardiography as a complement to human ability for emotional recognition of dogs and cats, and its applications for implementation. Practical implementation of automated emotional estimation technology should be adaptable to different breeds, individuals, and environmental conditions. Improving this technology has the potential to contribute to various fields, including pet welfare enhancement, veterinary care, ethology, and support for humans with dogs or cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiencing the ghosts of the departed is a common, cross-cultural experience of grief; such interactions are part of so-called externalized continuing bonds and represent an ongoing relationship with the departed. This paper characterizes people's reported supernatural experiences with the spirits of their deceased dogs and analyzes them in the context of bereavement, externalized continuing bonds, and disenfranchised grief. Using a thematic analysis, 544 candid online comments from social media where people shared their supernatural experiences were studied. These comments fell into two major themes with six subthemes: physical experiences (hearing, seeing, and touching the ghost of a dog) and interpreted experiences (seeing signs in nature, receiving visits from the deceased dog in dreams, and attributing feelings and phenomena to the spirit of the dog). How people described the feelings associated with these supernatural visits were also studied; three themes were found: Positive Feelings, Mixed to Sad Feelings, and Messages. The vast majority of reported feelings (74.6%) were positive, bringing people comfort, reassurance, and a sense of protection. While psychology largely characterizes externalized continuing bonds – particularly seeing ghosts – as negative and even maladaptive, this is in conflict with the findings. These supernatural experiences may serve a different role for grieving dog guardians. Given that disenfranchised grief is common due to the lack of cultural support for people mourning their dogs, and grief over companion animals is often complicated by guilt, these supernatural experiences may serve as an important source of comfort and a way for the bereaved to engage with loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the regulation and management of dogs in the mexican municipality of Isla mujeres. It shows how dogs, on Isla mujeres, are managed under a neoliberal framework of a decentralized government which relies on the personal responsibility of citizens and the outsourcing of essential services to non-government and private organizations. In so doing, this paper demonstrates some of the political and organizational contexts within which human-dog relationships are situated. In particular, it analyzes the ways that humans relate to dogs within a regulatory and socio-political framework. this paper is based on a six-week period of ethnographic research, primarily situated within an international non-government animal rescue organization. From this vantage point, this paper shows how neoliberal approaches to dog management within the municipality creates tension between personal and governmental responsibilities and fosters reliance on the third sector to provide animal welfare and wellbeing services. Within this network of distinctly human relationships, the wellbeing of animals is obscured, leading to a series of animal welfare crises within the municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal purpose of this paper is to provide guidance for the design, planning and management of off-leash dog exercise parks. After a brief discussion of the environmental impacts of the high number of domestic dogs in Australia, the author looks at definitions of dog parks. The paper then considers their advantages and disadvantages, before looking at the key aspects of off-leash dog park design, planning and management, setting out the main features to be considered when designing a dog park. These are primarily based upon the available literature, chiefly from the USA where dog parks are an established feature; and the author's assessment of several Australian off-leash dog parks. Recognition of the potential risks to both dogs and their human companions need to be considered in dog parks' design, planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the Swedish, once neo-Nazi expression culture enricher (Swedish: kulturberikare) as a case study to explore how covert and coded far-right discourse is mainstreamed, over time and across websites. A sample of 2,336 uses of the expression between 1999 and 2020 were analysed using critical discourse analysis. The findings illustrate how the expression works like a 'dog whistle' by enabling users to discretely self-identify with an imagined in-group of discontent white 'Swedes', while simultaneously showing opposition to the priorities of a generalised 'establishment'. It shows how the expression is circulated in settings ranging from mainstream to far-right, and particularly, it highlights the potential role of semi-radical settings to act as gateways between mainstream and far-right ideas. Finally, the analysis shows evolving, ever more covertly hateful uses of the expression over time, illustrating the adaptability of far-right language online more generally, as a means to evade unwanted exposure by the far-right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urban planners focus on creating more sustainable cities, there is an increasing need to plan for other species. Found in around 40% of Australian households, dogs have a growing, legitimate presence in urban culture and society. Dogs however remain a neglected subject of urban planning scholarship and practice. This paper critically examines the practice of strategic planning as it applies to dogs in the urban context of Melbourne, Australia. Through a narrative of the institutional voices of practising strategic planners and other institutional discourse of local government, this paper provides a critical examination of how strategic planners shape – and limit – the concern of urban planning. This paper provides a deeply critical glimpse into the modus operandi of the strategic planner negotiating controversy on planning’s frontier. Institutional ontology is shown to dominate any efforts of strategic planners to effect change to urban planning’s field of concern.ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHERCopyright of Australian Planner is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As urban planners focus on creating more sustainable cities, there is an increasing need to plan for other species. Found in around 40% of Australian households, dogs have a growing, legitimate presence in urban culture and society. Dogs however remain a neglected subject of urban planning scholarship and practice. This paper critically examines why urban planners exclude dogs as subjects of their plans through the voices of practising strategic planners in the urban context of Melbourne, Australia. This paper characterises planning as being governed by two dimensions – the ontological and epistemological – and finds that the actions of planners in excluding dogs from consideration concerns the functioning of their ontologies of gatekeeper and practitioner as they negotiate and reshape the frontier of planning and its field of concern. The importance of anthropocentrism in governing how planners exclude dogs from planning in practice is shown to be profound. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dog fouling is recognised as antisocial, unhealthy and illegal in England, yet it persists. Much action against dog fouling happens in communities and impacts are largely unrecorded. Here, we report an activist project with primary-aged children in Bristol, England that resulted in dog fouling reductions near schools and reflects on the role of children in effecting social change in their local environment. The paper takes a New Materialist turn, de-centring experience from the individual child to the child in assemblages of more-than-human relations. Photos of children's interventions against dog fouling are presented to explore how they have used material resources and creativity to emphasise the health and social risks of faeces from a child's perspective. This provides a focus on child–faeces–environment assemblages where children adopt methods of activist art that comprise matter including the faeces to convey a new relational ontology of dog fouling and a reifying of the 'problem'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-roaming dogs are a common phenomenon on many American Indian reservations as well as globally. Lack of canine restriction may be pathologized by outsiders, assumed to be a "problem" that reflects underlying individual or community dysfunction. Seldom investigated are the cultural logics underlying the lack of restriction, and the positive role that dogs may be playing in the community. This paper examines relationships between a northern plains reservation community and their dogs. We found these relationships to be complex and multifaceted, harkening back to a pre-contact past when human survival itself depended on the dog, and extending into a present shaped by a broad range of cultural notions about the human--dog relationship. We explore the concept of dog restriction, asking what it means for connections with dogs in a context where relationships with dogs run deep, but have been disrupted by settler colonialism. We found a community that very much desires dogs and views them positively, with their role as protector highly valued on nearly every level. While traditional notions guided many behaviors toward dogs, other conceptualizations were simultaneously in play, including rural ideas about animals as well as American popular culture. Our findings call into question the ethnocentric bias that construes all free- roaming dogs as strays, which is linked to cultural notions of "pet ownership" that equate love for dogs with restrictions on their movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social & Cultural Geography is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For over a century, it has been pondered how the biting louse Heterodoxus spiniger, which evolved on the agile wallaby (Macropus agilis) in Australia/New Guinea, came to be found on domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) throughout much of the world. Various theories suggest that ancient transport of Australian dingoes (Canis dingo), or recent transport of domestic dogs or macropods are responsible for its global distribution. In this paper, we utilise reported museum specimens, entomological surveys and veterinary data to define an updated distribution of this notable ectoparasite, and explore the evidence for transport of its hosts that may be responsible for its dispersal. In the simplest scenario, H. spiniger first transferred from wallaby to dog in prehistoric New Guinea, probably through humans using dogs to hunt wallabies. If the further spread of this species preceded the global connections brought by European colonisation, dogs of Austronesian maritime cultures were the most likely vectors for its further dispersals into Asia, but it probably only arrived in the Americas following European settlement. As ancient