Human-Animal Interaction Research Update
The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine’s NIH-funded SERvice dog and Veteran Experiences Study, or SERVES, has officially launched.
Elizabeth Brown, a Research Assistant, prepares to send out the first batch of study kits.
The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine’s NIH-funded SERvice dog and Veteran Experiences Study, or SERVES, has officially launched. This study aims to explore Human-Animal Interaction and find answers about the impact of service dogs on veterans’ health. Our research team has been hard at work preparing for the launch of this study and looks forward to the discovery of data that may inform healthcare and legislation impacting veterans’ lives.
Dr. Maggie O’Haire, Associate Dean of Research, shared:
“We are honored to partner with national service dog providers K9s For Warriors and Canine Companions to evaluate the impact of their service dogs on the wellbeing of military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our interdisciplinary team includes CVM faculty and staff, DVM students, and PhD and undergraduate students across campus. Together we are collecting data from our first cohorts of study participants, to understand their life and functioning prior to being paired with their service dog. We will follow each study participant for 15 months. Our Research Assistant Elizabeth recently sent out our first study kits. Elizabeth is herself a service member and has been spending her days here on the phone with Veterans, shepherding them through the research process. The Veterans we have spoken with so far are enthusiastic about this opportunity to increase knowledge and understanding around service dogs for military-connected PTSD.”
The study aims to gather data not only about the animals’ impact on the veterans but also on the animals. Dr. Evan MacLean, founder and Director of the Arizona Canine Cognition Center, discussed how the study is also exploring the health and characteristics of the service animals themselves. He said:
“We are thrilled that after many years in the making we’ve officially launched this study and are headed toward some exciting milestones in the months ahead. We’ve been so fortunate to work with a team of amazing staff and students at the University of Arizona, and with incredible partners in the service dog industry. In addition to the data collected from Veterans, we’re capturing a rich variety of measures from the service dogs as well, including data on their physical activity, sleep, behavioral characteristics, and biomarkers of stress. One of the unique strengths of this study is its shared focus on both the humans and dogs, which will be incredibly powerful for obtaining a comprehensive picture of how these partnerships impact the lives of both individuals.”
We are passionate about the importance and impact of this study and look forward to the discoveries, answers, and new questions the Human-Animal Interaction research team will uncover under the leadership of Dr. O’Haire and Dr. MacLean.