Human wildlife conflict is a considerable conservation challenge that threatens many carnivore species worldwide and is a result of complex socio-economic and ecological processes. An understanding of the drivers of conflict is essential for any efforts to achieve coexistence. This study investigated the levels of conflict, livestock management and tolerance amongst the farming communities of the Southern and Western Kalahari in Botswana. A questionnaire survey was completed with 310 farmers throughout the region. The majority of respondents regarded coexisting with carnivores as a challenge, with losses due to depredation perceived as the greatest problem facing farmers. Conflict was widespread throughout the study area, with some spatial variations for certain species. Cattle management levels were low and while smallstock management was better, the use of improved levels of management could reduce current levels of conflict. Tolerance levels were generally low with few respondents seeing the benefits of coexistence with carnivore species. The results indicated that farm type, gender, education level, source of income, livestock numbers, location and land use all have an effect on perceived conflict and tolerance levels and strongly interact with each other. In general cattleposts were characterised by higher proportions of females, lower education levels, more benefits derived from wildlife and veld products and fewer livestock than fenced ranches. They also experienced more conflict, carried out more management and had better tolerance levels. It could be that closer connections to the land and deriving benefits from natural resources resulted in more tolerance and this is certainly worth further investigation. An improvement in the use of effective methods of livestock management, targeted environmental education programs to develop a greater awareness for the conservation value of carnivores and a diversification of livelihoods to include benefits from natural resources have the potential to reduce conflict and improve tolerance in the Kalahari region.

It has already been established that animals have various constitutional effects on humans and influence quality of life and well-being in various ways (see Nestmann 2005). For a lot of people in all stages of their life, pets are important sources of support. They are able to contribute to our health as well as to buffer stress and illness. Especially elderly and frail people take profit from the human animal bond. Pets may be seen as important agents in support and therapy of people with dementia. Besides offering emotional support in times of struggle and loneliness, pets can even have a healing influence in situations of physical or mental illness. Since the 1960s animals have been used in professional and therapeutic settings. Even retirement and nursing homes experience the psychosocial benefits of animal assisted activities and integrate animals successfully in the daily routine of the residents. The longitudinal field study “Animals at the Johanniter-Stift Nursing Home” is the first to investigate the effects of animal assisted activities on the quality of life and well-being of elderly nursing home patients with dementia. In order to systematically establish the extent to which various forms of regular contact with animals can benefit such patients, psychological and social changes in patients with and without contact to animals were examined at three intervals over a three-year period, using research instruments such as non-participant observation (MTU), questionnaires completed by nursing staff (FSAK; NPI) as well as interviews with the nursing staff to examine the human-animal-contacts between the residents and the animals in the daily routine. The study demonstrates that elderly dementia sufferers with regular contact to animals tend to show greater agility, independence, strength of social network and communication abilities compared to those without contact to animals. The study shows the psychosocial effects and the options of animal assisted activities with and care of elderly people suffering from dementia as an alternative to pharmacological treatment.

The work is focused on the issue of relations between people and their dogs in a selected group. Its aim is to present what relationships are created between people and their dogs and if there are such cases when the relationship that has been developed with a dog, replaces, complements or simulates to its owner any of interpersonal relationships. And finally, how such relationships look like and for what reasons can be formed. The work consists of a theoretical part, which includes a chapter summarizing the current state of knowledge of the subject, thus representing the relevant literature and authors who have worked on and written about the same or similar field already. In addition, the chapter briefly describes the history of men and dogs union, moment of their connection and the development of relationships and roles. The work also contains a research part, an empirical survey. The research approach is a qualitative survey, mainly driven by scenarios interviews and observations. Every step taken in research and subsequent analysis are based on the methodological literature. Key words: Dog in society, the family dog, human-animal relationships, pets

At the end of the 20th century the issue of so called "dangerous" dog breeds has become increasingly discussed in some European countries. These dogs are considered so threatening that some countries have decided to regulate or restrict their breeding by law. This thesis looks at the articles in Blesk tabloid and Lidové noviny daily newspaper in the years 2001 and 2011 and explores how the dangerous aspect of these breeds was constructed there. Through discourse analysis it investigates the image of "dangerous dogs" presented in these newspapers and what these representations imply. The results of the analysis confirm that all the selected materials explicitly construct the image of dangerous dogs and at the same time implicitly suggest the existence of their "positive" counterparts which helps drawing the line between "good" and "bad" dogs, and hence also between "good" and "bad" owners of the dogs. In all cases, it is apparent that the issue thematised on the level of dog breeds in fact charaterises the relation of man to the animal as well as the society. The representation of the dog witnesses far more about a man than the dog itself. Keywords: dangerous dog, representation, media, human-animal relationship, discourse analysis

