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The covid-19 pandemic, and in particular, the rise in pet ownership, the greater focus on home-life during lockdowns and the normalisation of hybrid-working conditions post-pandemic, has shed light on an under-researched area of law that affects millions of people across the world: the use of 'no pet' covenants in private rental housing. This article identifies the prevalence of 'no pet' covenants as a socio-legal problem that is of global significance. It assesses the legal regulation of pets in private rental housing through a Harm Assessment approach that has global application. A Harm Assessment approach balances harms to various stakeholders in both the use and restriction of 'no pet' covenants. In countries that have no legal regulation of pets in housing it can be used to assess the need for legislation. This approach considers the character, magnitude and likelihood of the harm, something which has had little consideration to date. Drawing, by analogy, on the work of Feinberg and his analysis of harm within the context of the legitimacy of state interference with individual liberty, this article adapts his theory of harm to assess the need for legal regulation of pets in rental housing. The legitimacy of a Harm Assessment approach is supported by the existing literature on 'no pet' covenants, from which the dominant theme of harm emerges. Identifying and weighting the types of harm to be balanced varies depending on cultural, religious and geographic considerations and further research is needed to better understand the harms in different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perspectives on human–animal relationships are changing in archaeology and related disciplines. Analytical models that distinguish foraging from food production remain popular, but scholars are beginning to recognize greater variability in the ways people understood and engaged with animals in the past. In southern Africa, researchers have observed that wild animals were economically and socially important to recent agropastoral societies. However, archaeological models emphasize cattle keeping and downplay the role of hunting among past farming groups. To address this discrepancy and investigate human–wild animal interactions over the last ~ 2000 years, we examined zooarchaeological data from 54 southern African Iron Age (first and second millennium AD) farming sites. Diversity and taxonomic information highlights how often and what types of animals people hunted. Comparisons with earlier and contemporaneous forager and herder sites in southern and eastern Africa show that hunting for social and economic purposes characterized the spread of farming and rise of complex societies in southern Africa. The long-term cultural integration of wild animals into food-producing societies is unusual from a Global South perspective and warrants reappraisal of forager/farmer dichotomies in non-Western contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas are growing rapidly across the globe. Such environments present specific challenges to wildlife. Resources can be highly fragmented in space and time, accompanied by specific risks and opportunities that can emerge from proximity with humans. Overall, these have been shown to lead to specific activity patterns in wildlife, which tend to restrict their space use accordingly to avoid encounters with humans. Yet, some foraging opportunities supplied by humans can also attract wildlife. Urban-dwelling species would therefore benefit from learning when and where to exploit human derived food. Here, we investigate how birds exploit areas of different degrees of urbanization and if they do so with specific time patterns. We used the example of feeding sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in Sydney, Australia. We combined tracking birds to identify key resources, and a citizen science approach to investigate human-wildlife interactions in the urban landscape. Our data suggest that SCC do not use all parts of their home range equally, but use green spaces as roosting and foraging areas, while facultatively using more urbanized areas at specific times when they are the most rewarding. This implies a role for sophisticated time and place learning, with birds matching activity to human patterns. This study builds on the literature investigating human-animal interactions, expanding our understanding of animals' exploitation of human behavior. Our results highlight the unique opportunity that studies on urban wildlife have for understanding urban biodiversity establishment, maintenance, and cognitive ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human population growth is associated with increased disturbance to wildlife. This effect is particularly acute in urban and periurban areas, where the area of effective disturbance extends beyond that of human presence by the roaming behaviour of pet dogs. Dogs are globally the dominant companion animal, with a population of ~ 12 million in the UK. As urban areas extend, dogs are exercised in green space close to housing. In southeast and southern England these areas include lowland heath, a habitat of high conservation value. To quantify disturbance caused by dog walkers and their dogs, we used GPS units to track the movement of people and their dogs across four lowland heath sites, used a questionnaire to ask about dog walking habits, and mapped potential areas of disturbance caused by dog walkers. Questionnaires were completed by 798 dog walkers and the walks of 162 owners and their 185 dogs were recorded. Mean (± SE) walk time was 56 ± 23 min, walk distance 3.75 ± 1.68 km and dogs were a median distance of 20 m from the owner during walks. Dogs were walked once (44%) or twice (56%) a day. Most (always: 85%; always or occasionally: 95%) dogs were walked off the lead even when signs were present requesting that dogs were kept on a lead. This resulted in up to a 21% increase in reserve area disturbed. In one reserve (Snelsmore Common), > 90% of the area was disturbed by dogs, greatly eroding its conservation value. This work highlights the importance of considering how dog ownership can exacerbate levels of disturbance in sensitive periurban habitats when housing developments are planned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that animal celebrities and celebrity species emerge from the accumulation of lively capital in capitalism. This paper examines this notion through a survey of 1962 Chinese participants who visited giant pandas in Chengdu, China. The empirical investigation of 12 factors that determine panda celebrity – cuteness, aggressive behaviour, intelligence, human-animal interaction, degree of freedom, relationship to traditional Chinese culture, relationship to national identity, pet ownership, willingness to donate, willingness to learn, social context, and preference – indicates that capitalism governs the construction of animal celebrity in contemporary Chinese society. While survey participants believed they already knew and preferred the panda celebrity over other animals, they are motivated to establish stronger relationships with the giant panda through knowledge creation, donation, and pet ownership. Despite the established approach to wildlife in China, the study shows that celebrity species such as the giant panda have also been marketed through the notion of lively capital. This study advocates for additional research into the construction and accumulation of lively capital as the