specimens are unlikely to be recovered due to poor preservation conditions, a genomic approach should be pursued in further investigation of this species' history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extends the terms of engagement between social science, posthumanist debates and One Health by questioning whether ‘the public’ may include non-human animals. The One Health concept refers to interdependence between human beings and non-human species in socio-ecological systems. One Health interventions and critiques have tended to emphasize the prevention of zoonotic infections, whereas this paper reflects on more than a decade of engaged research in One Health promotion. Repeatedly, this particular approach to One Health promotion has highlighted the imprint of multi-species entanglements in public life, especially the problematization and politicization of people’s pets. Serious consideration for multi-species entanglements cautions against conflating ‘the public’ with human beings and human interests, to the exclusion of all others. Human beings have never lived separate and apart from non-human species, and we all depend on shared environments. To do justice to multi-species entanglements, socio-ecological theory should undergo expansion in health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper argues that Japan and notions of Japaneseness are becoming “postfamilial” in breaking from earlier models and roles, and that one aspect of Japan's post-familial shift can be observed in the sharp rise in the number of “fuzzy” household members, specifically dogs, cats, and rabbits over the past three decades. In Japan, pets now outnumber children under the age of 15. The number one consumer of companion animals is also the fastest growing demographic in Japan: adults whose adult children have left home. Dogs are the focus of this paper. Dogs are more publicly prominent than cats or rabbits and they are an increasing presence in homes, parks, and cafés in urban Japan. Moreover, the representation of human–canine relations has become prominent in popular media; for example “the Softbank dog,”Kaikun, has become a television advertising celebrity. Furry familiar others are projected to be an ever-increasing presence in urban Japan. Thus, “fuzzy” also denotes the boundary blurring familial roles that some dogs encroach upon. This paper discusses how touch, affect, and embodiment entangle in dealing with urban Japan's exploding population of companion canines; a space where dogs are coming to be viewed as stand-in or surrogate fathers, friends, and even lovers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper uses a governmentality approach to examine the political history of human–canine relationships in the People's Republic of China, focusing on the evolution of household dog regulations in Beijing. In doing so, it ties the micropolitics of human–canine relations to transformations in political, economic, and social governance and ways of thinking about and acting on the interactions between human and nonhuman animal species. An examination of successive waves of government regulations reveals a shift from top-down authoritarian approaches to governance toward a greater recognition of (circumscribed) individual responsibility and self-governance, which is emerging under the organizing framework of "social credit." This government-managed rearrangement is contributing to the rise of new understandings of human–canine interactions as co-constitutive relationships based in citizenship rights and obligations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the level of care dogs received from their caretakers and the attitudes of caretakers and non-caretakers toward dogs on the islands of Guam and Saipan. Surveys were collected from residents of Guam and Saipan (274 and 275, respectively) and analyzed using chi-squared tests. Dogs were the most popular companion animal (Guam 66.4%; Saipan 72% ownership) with a strong preference toward pedigree, male puppies (Guam 45.4%; Saipan 62.4%). The more preferred dogs were housed inside and fed dog food, while the less preferred local mixed-breed dogs were free-roaming and fed table scraps. Fifty-nine per cent of caretakers in Saipan and 22.8% of caretakers in Guam had never provided veterinary care to their dog. Generally, caretakers on both islands did not sterilize their dogs, which may result in the potential for unplanned litters and a growth in the dog population. Residents of both islands reported witnessing abusive acts toward dogs, despite dogs being reported as having an important role on the island. This paper aims to identify challenges in dog welfare and management options for the stray population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past twenty-five years, the number of prison programs in which inmates train dogs has increased rapidly. There are no comprehensive data on the prevalence of such programs, but they are in existence in at least twenty U.S. states, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy. Though extremely popular among both administrators and inmates, we have only anecdotal accounts to assess the effects of dog training by inmates. Such programs appear to have the potential to break down barriers of fear and mistrust between staff and inmates; and there is also some evidence, again anecdotal, that they reduce recidivism and behavioral infractions among inmates. Literally no systematic studies exist, however. This research provides preliminary information from data collected in two Kansas prisons (a men's and a women's institution) in which inmates train assistance dogs and dogs made available