Companion Animals

Research relating to cats, dogs, birds, and other companion animals including rescue, sheltering, adoptions, and population.

grey pit bull-type dog sticking tongue out staring off into distance

Goodbye, BSL: The Public Is Changing Its Mind About Pit Bulls

Aug 11 2026 Alyssa Hanes

Pit bulls are hounded by a bad reputation in the U.S., and advocates have fought hard to rehabilitate their image. This study suggests it may be working, with more than 300 discriminatory breed-specific laws repealed since 2012. READ MORE

Goodbye, BSL: The Public Is Changing Its Mind About Pit Bulls

Aug 11 2026 Alyssa Hanes

In the Spotlight

Jul 6 2020 | Lukas Jasiunas

Companion Animals And Suicide Prevention: A First Look

Researchers find preliminary evidence to suggest that caring for a companion animal could help to prevent suicide in some older people. READ MORE

Jun 30 2020 | Faunalytics

Managing Cats In Indigenous Australian Communities

This article reviews 13 studies of cat population management strategies to propose a humane, effective, and culturally appropriate way of stabilizing their numbers. READ MORE

Jun 12 2020 | Faunalytics

The Stresses Of Feral Cat Care

Caring for feral cats can be deeply rewarding, but comes with significant stressors. This ethnographic study explores the causes of burnout and compassion fatigue among feral cat caregivers. READ MORE

Jun 10 2020 | karol orzechowski

Zoonoses Fundamentals: What We Included And What We Left Out

Today marks the release of our Zoonoses Fundamentals! This blog gives you an overview of what you can find inside, and outlines what we left out and where you can learn more. READ MORE

Jun 8 2020 | Sara Streeter

Does Your Cat Really Care About You? Yes!

For better or worse, cats have a reputation for aloofness. This study shows they do in fact form secure attachments to humans, and attention is key to their positive welfare. READ MORE

May 27 2020 | Mia Rishel

Effective Animal Campaigning: Current Knowledge And Guiding Principles

In this blog, we look at how focus, content, and framing work together to create the most effective animal advocacy campaigns. READ MORE

May 26 2020 | Sara Streeter

I Know How You Feel: Reading The Emotions Of Dogs

Reading dog emotions is largely a learned skill, particularly for emotions like fear or sadness. Researchers find that living in a dog-positive culture also plays a significant role. READ MORE

May 22 2020 | Dalton Bassett

Our Relationships With Animals And Viruses

In this study, scientists looked at animals that share viruses with humans to answer two questions: where do zoonotic viruses come from, and what can we do to prevent future pandemics? READ MORE

May 12 2020 | Faunalytics

Companion Animal Issues: What We Can Learn From The 2008 Recession

The economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic is still unclear. This study looks at the aftermath of the 2008 recession and offers clues about how companion animals and shelters might be affected. READ MORE

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