key to demonstrating greater appreciation for the distinctive roles that animals play in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study explored and compared attitudes toward animals between primary school students and primary school prospective teachers, focusing on educational and cognitive influences. A cross-sectional survey of 100 primary school students and 102 primary school prospective teachers assessed animal behavior, animal attitudes, species conservation preferences, and general animal preferences. Data analysis revealed attitude similarities and differences. Primary school students often categorized animals as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, while prospective teachers displayed a more balanced understanding due to higher education. Both groups preferred killing non-appealing animals and showed a bias towards conservation of culturally positive animals. Regarding common fears, both groups showed similar inclinations, shaped by evolutionary and cultural factors. The results showed that, broadly, preferences and attitudes towards animals and animal conservation are already formed at the primary school stage, although some of these aspects seem to be modulated along students’ education process. Therefore, findings highlight the need for educational interventions promoting positive attitudes towards all animals, with balanced narratives and enhanced training for prospective teachers. This study contributes to the broader understanding of environmental and sustainability education by highlighting the importance of early and higher education in shaping animal conservation attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sheds new insight on how historically oppressed and marginalized actors are able to pursue environmental sustainability based on alternative worldviews (e.g., Indigenous worldviews) rather than succumbing to those dominant in the Western society, based on a study of the Syilx ("Okanagan") people in British Columbia, Canada. We found that the Syilx people enacted the ethical practice of nʕawqnwixʷ ("the reciprocal gentle dropping of thoughts, like water, into everyone's minds to address the issue at the centre of discussion and to reach collective consensus for action"), anchored in the Syilx worldview, to reconstruct the relationships between humans and nature. Two overlapping processes are involved: developing foundational principles for human–nature relations and carrying out reconstruction work. Ongoing enactment of nʕawqnwixʷ practice provided community-based agency, enabling the Syilx people to shift the conversation around environmental sustainability. From this, we discuss the theoretical potential of community-based agency for the study of environmental sustainability, and the role of Indigenous worldviews for (re)imagining human-nature ethics (and reorienting the theoretical lens of human-animal or human-plant ethics form a firm-centric focus to a community-oriented lens), and important implications for practitioners and policymakers in the field of environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the history of human-animal interactions, focusing on the transition from natural to domesticated resources. It explores the impact of domestication on various animal species, particularly dogs and cats, and their roles in human health and therapy. The text also delves into the benefits of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) in improving physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Additionally, it highlights the importance of ethical considerations and respect for animal welfare in all interactions. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Broiler chickens in intensive production systems are often kept in environments with low sensory input, which can negatively impact their welfare. This study investigated the effects of physical and social enrichments. We examined how these strategies influenced the chickens' behavior, physiological responses, overall welfare, and growth parameters. Both types of enrichment improved their welfare, but social enrichment was particularly effective in encouraging foraging behavior and seemed to promote a more positive affective state. It is noteworthy that these welfare improvements maintained both growth and productivity, as no differences were observed in the productive parameters. These results suggest that incorporating social interactions into poultry farming practices can enhance animal welfare and maintain the production efficiency, offering a practical approach to improving the conditions in intensive farming systems. Environmental enrichment is key for improving the broiler welfare in intensive production systems. This study lasted for 43 days and evaluated the effects of physical and social enrichment on broiler welfare. A total of 96 one-day-old male broilers were divided into two treatments: control treatment, provided with physical enrichment (n = 48) including perches, platforms, and straw bales; and social treatment (n = 48), involving regular positive interactions with a human. The behavioral repertoire, footpad health, taste preferences for sweet and umami compounds, affective states (through tonic immobility and attention bias tests), and growth performance were evaluated. No effects were found for feeding, drinking, locomotion, lying, or standing behaviors, although differences were observed at specific time points: the Social group had more feeding time on day 21 (p = 0.046), while physical treatment showed reductions on days 28 and 35 (p < 0.001). The Social group showed increased drinking on day 42 (p < 0.001), reduced locomotion (p = 0.022), and increased lying (p = 0.046) on day 42. Foraging was higher in the Social group (p = 0.027), but preening showed no differences. Footpad lesions showed no significant differences. The Control group preferred sucrose 100 mM (p = 0.022), but no preference for MSG 300 mM was observed. With regard to tonic immobility, the Control group showed a tendency towards larger durations (p = 0.078), indicating a potential increase in fearfulness. In the attention bias test, although the freezing behavior increased, the latency to begin feeding was shorter in the Social group (p < 0.001), suggesting an improved affective state. Lastly, no significant differences were observed for any of the growth parameters, including average daily feed intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, or final body weight, indicating that the Social group maintained productivity. This approach provides a practical solution for improving the quality of life for broilers in intensive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent individual behavioral differences (CIDs) among livestock are known to be inherent qualities of the animal that are repeatable over time and across contexts and can be related to production. Shepherds rely on qualities of the ewe to promote lamb health, survival, and performance, and selecting ewes based on desirable phenotypes may be one way to benefit lamb outcome. Previous research indicates that traits observed among breeding ewes in restrained contexts during human-animal interactions (HAIs) may have a greater association with maternal care and lamb outcome than responses in an open testing environment. The current study investigated the relationship between several behaviors in multiparous ewes (n = 42) in two distinct contexts: 1) human-animal interactions, with no lamb present, during post-breeding, gestation, and weaning, which were