for adoption by the general public. This paper focuses on the qualitative findings from the interviews conducted at the men's prison, and examines motivations for entering the program, challenges inmates face in their work, and the benefits they believe come participating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper theorizes children's interspecies relation with dogs in La Paz Bolivia utilizing post- humanism and new materialism as its approach. This approach allows for the deconstructing of human--nature binaries found in discourses central to the children in nature movement. Questioning the universalizing of children's experience in nature the paper considers three propositions. Firstly, what if children were viewed as nature rather than outside of it. Secondly, can the objects or 'things' of nature be viewed as animated. And finally, how sensitive is the contemporary imperative to reconnect children to a romanticized more natured life, to children's diverse worldly experiences. I explore these propositions drawing on a study where I have adopted a materialist ontology and theorized using the work of [Barad, Karen. 2007. Meeting the Universe Halfway: Quantum Physics and the Entanglement of Matter and Meaning. Durham, NC: Duke University Press] and her concept of intra-action as adopted by Rautio [2013a. "Children Who Carry Stones in Their Pockets: On Autotelic Material Practices in Everyday Life." Children's Geographies 11 (4): 394-408]. Based on my child--dog interspecies exploration, I will conclude by re-addressing the three propositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To measure the quality of life in children with impaired walking who receive a mobility assistance dog (MAD). Methods: The parents of ten children who received a MAD completed the cerebral palsy quality of life questionnaire, before receiving their dog and at one, three, and six-month follow-up. Data were analyzed to assess changes for each participant and to the group. Results: The group showed a positive change in the domains of social well-being and acceptance, feelings about functioning, and emotional well-being and self-esteem after six months. Children with less impairment (GMFCS I–II) showed a change in social-wellbeing and acceptance, feelings about functioning, participation, physical health, and emotional-wellbeing and self-esteem after six months. Children with more impairment (GMFCS III–IV) showed no change at any timepoint measured. Conclusions: This novel therapeutic area of receiving a MAD demonstrated some positive quality of life changes after six months for a small group of children with impaired walking. These are preliminary findings in a small sample and this intervention would benefit from further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an activity using a dog treat ball to introduce systems of first-order differential equations. Beads are placed in the first of two hemispherical chambers of a food-dispensing dog toy. As the ball is turned, students track the number of beads in the first chamber, the second chamber, and the exterior of the ball. Students develop a working assumption, write a system of differential equations to model the number of beads in each region, and use a spreadsheet to compare their experimental and model results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs have been called 'social lubricants' for their uncanny ability to help people with serious illnesses and trauma find brief moments of catharsis, create meaningful relationships when there are none and connect with healthcare providers and other support team members for those with serious illnesses. In this paper, the therapeutic qualities of human–dog interactions will be demonstrated by focusing on one woman's terminal cancer diagnosis while in end-of-life care through her shared leisure experiences with a dog in a natural environment. This auto/ethnography sought to exhibit the simple importance of a dog to the meaning-making process for someone coming to terms with their mortality. Complementary therapies and support are essential to those receiving medicalised care, but for those beyond the treatment stage, the important and necessary support is to be found in the relationships and activities that are of the most significance. As is demonstrated, dogs can provide this necessary kind of therapeutic support that may not be found elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex relationships between humans and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) have a very deep and unique history. Dogs have accompanied humans as they colonised much of the world, and were introduced via human agency into the insular Caribbean where they became widespread throughout the Ceramic Age. It is likely that the dynamic interactions between humans, dogs, and their environments in the Caribbean were spatially, chronologically, and socially variable. However, almost no research has specifically addressed the nature, or potential variability, of human/dog interactions in this region. This study presents isotopic (strontium and carbon) evidence bearing on human and dog paleomobility and paleodietary patterns in the pre-colonial Caribbean. The isotope results illustrate a generally high degree of correspondence between human and dog dietary practices at all analysed sites but also slight differences in the relative importance of different dietary inputs. Striking parallels are also observed between the human and dog mobility patterns and shed light on broader networks of social interaction and exchange. Lastly, the paper addresses the possible utility and relevance of canine isotope