Dog Adoption and Rescue Project (DARe Project)

In January 2015, a team of three psychology researchers started a research collaboration with a small number of independent dog and animal rescues in the South East of Kent. The aim was to work together to try and find a solution to reduce the number of dogs who end up being abandoned or given away.

We are still at the very beginning of that journey, however, having engaged with our rescue partners from the start we are developing what feels like a trusting and reliable relationship with them. Beside planning future research projects together, we have also engaged in discussions around rescue standards and benefits of collaboration for the rescues themselves.

Some publications:
Holt, N. , Spruin, L., Ashdown, L., Fernandez, A., Godfrey, M., Hirst, L., Lester, N., Mellis, E., Moore, H. & Franz, A.(2015). Dog Adoption and Rescue Project: Tackling dog relinquishment through collaboration. Poster presented at the Festival of Community Psychology: Creativity, Collaboration and Community, Manchester.

Franz, A., Ashdown, L., Fernandez, A., Hirst, L., Holt, N., Moore, H.& Spruin, L. (2016). Written evidence submitted to the Animal Welfare Inquiry initiated by DEFRA. Evidence published online 24 March 2016: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-sub-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/animal-welfare-domestic-15-16/publications/

Dogs in the Courtroom

Despite the growing interest and success of using therapy dogs in criminal cases in North America, thorough academic research investigating in depth the effects of therapy dogs on witnesses and victims is currently missing. In addition, it is not currently researched or practiced in the UK, despite its vast potential benefit particularly to vulnerable victims.

The aim of this project is therefore to explore the benefits of using therapy dogs in a court room setting and to promote their use.