performed three times per year for 2 years (six trials in total), and 2) HAIs, with the lamb present, after parturition once per year for 2 years (two trials in total). Tests without the lamb present included a Human Contact, Presence, and Approach test within each of the six trials, and tests with the lamb present included a Lamb Handling and Tie Down test. General additive models with a random term for individual were used to investigate the relationship between behaviors from outside of the lambing season to behaviors within the lambing season. The proportion of time in the 'peripheral zone' in the Human Presence test, at post-breeding, was a significant negative predictor of 'environmental vigilance' (i.e., being on look-out rather than attending to lamb) in the Lamb Tie Down test (P=0.02). A post-hoc negative relationship was found between 'environmental vigilance' and 'sniffing/grooming' the lamb in the Lamb Tie Down test. In addition, sheep who were more environmentally vigilant in the Lamb Tie Down test were less avoidant of the human in the Human Presence test (post-breeding). Weaning weights, yet not birth weights, were highly repeatable within ewes [R=0.70, P =0.001, CI(0.29, 0.91)], and weaning weight models were improved with the inclusion of time in the 'peripheral zone' in the Human Presence test and grooming and 'environmental vigilance' in the Lamb Tie Down test. Of note, the avoidance of the human, when the lamb was not present, was associated with weaning weights and therefore could be considered as a metric to consider when selecting ewes. Ewe behavior in response to humans outside of the lambing season be useful in gauging future maternal behavior (i.e., grooming) and lamb birth and weaning weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal meat, fat, and other animal-derived materials have been essential for human adaptation since the Early Palaeolithic, forming a crucial foundation for many hunter-gatherer societies until recently. In these societies, animals were perceived as vital beings with whom a balanced relationship, based on respect, was paramount. Stone tools for multi-stage butchery enabled efficient acquisition and processing of animal remains, aligning with Indigenous ontologies. Ethnographic and ethno-archaeological data globally indicate that stone tools used in hunting, butchery, and hide-working evolved alongside changes in animal availability, driven by practical and ontological factors. Our case study from the Late Lower Palaeolithic Levant illustrates how technological transformations driven by shifting faunal availability may have mirrored cosmological perspectives. We address the viability of employing an ontological approach to interpret Acheulian hominins and suggest that stone tools were practically and perceptually associated with the animals they were designed to procure and process, starting in the Palaeolithic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autistic children and adolescents experience a range of co-morbidities, including diagnoses of mental illness. Animal-assisted therapies have advanced rapidly over recent years as an effective and accessible intervention for autistic children and adolescents with various health issues. Horses offer a unique opportunity for interaction as the young person can physically ride the animal, thus creating a therapy with different physical interactions from other animals. This qualitative study had two main aims: first, to understand parents' experiences of their autistic child's involvement with horse-based therapies; and second, to understand the experiences of the staff of organisations offering horse-based therapies to those on the autism spectrum. Twelve interviews were conducted with six parents across four interviews (four mothers and two fathers), and eight staff of equine therapy services in eight individual interviews, to understand their perceptions of the child's experience with horse riding and the perceived mental health impacts. Three emergent themes were prominent among parents and service providers alike: physical and social benefits, including health, self-management skills and social skills; protecting mental health; and recommendations for improvements and accessibility of horse-based therapies. Specifically, service providers with long-standing associations with horse-based therapies saw the actual and potential benefits of horse-based therapies for autistic children, particularly in promoting happiness, calm, resilience, and good mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students in higher education face a multitude of life changes and challenges. In order to promote their mental health, the use of canine-assisted interventions (CAI) has gained increasing attention, yet one area that remains insufficiently studied is the influencing characteristics that may lead to the positive effects of CAIs. This study is a follow-up study to a previously published study, aiming to investigate qualitatively the factors that may influence the change in well-being during a CAI. In the present study, 27 students participated in a 15-min CAI in which they interacted freely with a dog. Using the Basler Befindlichkeitsskala, their well-being was assessed. Participants reported personal characteristics and evaluated the intervention to identify possible influencing characteristics. Additionally, the intervention process was videotaped and analysed. Results showed greater positive effects on well-being for students who did not own a dog, for whom the intervention was delivered by more experienced dog-human teams, and for whom the intervention was characterised by a high interaction intensity with a high proportion of 'petting the dog' while showing low interaction with the handler. Implications for the use of CAIs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of stress have a detrimental impact on veterinary staff, negatively influencing their mental health and contributing to high rates of suicide. Veterinary social workers are tasked with providing interventions to reverse these consequences and support the professional's health and well-being. Twenty-one veterinary staff participated in a study to evaluate the impact of animal-assisted support. Over three months, participants attended one or two therapy dog visits per month, interacting with therapy dogs for a minimum of 10 minutes each session. Pre- and postmeasures of blood pressure, heart rate, and self-reported stress were taken at each session. A measure to assess compassion fatigue and satisfaction was administered at the end of each session, and at the conclusion of the study participants' thoughts about the visits from the therapy dogs were assessed. Significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found as well as significantly lower ratings of self-reported stress. Additionally, participants looked forward to these visits stating they made them happy, helped them feel better, and took their mind off their troubles. Considering the growing utilization of therapy dogs, this timely study adds to the body of evidence, highlighting the benefits of animal-assisted interventions with veterinarian staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interspecies interactions between farmers and livestock have provided an important conceptual and empirical focus in expanding our understanding of animal geographies, with a burgeoning literature exploring the intricate material and discursive (re)positioning of animals across different socio-spatial contexts. This paper