This State is Experiencing Peak Animal-Vehicle Crashes This Month

Therapy Dogs’ Willingness to Participate in Animal-Assisted Interventions Focus of New Project

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Pet Partners have awarded a grant to study how individual differences in dogs affect their willingness to participate in animal-assisted interventions. The research will be conducted at the University of British Columbia and seeks to distinguish between therapy dogs that tolerate animal-assisted interventions and those that show willingness and interest to participate.

Experts hope the research will result in new guidelines for selecting therapy dogs based on their desire to participate. The study also aims to advance therapy dog welfare and create better pairings for humans during animal-assisted interventions. Both dogs and humans will likely benefit from the proposed research, individually and within human-animal interactions.

Colorado Sees Spike in Animal / Vehicle Crashes in November

Factors like deer mating season, inclement weather, and limited hours of sunlight make the fall months hazardous for drivers and contribute to animal-vehicle crashes. After examining 256 animal-related crash incidents last year, Colorado State Troopers have determined that November claims the highest number of animal-related crashes.

October and November are notorious for reporting high crash rates due to deer mating season. Increased deer activity during mating season increases the likelihood of deer stepping into or crossing roadways. This behavior significantly increases the probability of collision with a moving vehicle. Drivers should use caution during peak mating season and watch for herds; if you see one deer, you’ll likely see another nearby.

New Research Suggests Animals May Experience Human-Like Emotions

Most researchers agree that non-human primates, mammals, birds, and some fish can experience a basic level of emotion. However, a new study seeks to link human and animal experiences of emotion. A team of researchers at Emory University, led by assistant professor of anthropology Dr. Marcela Benítez, is tackling the topic.

Using new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, Benítez and her team will study capuchin monkeys in captivity and the wild. The research aims to discover a correlation between non-human primate emotions and those of humans. Dr. Benítez also sees the potential for understanding how human emotions are linked to our primal ancestors. Learn more about the research at emory.edu.