GRF One Health Summit 2012, Davos: Presentation by Andrea Meisser, IEMT-Switzerland, Institute for interdisciplinary research on human-animal relations, Zurich

1. GRF One Health
Summit 2012
Institut für interdisziplinäre Erforschung
der Mensch-Tier-Beziehung Davos
WE 3.2: Public Health and Livelihood
Companion animals and public health:
Why it’s time to take them seriously
Dennis C. TURNER
Andrea MEISSER
IEMT-Switzerland
Institute for interdisciplinary research
on human-animal relations, Zurich

2. One characteristic we value highly in animals is
that they are – utterly authentic.
As humans, we long for that authenticity and sense of self.
Being able to have some sort of encounter with them is
important for our own sense of being.
Ian McCallum
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3. Bangkok is flooding, and its citizens are putting
pets first.
As the floodwaters rise in Bangkok and its residents begin to flee, they aren't
forgetting their pets. Whether street dogs or household animals, humans are
leaving no pets behind.
Daniel Berehulak
AFP/Getty Images, October 28, 2011, http://www.globalpost.com/
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4. Overview
1. The role of companion animals
2. The importance of companion animals
• In/to the general public
• Therapeutically/pedagogically to subgroups of that public
3. Recognition of the role of companion animals in public health
• US NIH, NICHD
• EU FP7 Program CALLISTO “Companion animals and
zoonoses”
4. Added value to the One Health Approach (IEMT’s position in
Switzerland)
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5. 1. The role of companion animals
Companion animals
 have accompanied humans for at least 15’000 years
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6. 1. The role of companion animals
Companion animals
 have accompanied humans for at least 15’000 years
 are kept in all cultures of the world irrespective of socio-economic status
 are considered as full family members in 70 - 90% of the people surveyed
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7. 1. The role of companion animals
Companion animals
 have accompanied humans for at least 15’000 years
 are kept in all cultures of the world irrespective of socio-economic status
 are considered as full family members in 70 - 90%
of the peoples surveyed
 cause mourning at their loss, lasting from several
days to months
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8. 1. The role of companion animals
Companion animals,
especially, but not only dogs, and later cats:
 have accompanied humans for at least 15’000 years
 are kept in all cultures of the world irrespective of socio-economic status
 are considered as full family members in 70 - 90% of the peoples surveyed
 cause mourning at their loss, lasting from several days to months
 have such a high social status that human disaster relief organizations
have started to work together with animal welfare organizations to
coordinate future efforts to reduce risks (e.g. Katrina, Fukushima)
 share environment as well as lifestyle with their human companions (zoo-
noses, development of pharmaceutics, early warning as important One
Health aspects)
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9. 2. The importance of companion animals
- In/to the general public
 Acquisition of a dog or cat significantly reduces complaints about minor
health problems and improves measurable Quality of Life over 10 months
(Brit. J. Royal Soc. Med.)
 Dog & cat owners have significantly higher survival rates than non-owners
one year after hospitalization for heart attacks (Amer. J. of Cardiology)
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10. 2. The importance of companion animals
- In/to the general public
 Dog & cat owners have lower levels of accepted risk factors (bp, plasma
cholesterol etc.) for cardiovascular disease than non-owners and more
physical activity (Med. J. Australia)
 Over one-year pet owners visit their primary physicians significantly less
often than non-owners (Australia) and the probability of facing any health
costs is lowest for cat owners, then dog owners, but not for owners of
other pets (Turner D. and Gutzwiller F., IEMT-Switzerland)
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11. 2. The importance of companion animals
- In/to the general public
 Negative moods (depression) of owners are improved by cats (Anthrozoös)
 Social facilitation for more contact with other people is increased with pet
ownership (Wood L., Australia, in US NIH reports)
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12. 2. The importance of companion animals
- Therapeutically/pedagogically to subgroups of that public
Significant improvements with AAT have been documented in:
 Aphasic psychiatric patients/non-communicative clients in psychotherapy
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13. 2. The importance of companion animals
- Therapeutically/pedagogically to subgroups of that public
Significant improvements with AAT have been documented in:
 Aphasic psychiatric patients/non-communicative clients in psychotherapy
 Persistent Vegetative State (PVS); appalic syndrome
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14. 2. The importance of companion animals
- Therapeutically/pedagogically to subgroups of that public
Significant improvements with AAT have been documented in:
 Aphasic psychiatric patients/non-communicative clients in psychotherapy
 Persistent Vegetative State (PVS); apallic syndrome
 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD); Conduct Disorder (CD)
 Reducing impulsivity/aggression and raising the level of social integration in
school classes
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15. 2. The importance of companion animals
- Therapeutically/pedagogically to subgroups of that public
Significant improvements with AAT have been documented in:
 Attention span and learning in children with Down syndrome