offers a new direction for understanding these human-animal encounters by exploring the ways in which farmer and animal identities are mediated by social media. By drawing on a qualitative analysis of UK farmers' tweets about their livestock and semi-structured interviews about farmers' use of social media, this paper examines how social media allows a reworking of the spatiotemporalities of animal-human relations and offers farmers the opportunity to co-construct their identities with their livestock and farming practices. The paper identifies three ways in which farmer–livestock relations are mediated by social media. Firstly, that animals are made visible as actors within farming cultures to those beyond the farm gate. Secondly, that the role of farm animals as subjects and objects is negotiated throughout temporal moments online and thirdly that representations on social media of interactions with animals plays a role in the (re)construction of farmers' identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article identifies and describes the connection between ecology, income, and commodification of animal life using the examples of macaques on social media. The exploitation of macaques for income has recently become an accessible social phenomenon through world-wide social media platforms: Facebook and YouTube, especially. This example of the commodification of animal life illustrates the interconnections among poverty, mental health, and animal rights, thus demonstrating the need for multiple layers of assessment and intervention for change to improve the lives of both vulnerable humans and monkeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most, if not all, animal rescues, sanctuaries, zoos, and aquariums experienced financial distress. This stress had an impact on the welfare of animals and their human caretakers, an issue important to ecological social work. We draw on a novel dataset (n = 2,060) to assess support for policies to extend emergency funding to animal support and conservation organizations in extreme events. We find that, on average women and nonbinary individuals, those with more education, people who have pets, people who are concerned about other humans (humanistic altruism), and those who have greater concern for animals report greater support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy percent of homes have at least one pet with 83% of people referring to themselves as a pet-parent. Veterinary Social Workers provide clinical support to both owner and veterinary medical teams. This study focused on the exploration of social workers embedded in veterinary medicine settings. The researcher-created survey explored: (1) general characteristics of Veterinary Social Workers and practice settings; (2) Characteristics of client groups; (3) Description of the role and tasks; (4) overall mental health needs of clients; and (5) Veterinary Social Workers response to mental health needs. Suggestions for future research, and best practices for educating social work students/practitioners about animal-human informed practices are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the questions bound with modern problems of the post-human literature (re)readings, this essay tries to indicate the role of food culture in determining the human-animal relation on the basis of two literary works by the Dutch writer Albert Helman: Mijn aap schreit and Mijn aap lacht. The leading methods are narratological analysis as described by Mieke Bal and William Nelles, as well as some close reading postulates. In the analysis I consider the role of food in both of the stories. I try to answer such questions as: What does a monkey eat? Who decides what a monkey should eat? Is there any symbolic role of food? Are there any food-taboos, especially ones bound with the human-animal relation? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study traces material movement across human–nonhuman animal bodies (henceforth human–animal) during ritual performances in which patients from Hittite Anatolia spat into an animal's mouth. It explores the transference of pollution through the lens of theoretical approaches that reflect on bodily margins and orifices as potent symbolic points of human bodies, as well as on bodily fluids as substances that can threaten inside/outside, subject/object distinctions. An examination of Hittite compositions from this theoretical perspective suggests that ritual patients were able, through spitting, and spittle, to release evils characterized primarily by being in between corporeality, social, and divine encounters, instead of freeing them principally from physical afflictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language is one way to understand a society and its culture, including masculine norms. Exploring evolutionary masculinity through language is an intriguing concept to revisit. The research examines words synonymous with "men" in Indonesia and reviews their usage to depict current masculinity in the country. This research applied discourse analysis to corpora sourced from the Leipzig Corpora and CQPWeb. The data were analyzed using semantic preference to find meanings and semantic prosody to find connotations of pria, lelaki, and jantan. The findings reveal differences in the meanings and usage of the pria, lelaki, and jantan words. The difference in meaning is that pria is an adult male, whereas lelaki is a representation of men who are not limited in age, and jantan is interpreted as the genitals of animals or plants and men in the context of masculinity. According to usage, the word pria is frequently used in the public sphere, such as in the context of work and news discourse. Lelaki tends to be used more in the personal sphere, such as family, rather than in public settings. Jantan tends to be used in public discourse. The connotations of pria, lelaki, and jantan is neutral. This study successfully demonstrated the shift in Indonesian masculinity from traditional to new forms, indicating the impact of language studies on the analysis of masculinization in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaming draught animals with modern forest machines may offer an innovative low-impact solution to biomass harvesting in protected areas. Machine traffic only occurs on pre-designated access corridors set 50 m apart, while trees are cut with chainsaws and dragged to the corridor's edge by draught horses. The operation presented in this study included one chainsaw operator, two draught horses with their driver, an excavator-based processor with its driver and a helper equipped with a chainsaw for knocking off forks and large branches, and a light forwarder (7 t) with his driver. Researchers assessed work productivity and harvesting cost through a time study repeated on 20 sample plots. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate productivity and cost benchmark figures, which were matched against the existing references for the traditional alternatives. The new system achieved a productivity in excess of 4 m3 over bark per scheduled hour (including delays). Harvesting cost averaged EUR 53 m−3, which was between 15% and 30% cheaper than the traditional alternatives. What is more, the new system increased labor and horse productivity by a factor of 2 and 7, respectively, which can effectively counteract the increasingly severe shortage of men and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This scoping review is designed to understand the role of pet ownership in the lives of people living in the community with dementia. Method: A five-stage framework for conducting a scoping review guided the review. Two research questions framed the study. Nine databases were searched, with six papers meeting the criteria for detailed review. Results: Pets can play a central role in the lives of people living with dementia. These relationships can be profound and can provide companionship and a sense of purpose. The activities associated with pet ownership and possible benefits for the person living with dementia have been explored to varying degrees and some benefits have been shown regarding the impact on physical and mental well-being. However, little is known about the challenges that may be faced when caring for a pet. Conclusion: Despite the importance of pet ownership, experiences of ownership documented among people living with dementia is limited. Still, the studies indicate how pet ownership can support people to remain socially engaged. Future studies should seek to gain a broader understanding of pet ownership across environments such as care homes and hospitals and in the context of social citizenship, active participation and living well. Creative research methods should be adopted to support the inclusion of people living with dementia in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, farm animal-assisted therapies have become popular. However, the effects of farm animals on healthy people's mental states have not yet been investigated. In Study 1, we aimed to explore whether positive effects of human-animal interaction (HAI) can be detected in healthy farm volunteers even after short-term (2–3 hours) work with goats and goatlings on a goat farm. We found that the participants' state anxiety decreased (p < 0.001) while their trust levels increased (p < 0.001) after interacting with goats. Nevertheless, it is possible that time spent in nature alone can have a beneficial effect on well-being. Therefore, in Study 2, we compared the results of Study 1 with those of a similar short-term outdoor treatment, walking in a botanical garden as a visitor. Similar but smaller effects were found for garden visitors. Decreases in anxiety scores and increases in trust scores were more pronounced in farm volunteers (anxiety: 25% vs 13%, p < 0.001; trust: 13% vs 3%, p = 0.002) after the treatments. Overall, the results suggest that the novel experience of interacting with goats and goatlings has a more positive effect on the mental state of healthy humans than walking in a botanical garden. This finding offer a strong foundation for developing animal assisted therapy methods for individuals with short or long term mental problems, but they can also enhance the wellbeing of mentally healthy people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central European forests have been shaped by complex human interactions throughout the Holocene, with significant changes following the introduction of domesticated animals in the Neolithic (∼7.5–6.0 ka before present [BP]). However, understanding early pastoral practices and their impact on forests is limited by methods for detecting animal movement across past landscapes. Here, we examine ancient sedimentary DNA (seda DNA) preserved at the Velký Mamuťák rock shelter in northern Bohemia (Czech Republic), which has been a forested enclave since the early Holocene. We find that domesticated animals, their associated microbiomes, and plants potentially gathered for fodder have clear representation by the Late Neolithic, around 6.0 ka BP, and persist throughout the Bronze Age into recent times. We identify a change in dominant grazing species from sheep to pigs in the Bronze Age (∼4.1–3.0 ka BP) and interpret the impact this had in the mid-Holocene retrogressions that still define the structure of Central European forests today. This study highlights the ability of ancient metagenomics to bridge archaeological and paleoecological methods and provide an enhanced perspective on the roots of the "Anthropocene." • We analyze metagenomic data from a rock shelter using sedimentary ancient DNA • Ancient DNA reveals domesticated animals and their associated microbiomes • Phylogenetic analyses detect mitochondrial haplogroups in domestic sheep and cattle • seda DNA can help improve the understanding of our herding practices and forest management Sedimentary ancient DNA buried underneath a rock shelter reveals shifts in the presence of domesticated animals, associated microbiomes, and plants gathered for fodder from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Zampirolo et al. highlight the potential of using ancient DNA from rock shelter deposits to infer past human-environment interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is evidence to suggest that the strength of the social attachment that forms between a human and their pet dog is important for maximizing the therapeutic outcomes of pet dog ownership, more so than the presence of a dog alone. Here, we review the literature to determine whether this evidence is supported specifically in children with pet dogs. We discuss the benefits to child health and well-being that are associated with pet dog ownership, the neural and endocrinological mechanisms that may support these intra-species attachments, and the importance of taking a dyadic approach to the study of this topic in the future. An increasing body of evidence indicates that owning a pet dog is associated with improvements in child health and well-being. Importantly, the degree of the social bond between child and dog may mediate the beneficial outcomes of dog ownership. The formation of social bonds is an intrinsically dyadic, interactive process where each interactor's behavior influences the other's behavior. For this reason, it is critical to evaluate the biological mechanisms of attachment in both children and their pet dogs as a socially bonded pair. Here, we review the physical, mental, and emotional outcomes that are associated with pet dog ownership or interaction in children. We then discuss the evidence that suggests that the strength of a social bond between a child and their pet dog matters for maximizing the beneficial outcomes associated with pet dog ownership, such as possible stress-buffering effects. We review the existing literature on the neural and endocrinological mechanisms of social attachment for inter-species social bonds that form between human children and dogs, situating this emerging knowledge within the context of the mechanisms of intra-species bonds in mammals. Finally, we highlight the remaining open questions and point toward directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship between the attitude of cattle farmers toward their animals and the occurrence of behavioral and health problems in cattle. Various factors, including animal behavior, husbandry conditions and the frequency of diseases, are taken into account. The results of an online survey of 1,242 German cattle farmers indicated that a range of factors, including the husbandry system, the number of cattle, grazing practices and the human-animal relationship, can influence the occurrence of abnormal behavior in cattle, such as tongue play, mutual sucking, horse-like sitting and standing up as well as diseases, especially musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, the study identified two distinct types of basic attitudes among livestock farmers toward cattle: emotional and utilitarian attitudes. A robust foundation between the attitude of the livestock owner and the husbandry conditions can therefore facilitate the welfare of cattle in terms of freedom from pain, disease and psychological suffering, as well as the expression of normal behavior. This, in turn, can reduce the occurrence of abnormal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The animal nature of human beings has all but disappeared from psychoanalytic discourse. This reflects Freud's struggle with the issue of animality, which he at once repudiates, and simultaneously conceals at the core of human mental life. Freud's use of the terms "animal" and "man" constantly shifts as he attempts to employ them in key areas of analytic theory building, while also shifting his perspective along the way to consider the opposition, similarity and identity of these terms. This impedes attempts to find structure and coherence in Freud's view, which is almost liquid in its instability. For Freud what separates man from the animal world does not rely upon the evolutionary or anthropological arguments he makes, but on a process of identification and disidentification that consigns animality to "not-me" states in support of Oedipal resolution. Ultimately, his attempts to bind and tame human animality via Oedipality cannot contain that which was never separate and could never be separated from the human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study reevaluated findings of an earlier study, revealing Communal Pet Dog Ownership enhances client recovery and the environment at an adult psychiatric residential rehabilitation facility. Seven staff and seven clients completed surveys, interviews and focus group. Findings were similar to previous study. Seven beneficial themes emerged: improves mental health, improves emotional state, motivation to exercise, connectedness, positive environment, opportunities for a caring role and therapy. Two non-beneficial themes emerged: emotional impacts, burden of caring. Limitations include sample bias. More considerate utilization of a pet dog within the facility is suggested. Utilizing dogs for staff wellbeing merits further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A growing body of research has explored the benefits of animal companionship to trans people, yet too often this research reinforces human exceptionalism, and fails to explore what it means for trans people to engage in more-than-human relationships. Conversely, trans theorists have increasingly turned to consider what it means for trans people to lay claim to the category 'human', wrapped up as it is in normative claims to gender and sociality. Aims: This paper aims to investigate how trans people make sense of their relationships with non-human animals, so as to provide a critique of the binaries of animal/human and nature/culture. Methods: 27 binary trans or non-binary people living in Australia were interviewed about their experiences with family, with a specific probe question focused on animal companions. Thematic analysis was used to explore experiences of the more-than-human among the participants. Results: Three themes were developed: (1) Animals as facilitators of connections to the 'natural world', (2) Coming to understand animal ways of being, and (3) Challenging norms of animal ownership. Conclusions: The paper concludes by calling for ongoing theorization about more-than-human relationships as experienced by trans people and their animal companions. Specifically, there is a pressing need to think through what it means to claim the category 'human' when it is so often premised upon exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The love, joy and sense of connection between humans and animal companions can bring shared health benefits. Often this is referred to as the 'pet effect'. Previous research on the 'pet effect' suggests that living with an animal companion, and especially one who is considered part of the family, can increase human wellbeing, though to date research has rarely focused on trans people and the 'pet effect'. Aims: This article explores the 'pet effect' in the lives of trans people, given that trans people may uniquely benefit from animal companionship as a counter to the negative effects of living in cisgenderist contexts. Methods: A secondary analysis of three studies was undertaken (N = 857 participants residing in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, the UK or the US). Studies included measures of psychological distress, human social support, and trans-related discrimination, with all participants being asked if they lived with animals and if so, if they considered animals to be part of the family. Results: Trans-related marginalization explained the greatest amount of variance in psychological distress (β =.398, p =.001), with social support (β = −0.198, p =.001), living with animals (β =.149, p =.001), and animals being part of the family (β = 0.196, p =.001) explaining additional variance. Age (β = −0.322, p =.001) and employment status (β =.147, p =.001) were the only demographic variables that explained variance in psychological distress among participants who lived with animals considered part of the family. Discussion: The findings suggest that animal companions make a unique contribution to the wellbeing of trans people. The article concludes by exploring implications of these findings for future research and practice with regard to the 'pet effect' and trans people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of dugong bone mounds in the Torres Strait Islands has traditionally focused on ritualized deposition and treatment of remains, the distinction between formalized ritual and midden refuse, and their socio-political and spiritual role within Torres Strait Islander seascapes. Research has consistently targeted the abundance of specific skeletal elements in a mound, with interpretations frequently based on the calculation of common quantitative units (i.e., NISP and MNI) or relative weight to assess proportional representation. Far less research has focused on the taphonomic history and processes embodied by these mounds. This paper presents a novel zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of dugong bone mounds where qualitative and quantitative data are combined. Through the analysis of two assemblages from Woeydhul Island (Western Torres Strait, Australia), this paper provides inferences regarding deposition time span and formalized depositional behaviors. Our research examines the age distribution of represented animals and differential butchery practices associated with anatomical provenance, while also suggesting new methods for identification of sex ratios in these assemblages. Our results provide new approaches to investigate dugong hunting by past Torres Strait communities, proposing the combination of sex, butchery patterns, and meat utility indices to interpret the meaning of dugong bone mounds in the Western Torres Strait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pet ownership is growing in Chinese societies, but tools to assess grief from pet loss among the Chinese are lacking. This study adapted and validated the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire (PBQ) in Hong Kong, which aimed to provide a culturally appropriate assessment tool for pet bereavement. The findings supported a three-factor structure—grief, anger, and guilt—similar to the original PBQ. The validated Chinese version of the PBQ demonstrated strong reliability, meaning it consistently measures what it is supposed to, and strong validity, meaning it accurately reflects the emotional experiences of pet loss. This tool can significantly enhance our understanding of the emotional complexities surrounding pet loss within this cultural context, offering critical insights that can guide more effective support interventions and public health strategies for individuals experiencing the often-unrecognized grief associated with pet loss. Despite the increasing prevalence of pet ownership in Chinese societies, standardized tools to assess grief from pet loss remain lacking. Research predominantly focuses on Western populations, creating a gap in understanding pet bereavement in Chinese cultural settings. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Pet Bereavement Questionnaire (PBQ-C) for a Chinese context to create a culturally appropriate assessment tool. A total of 246 participants with companion animal loss experiences were recruited through the university of the research team. They were invited to complete an online survey including the PBQ-C, the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG). Both Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the PBQ-C and the findings supported a three-factor structure—grief, anger, and guilt—aligned with the original PBQ, with three items reassigned to different factors. Despite these adjustments, the PBQ-C demonstrated strong internal consistency, reflecting the reliability of the questionnaire in measuring the same construct across its items; split-half reliability, indicating its ability to produce consistent results when divided into two parts; and concurrent validity, showing that the PBQ-C correlates well with other established measures of grief. The validated PBQ-C provides a culturally sensitive tool for assessing pet bereavement in Chinese society that can promote research and counselling support for this under-researched and under-recognized type of loss of human-animal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, psychologists have explored dynamics within the realm of human‐animal interaction. Organizational psychologists are no different; research has found that exchanges with pets and other animals have the potential to influence important work outcomes, such as performance, well‐being, and satisfaction. Relatively little is understood, however, regarding the potential spillover effects of human‐animal interaction from the non‐work to work context. To address this gap in the literature, the present research—synthesising Broaden and Build Theory and Conservation of Resources Theory—explores the daily spillover effects of morning quality time with pets on affective, behavioural, and cognitive outcomes for employees, both during and after the workday. It is also suggested that openness to experience may act as a cross‐level moderator for these daily relationships. An occupationally heterogenous daily diary sample of employed pet owners from the United Kingdom (NLevel 1 = 405, NLevel 2 = 81) was used to test these relationships. Using a mixed effects modelling approach, it was revealed that morning quality time with pets was associated with reduced Negative Affect (NA) during the workday, and reduced incivility and withdrawal upon returning home from work. Moreover, higher levels of trait openness to experience strengthened the negative relationships between daily morning quality time with pets and daily workday NA and afterwork incivility. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal behavior has been related to ewe's reactivity, as more reactive ewes might have greater risk of presenting worse maternal ability. This study aimed to determine the association between maternal behavior score (MBS) of Corriedale ewes with their physiological and behavioral variables measured at weaning of their offspring within two handling systems. Data from 335 ewes with average (± SE) age of 3.1 ± 1.8 years and 46.5 ± 6.1 kg of body weight were used. Experimental farms were classified into two handling systems: intensive (n = 3) and extensive (n = 2), based on stocking density and nature of human-animal relationships. Maternal behavior was evaluated in the field within 24 h after delivery, using a 6-rated scale (1 = poor to 6 = excellent). This scale takes into account the distance the ewe takes from the lamb when the lamb is restrained by an observer. The temperament of the ewes was evaluated during an arena test, at the weaning of the lambs, and was divided into two phases: social isolation and human presence. Data were subjected to principal component analysis and logistic regression. Logistic regression of principal factor (PF) scores in MBS showed that physical activity during the isolation phase increased in 1.57 (CI: 1.02 to 2.42; P < 0.05) the probability of extensively handling ewes showing high MBS (≥4), while in intensively handling ewes, logistic regression showed that the number of vocalizations in both phases of the arena test increased in 1.64 (CI: 1.12 to 2.4; P < 0.05) the probability of ewes having high MBS. Albeit the handling systems are not comparable, MBS was positively associated with some behavioral variables measured at the arena test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans can form an intense bond with their pets through shared love, attachment, and amusement. Through this case study, nurses can develop an increased understanding of how companion pets affect the quality of life of patients with cancer. Oncology nurses may incorporate the awareness of this relationship between patients and their pets into patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavior represents animals' primary means of responding to environmental variation and adapting to rapid environmental change. Many animals' presence, let alone behavior, is highly cryptic to human observers, presenting a significant barrier in both theoretical and applied behavioral ecology. Bioacoustic signals not only reveal animals' presence, but also encode detailed information about the behaviors in which they are engaging. The study of behavioral bioacoustics has emerged to decipher the context and function of animal sounds and to apply this comprehension to understanding animal behavior across ecological scales and levels of biological organization. Growing capacity for behavioral bioacoustics represents a profound opportunity to understand animal behavior and steward rapidly changing ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Interpreting sound gives powerful insight into the health of ecosystems. Beyond detecting the presence of wildlife, bioacoustic signals can reveal their behavior. However, behavioral bioacoustic information is underused because identifying the function and context of animals' sounds remains challenging. A growing acoustic toolbox is allowing researchers to begin decoding bioacoustic signals by linking individual and population-level sensing. Yet, studies integrating acoustic tools for behavioral insight across levels of biological organization remain scarce. We aim to catalyze the emerging field of behavioral bioacoustics by synthesizing recent successes and rising analytical, logistical, and ethical challenges. Because behavior typically represents animals' first response to environmental change, we posit that behavioral bioacoustics will provide theoretical and applied insights into animals' adaptations to global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the writings of Wolfdietrich Schnurre (1920–89) through a combined lens of zoocriticism and Holocaust studies. Drawing on Anna Barcz's concept of 'vulnerable