data as proxies for inferring past human behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service dog programs are increasingly being explored as complementary or alternative interventions for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This paper details the results of a control group, pre-and-post pilot investigation evaluating the use of a 14-week service dog training program for veterans in central Florida. Thirty veterans diagnosed with PTSD, 15 in the intervention group and 15 in the waitlist controlled group, completed all pretests and posttests measures, consisting of the 136-item Trauma Symptom Inventory-2 and the 36-item World Health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Compared to demographically similar veterans in the control group, participants who completed the service dog training program demonstrated significant decreases in posttraumatic symptomatology, intra/interpersonal difficulties associated with psychological trauma, and in disabilities secondary to their PTSD. Study findings, in combination with results from two other recently published controlled investigations, provide evidence supporting the endorsement and use of service dog programs as helpful complementary or alternative treatment options for some veterans. Social work practitioners may want to consider referring their veteran clients with PTSD to qualified service dog programs for adjunctive support when they are having difficulty engaging with or benefiting from office-based traditional therapy approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Final exams at colleges and universities have proven to be a time of anxiety and stress for students. This paper contains an exploration the effects of Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) on exam anxiety through the use of blood pressure readings before and after interacting with therapy dogs. A comparison of the experimental and control groups interacting with therapy dogs has shown statistical significance for the reduction of blood pressure for those students who will or have taken a final exam. Having owned a pet, as well, as the age of the participant were not significant predictors of whether or not therapy dogs would reduce blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social & Cultural Geography is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Alongside much talk of the dissolution of a nature /culture binary view of the world, there is also, symmetrically, considerable change observed in the performance of relations with non‐humans and the proliferation of hybrids (Latour 1993, Haraway 2003). Through an examination of why and how humans and companion species have begun to live with each other in new ways this paper will challenge (at least) two of those sociological disciplines currently governed by humanist ontologies. It suggests that the sociology of the family and the sociology of housing need a new post‐humanist makeover, for it is increasingly doubtful whether either are exclusively human domains. This is because neither families, households or housing can be thought of any longer as humans among themselves. Companion animals are now found not only in the vast majority of human households / families but their position, role, agency and status has shifted quite profoundly. Using data from a national survey of human–animal relations in Australia it will be shown that companion animals are widely regarded as, and act as, family members and that they occupy housing in profoundly different ways1. The paper argues that this new period of intimacy also ushers in the potential for greater mutual becomings (or co(a)gency to use Michael's term2) as both companion species and their humans (together with their technonatural contexts) explore even more possibilities of co‐presence. The paper concludes with an example of this, taken from the House Rabbit Society: a radical and ever more popular experiment in becomingrabbitbecominghuman (to use a Deleuzian convention)3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ostensibly about dingoes and dogs, this paper explores aspects of the contemporary social world of Warlpiri people in the camps of the central Australian settlement of Yuendumu (Northern Territory) through canines. Analyses of dog socialisation, kinds of domestication, and the roles that camp dogs perform (such as protector, family, and witness) provide insights into Warlpiri notions of moral personhood and are employed to reflect about the ethical foundations of how the oppositional categories of Yapa (self, Indigenous, Black, colonised) and Kardiya (other, non-Indigenous, ‘whitefella’, coloniser) are conceptualised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do some terrorist groups cooperate with criminal organizations? This behavior is puzzling because there are reputational reasons for each of these kinds of groups to avoid the other, yet such cooperation seems to be increasingly common. The growing literature on the "crime-terror-nexus" examines terrorist-criminal cooperation, but questions remain. We discuss relevant research, and present hypotheses. Analysis of nearly 400 terrorist organizations using a newly-coded measure of inter-organizational cooperation suggests that certain types of terrorist groups are more likely to work with organized crime: those that are involved in the drug trade, cooperate with other terrorist groups, are older, or are more lethal. These relationships are robust. We also find some evidence that the crime-terror nexus is more likely for groups that have state sponsors, have larger memberships, operate in more capable countries, or operate in less-democratic countries. There is also some evidence that ethnically-motivated terrorist groups are less likely to cooperate with organized crime. Interestingly, there is little or no support for the idea that the nexus is related to territorial control or religious ideology. These findings go against some previous research and suggest steps for future analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation had a devastating effect on well-being. Veterans were among the most vulnerable given their high rates of military trauma-related conditions. Research supports that dogs can provide veterans with a sense of purpose, social support, and stress management. Digital storytelling provided a unique perspective with focus on a recognized hero, the veteran's dog, and an opportunity for engagement with other veterans during COVID-19. The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of this digital storytelling intervention based on Story Theory framework and tailored to encompass components of cross-generational collaboration in combination with individual and group virtual sessions as a mechanism to promote social engagement. The research was conducted using a descriptive exploratory design. Veterans (N = 8) were paired with a trained student and grouped in sets of four. There were eight guided 1-hour weekly virtual sessions to create their digital story. Demographic and pre-post intervention survey data were also collected. Based on eight established criteria, this article systematically evaluates the feasibility of the digital storytelling intervention for veterans. The findings suggest practical considerations to ensure viability of digital storytelling as a therapeutic intervention for veterans and other populations at-risk for suboptimal well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cynic moral and sociopolitical imprint on Stoic philosophy has frequently been overlooked in recent academic studies. However, the Cynic influence is palpable throughout the history of Stoicism. In this article, I recognise seven Cynic-Stoic conceptual continuities concerning the idea of virtue, or aretē, and five continuities concerning the morally ideal society. This article is mainly descriptive, as it serves a modest but theoretically vital purpose: to explain the interrelation(s) among these 12 Cynic–Stoic continuities, which will elucidate the strong cohesion of each (moral/ political) philosophical system. Ergo, I show how these 12 continuities strongly and simultaneously imply a Cynic-Stoic continuity in terms of the conceptions or appraisals of culture-tradition, epistemology, sexuality, money, law, religion and cosmopolitanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous to this study, there is no data relating to the reproductive physiology of the Cirneco dell'Etna breed. The birth date of 141 bitches and 104 sires registered at the National Agency of the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) from all Sicilian breeders, and data related their fertile matings, which produced 266 whelps over a 14-year period, (2009–2022) were collected. Total whelping produced 1069 pups. The mean bitch age at first whelping was 39.13 ± 21.7 months and the mean litter size was 3.84 ± 2.08. The birth period of the bitches and sires was significantly influenced by the month of the year (p < 0.01), as was the distribution of the first (p < 0.05) and subsequent whelping periods (p < 0.01). Whelping distributions show a significant difference between the highest peak in April (which roughly corresponds to a period of heat in February) and in July (which roughly corresponds to a period of heat in May) and the lowest peak in March. No influence of month on litter size and sex ratio was found. Available data suggests that some ancient breeds such as the Cirneco dell'Etna may show seasonal patterns as a vestige of the stricter seasonality of its closest relative the wolf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing body of scientific evidence supporting the existence of emotions in nonhuman animals. Companion-animal owners show a strong connection and attachment to their animals and readily assign emotions to them. In this paper we present information on how the attachment level of companion-animal owners correlates with their attribution of emotions to their companion cat or dog and their attribution of mirrored emotions. The results of an online questionnaire, completed by 1,023 Dutch-speaking cat and/or dog owners (mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium), suggest that owners attribute several emotions to their pets. Respondents attributed all posited basic (anger, joy [happiness], fear, surprise, disgust, and sadness) and complex (shame, jealousy, disappointment, and compassion) emotions to their companion animals, with a general trend toward basic emotions (with the exception of sadness) being more commonly attributed than complex emotions. All pet owners showed strong attachment to their companion animal(s), with the degree of attachment (of both cat and dog owners) varying significantly with education level and gender. Owners who ascribed human characteristics to their dog or cat also scored higher on the Pet Bonding Scale (PBS). Finally, owners who found it pleasant to pet their dog or cat had a higher average PBS score than those who did not like to do so. The relationship between owners’ attributions of mirrored emotions and the degree of attachment to dogs was significant for all emotions, whilst for cats this relationship was significant only for joy, sadness, surprise, shame, disappointment, and compassion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]