 Level of empathy toward people and humane attitudes of children toward
animals (long-lasting)
 Autistic children
 Stress reduction in insecurely attached children,
allowing therapy
 Alzheimer patients (long-term recall,
communication with environment)
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16. 2. The importance of companion animals
- Therapeutically/pedagogically to subgroups of that public
Significant improvements with AAT have been documented in:
 Alzheimer patients (long-term recall, communication with environment)
 Neurological/motor dysfunction (hippotherapy; ergotherapy with dogs)
 Quality of Life of physically challenged persons with assistance dogs
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17. 3. Recognition of the role of companion animals in public
health
- US NIH, NICHD
 In October 2008, the US National Institutes of Health held an invitational
conference in Washington D.C. (IEMT was represented by Turner), after
which the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and
the US National Institute of Nursing Research, together with Mars Inc.’s
Waltham Centre for Pet Care (UK) entered a public-private partnership to
encourage research on human-animal interaction, especially as it relates to
child development, health and the therapeutic use of animals with children
and adolescents.
 This resulted in a Call for Grant Proposals totalling USD 2,5 Million p.A.
and official recognition of the importance of the role of companion animals
in human health and wellbeing.
 This has helped encourage similar initiatives in Europe and Asia, currently
in the pipeline.
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18. 3. Recognition of the role of companion animals in public
health
- EU FP7 Program CALLISTO “Companion animals and zoonoses”
European Commission, DG SANCO/Research
Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology Call: FP7-KBBE-2011-5
Coalition under the leadership of FVE, Brussels, including:
 Federation of Veterinarians of Europe FVE, Belgium
 University of Copenhagen UCPH, Denmark
 IAHAIO, USA (Represented by Turner)
 Erasmus Medical Center EMC, The Netherlands
 World Small Animal Veterinary Association WSAVA, Canada
 Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations, France
 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Caporale”, Italy
 Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
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19. 3. Recognition of the role of companion animals in public
health
- EU FP7 Program CALLISTO “Companion animals and zoonoses”
European Commission, DG SANCO/Research
Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology Call: FP7-KBBE-2011-5
CALLISTO
Companion Animals multisectoriaL interprofessionaL
Interdisciplinary Strategic Think tank On zoonoses
Highly ranked and granted without cuts: € 1 Mio (3 years, Jan. 2012)
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20. 3. Recognition of the role of companion animals in public
health
- EU FP7 Program CALLISTO “Companion animals and zoonoses”
7 CALLISTO Expert Advisory Groups:
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21. 3. Recognition of the role of companion animals in public
health
- EU FP7 Program CALLISTO “Companion animals and zoonoses”
IAHAIO’s stated reason for participation and the main task of the EAG
“Sociology and Welfare” under Turner’s chairmanship, is to ensure that
the coalition prepares factually correct information about zoonoses risks
with companion animals without resorting to “scare tactics” alarming
pet owners, and to see that the beneficial aspects of living with
companion animals are not ignored.
This will require a balancing act between ethical, emotional and
epidemiological arguments that in the end favors healthy human-animal
relationships.
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22. 4. Added value to the One Health Approach
(IEMT’s position in Switzerland)
How the field of Human-Animal Interactions provides added value to
the One Health Approach: IEMT’s 6 postulates
1. The bio-psychosocial approach of modern health promotion is ideally
transposed in the human-companion animal relationship.
2. The health promoting benefits of human-animal relationships can be
increased by appropriate political and societal regulations. All persons,
not only the animal friends, profit from good companion animal
management at the community level. Therefore, we plan today for the
needs of tomorrow.
3. Companion animals play an important role in supporting independence
and mobility. Owning a dog and/or walking with it promote feelings of
security.
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23. 3. Added value to the One Health Approach
(IEMT’s position in Switzerland)
How the field of Human-Animal Interactions provides added value to
the One Health Approach: IEMT’s 6 postulates
4. Research demonstrates that owning a companion animal increases
physical activity and can thereby reduce the health problems associated
with obesity and stress.
5. Human-companion animal relationships can contribute to reducing our
health system costs.
6. In a society in which an increasing number of people living alone face the
problems of loneliness, isolation and depression, initiatives to promote
contact with companion animals are a true investment in the community.
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24. GRF One Health
Summit 2012
Institute for Interdisciplinary Research
on Human-Animal Relations Davos
WE 3.2: Public Health and Livelihood
Take Home Message
• Companion animals contribute significantly to
•
maintaining and improving human health.
• The potential for public health and health economy
that lies in a sound human-animal relationship is
huge and yet unexploited.
• A transdisciplinary One Health approach is vital to
illustrate and promote its added value.
Dennis C. TURNER
Andrea MEISSER

25. Thank you for your attention!
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