realism', it posits an analogy between Jews targeted by the Nazis' exterminatory programme, who struggled to articulate their suffering in the language of empirical historiography, and animals who, excluded from the human system of moral rights and laws, have no means of voicing the oppression they endure. The article argues, however, that, rather than portraying animals as mute and helpless victims, Schnurre's short stories – 'Die Tat', 'Der Verrat' and 'Das Manöver' (1958) – endow their nonhuman protagonists with moral agency and with an ensuing capacity to resist their tormentors. Read in dialogue with Schnurre's Holocaust novel, Ein Unglücksfall (1981), and in the light of the human–animal entanglement advocated by his writings, these stories can be interpreted as a subtle contestation of the idea of Jewish passivity during the Nazi era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Around 75% of (re)emerging infections are of zoonotic origins. The risk of zoonotic transmission in Mozambique is high because approximately 81% of the country's labor force is involved with agriculture, which represents a vulnerability for more frequent human-animal interaction and risk of spillover events. A One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP) workshop was conducted in Mozambique to facilitate coordination and collaboration within and across sectors to prevent, detect, and respond to zoonotic disease threats. Based on the success of this integrated workshop, the stakeholders developed actions whose results have a great impact on animal welfare, environment and improving public health. Methods: In 2018, representatives from Mozambique's human, animal, and environmental sectors from government, universities, research institutions and partners used US CDC's OHZDP Process to prioritize endemic and emerging zoonotic diseases of greatest national concern and develop recommendations and key interventions needed to advance One Health in Mozambique. After the OHZDP workshop, the Mozambique One Health Secretariat used a theory of change methodology to identify activities for implementation from the recommendations of the OHZDP workshop. Since the OHZDP workshop, the Secretariat has monitored progress of activities annually. Results: Mozambique's priority zoonotic diseases are rabies, zoonotic tuberculosis, salmonellosis, zoonotic avian influenza, trypanosomiasis, brucellosis, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. One Health recommendations and interventions to address the priority zoonotic diseases focused on One Health collaboration, communication, and coordination; laboratory; surveillance; preparedness and response; prevention; workforce development; and research. After the OHZDP workshop, Mozambique established One Health coordination mechanisms, developed training courses for surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, outbreak investigation, and preparedness and response for the priority zoonotic diseases, conducted joint research, and developed plans. Conclusion: Prioritization of zoonotic diseases is critical as it facilitated the key One Health players in Mozambique to optimize resources, gain a greater understanding of zoonotic diseases, and implement policies and activities that promote multisectoral, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary collaboration across human, animal, and environmental sectors to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. The success of these activities implemented by the local Government and One Health partners were built from the implementation and momentum from the Mozambique's OHZDP workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many endangered species that are not popular, but whose conservation is, nonetheless, important. The present study deals with sharks who suffer from demonization and, accordingly, from public indifference to the deteriorating state of their conservation. We used the seasonal appearance of sharks in the Israeli coastal zone to study public perceptions and attitudes towards sharks prior to ('control group') and after ('visitors') shark watching during a visit in an information centre. We found that the shark's image was significantly more positive among the visitors compared to the control group. We also found that visiting the information centre was strongly related to a more positive shark image and more positive attitudes toward shark conservation and willingness to act to preserve them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterans experience higher risks of suicide and mental health disorders due to the traumas of military service, disabilities, and the difficulties of reassimilation into civilian life. Therapeutic interventions using humananimal interactions have shown promising results in reducing many risk factors affecting veterans' quality of life. This quality improvement project sought to consider if veterans participating in a recreational therapy program focused on beekeeping and administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs would experience quality of life improvements using a standardized EQ-5D-5L assessment. Our results indicate significant changes in mobility, anxiety/depression, and overall health for veterans participating in beekeeping as a recreational therapy. Implications for practice and future research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One amongst many of the defining characteristics of so-called 'late stage' capitalism are human-animal relationships that have become acrimonious, hostile, or even monstrous in nature. A foundational premise of monster theory, and one that Jeffrey Jerome Cohen's seminal 1996 edited collection of the same name suggests, is that the construction of the monster in popular culture is fraught with the boundaries that constitute the society that has spawned them; the monstrous body "exists only to be read" (p. 4). Bringing together the theoretical insights of the Marxist theory of reification, critical animal studies, and monster theory, this article examines the ways in which cinematic depictions of gigantic monstrosity can inform our theorizing of multispecies relationships under capitalism. Specifically, I explore how the tensions between capital and human-animal relationships serve to construct and constitute the multiform monster, Jean Jacket, in Jordan Peele's 2022 film Nope. Through an examination of the multispecies relationalities that the film portrays, I argue that the figure of Jean Jacket is a monstrous culmination of the reified and therefore, necessarily deferred nature of human-animal relationships under capital. However, Nope's conclusion alerts us to the radical dereifying potential of multispecies bonds of care and embodied knowledge; systems of resistance that can be forged even within our current capitalist ruins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prompted by Signal et al.'s study, this research examines UK "Pet Insurance" policies to see if and how experiencing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) in interspecies households is excluded under insurance policies terms. Situating our findings within the existing literature on human and companion animal victims of DVA, we discuss the implications for improving cross-reporting and multi-agency action to protect and prevent harm to humans and companion animal victims of DVA. In turn we identify a series of recommendations to combat discrimination in insurance, set out in our conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]