The feature to “pet” animals in digital games is highly requested by players in online discourse, but there is a lack of research on its utility from a game design perspective. This thesis aims to gain a preliminary understanding of the effects of optional, sociable animal interaction to further inform game design decisions. Using a qualitative mixed methods research design, the possible impacts of sociable virtual animal interactions on the player experience are investigated. Five game-literate participants were observed during gameplay, which included an interactable virtual dog, and interviewed in-depth on their subjective experiences. The findings suggest that the interaction can be moderately beneficial to the player experience, but that it was also found lacking. The feature can offer a break from goal-oriented gameplay and improve players’ sense of agency. It may enhance the emotional value if the player feels a connection to the virtual animal. More life-like behavior and greater gameplay value might enable this connection, thereby making the interaction more desirable and beneficial to the player experience.

Critics of animal rights often deride the movement’s proponents for having a sentimental, juvenile misconception of what animals really are, an argument bolstered by the fact that few twenty-first-century Americans besides those engaged in the industries of animal exploitation have any prolonged contact with real animals other than their pets. Until the first decades of the twentieth century, however, American cities teemed with diverse animal residents and workers, and a rapidly increasing percentage of humans grew in their conviction that these animal neighbors should be extended considerations and rights. Shifting ideas about these animals’ roles within United States society were captured in a number of new bestselling literary genres centered around “realistic” depictions of animal characters. Because animals are often conceptualized as a “contrast class” to humanity—a fundamental “Other” by which humans establish what qualities make themselves distinct and (typically) superior—analyzing these texts and their circulation within nineteenth-century culture reveals how Americans understood authority and systems of governance, and in particular how they modeled an ideal American manhood nourished by animal bodies. What forms of exploitation and control were permissible in a man’s treatment of his animals often reflected other power dynamics within society, and so these texts also provide insight into issues of class, race, and gender. Although the historical trajectory of popular culture depictions of realistic animals shows a general increase in compassion, egalitarianism, and the extension of rights, the successful removal of much animal exploitation from visibility has allowed that exploitation to grow in spite of the increasing popular sentiment to the contrary. / English

This thesis is an exploration of the perceptions of a group of humans in interaction with a group of non-human primates in a professional animal research setting. The study is a novel investigation in the field of intercultural relations, exploring the values and beliefs of a group of research employees, and the intercultural competence and sensitivity these employees model in their interactions with the animals they work with. A focus group was conducted at the Oregon National Primate Research Center and 8 individuals working with non-human primates were interviewed. They were asked a series of 15 open-ended questions in order to explore their identification and appreciation of cultural differences, as well as their general strategies for adapting to cultural difference in the context of an animal research setting. The results of this meeting reflect a range of perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs relative to culture and the possibility of an intercultural relationship between species.

Bakgrund: Ungefär tio procent av Sveriges befolkning har rapporterat känslor av ensamhet. Det är ett utbrett problem, särskilt bland äldre och beskrivs öka risken för bland annat depression, suicidalitet, kardiovaskulär sjukdom samt generell mortalitet. Hundar har visat sig kunna spela en roll i erbjudandet av såväl emotionellt som socialt stöd och kan användas som resurs i vården. Sedan 1990-talet har sjuksköterskor haft befogenhet att besluta om användning av hundar som en omvårdnadsåtgärd. Trots detta saknas det ännu tydliga implementationsriktlinjer. Syfte: Att undersöka hundens påverkan på äldres hälsa i relation till ensamhet. Metod: En icke-systematisk litteraturöversikt genomfördes. Sexton vetenskapliga artiklar av hög till medelhög kvalitet, med både kvantitativ och kvalitativ ansats inkluderades. Datainsamlingen genomfördes med syftesrelevanta sökord och termer, i CINAHL, PubMed, PsychInfo och Web of Science samt kompletterades med manuella sökningar och Google Scholar. Resultat: Litteraturöversiktens resultat lyfter fram hundens påverkan på mätbar och upplevd hälsa hos både ägare och interventionsdeltagare. Fyra huvudkategorier identifierades: Social påverkan, Fysisk påverkan, Psykisk påverkan och Emotionell påverkan. Hundägande och hund-assisterade interventioner hade samband med minskad ensamhet och isolering samt främjade samhörighet och gemenskap genom att bland annat förenkla social interaktion. Hundar bidrog också till bibehållen/ökad fysisk aktivitet, minskade depressiva symtom och ångest samt ökade välbefinnande och motivation. Slutsats: Denna litteraturöversikt indikerade, trots frånvaro av direkta orsakssamband, att relationer och terapier, med hund, kan lindra ensamhet, främja samhörighet och påverka fysisk, psykisk samt emotionell hälsa positivt hos äldre. Integrering av hundar i omvårdnaden kan vara ett lämpligt komplement, för ensamma äldre. / Background: Approximately ten percent of Sweden's population has reported feelings of loneliness. It is a widespread issue, particularly among the elderly, and is described to increase the risk of conditions such as, depression, suicidality, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality. Dogs have demonstrated, playing a role, providing both emotional and social support and can be utilized as a resource in healthcare. Since the 1990s, nurses have had the authority to employ dogs as a nursing intervention. However, clear implementation guidelines are still lacking. Aim: To examine the impact of dogs on the health of the elderly in relation to loneliness. Method: A rapid review was conducted. Sixteen scientific articles of high to moderate quality, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches, were included. Data collection was conducted using purpose-relevant keywords and terms in CINAHL, PubMed, PsychInfo, and Web of Science, supplemented by manual searches and Google Scholar. Results: The results of this review highlight the impact of dogs on measurable as well as perceived health of both owners and intervention participants. Four main categories were identified: Social Impact, Physical Impact, Mental Impact and Emotional Impact. Dog ownership and dog-assisted interventions were associated with reduced loneliness and isolation, promoting a sense of belonging and community, in part by facilitating social interaction. Dogs also promoted a maintained/increased physical activity, reduced depressive symptoms and anxiety, as well as enhanced well-being and motivation. Conclusions: This literature-review indicated, despite absence of direct causal relationships, that relationships and therapies involving dogs can alleviate loneliness, promote a sense of belonging, and positively impact the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of older individuals. Integrating dogs into care could be a suitable complement for lonely elderly.

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In the early eighties human-animal interaction was still regarded as a relatively new field of study. Since then, various disciplines got involved through research, publications, projects and scientific meetings. Although the independent development of the study field was hindered by fragmentation and specialization, important contributions were made by the different disciplines. An unique characteristic of human-animal interaction as field of study is the combination between the human sciences and natural sciences. The need for some form of integration and openness between the sciences developed. This combination not only offers opportunities but set specific demands for multidisciplinary co-operation. The study field of human-animal interaction can be enriched and broadened through co-operation between disciplines as each discipline have specialized knowledge and skills available to enhance the synergistic effect. The aim of this study is to explore the multidisciplinary nature of the study field, the involvement of Social Work in the multidisciplinary team, points of departure for multidisciplinary co-operation, and the independent nature of the study field. Twenty three disciplines were identified that are involved in the study field, namely: Anthropology&Archeology, Occupational Therapy, Architecture, Marketing, Philosophy, Physiology, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Journalism, Communication Pathology, Criminology, Art, Social Work, Education, Psychiatry, Public Health, Law, Psychology, Sociology, Town&Regional Planning, Theology, Veterinary Science and Nursing. Involvement varies from direct involvement with the implementation of programmes; indirect involvement as for example in an advisory capacity; contributing to the fundamental view points regarding the human-animal bond; and the promoting of a positive image of human-animal interaction. The role of Social Work in the study field can be divided into five main areas, namely: the aim of social work intervention, e.g. improving quality of life; the roles of the social worker, e.g. facilitator; target groups in Social Work, e.g. children and the elderly; needs of people, e.g. alleviating loneliness and depression; and approaches towards service rendering, e.g. developmental Social Work. The most important principles of multidisciplinary co-operation in the study field are stated as: aspiration to achieve the same goal, joint research, a comprehensive description of the nature and extent of the involvement of each discipline, knowledge of all the other discipline's involvement, as well as participation in human-animal interaction programmes. The independence of human-animal interaction as study field can be measured against the following seven criteria: scientific organizations, scientific meetings, publications, academic training- and educational programmes, research, programmes and projects in practice, and multidisciplinary co-operation. A strategy to enhance human-animal interaction as independent, multidisciplinary study field in South Africa is presented according to seven decision-making areas used in the marketing of services. These decision making areas include: product-(service)decisions, price decisions, place decisions, promotional decisions, personnel decisions and presentation decisions. As social workers focus on the needs of the community and the need to interact with companion animals is one of these needs, social workers can play an important role in achieving the strategic goals of leading the study field of human-animal interaction to independence. / Dissertation (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted