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Abstract
Dogs are important facilitators of social interaction. However, little attention has been given to the specific mechanisms through which these relations proceed, or to the ways that dogs help to broker, maintain, and even disrupt social relations. This paper addresses this absence through
an indepth qualitative analysis of the everyday experiences of 24 dog owning households who live in apartments in Sydney, Australia. It shows that dogs encourage people to spend more time outside, make people recognizable within their neighborhood, provide a topic of conversation, and actively
solicit the attention of strangers. Dogs help make people recognizable and identifiable to others, while also creating social distance. The paper connects to broader literature on neighboring and community practice to show that community relations shaped by dogs involve practices of inclusion
as well as exclusion. Exclusion provides an important motivation for new community formation.
... For example, in a park setting, dog walkers were more likely to have conversations with others than non-dog owners (Wood and Christian, 2011). Dog walkers may also be more recognisable to others within their neighbourhoods (Power, 2013). A qualitative study of dog owners who lived in apartments in Australia found that dogs can act as identifying devices making their owners noticeable within their communities (Power, 2013). ...
... Dog walkers may also be more recognisable to others within their neighbourhoods (Power, 2013). A qualitative study of dog owners who lived in apartments in Australia found that dogs can act as identifying devices making their owners noticeable within their communities (Power, 2013). Our findings add to the literature and extend it to the context of Asia, where the number of pet owners is rising (Spire Research and Consulting, 2018). ...
Evidence for social pathways to health benefits for dog owners appears positive but less well developed. Our study aimed to estimate the differences in social capital by dog ownership and dog walking status among young-to-middle aged adults and older adults in Japan. Data from 3,606 residents living in Japan were used. Data on social capital, dog ownership, and dog walking were collected by questionnaires. Age-stratified multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate differences in social capital scores by dog ownership and dog walking status. Among young-to-middle aged adults, the mean of the activities with neighbours score, adjusted for covariates, was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the dog owner walkers group compared to the non-dog owners group. Among older adults, no significant differences in the marginal means of social capital scores were observed between the three groups of non-dog owners, dog owner non-walkers, and dog owner walkers. While the benefits of social capital for a healthy lifestyle have been well-documented, few means have been identified to intervene in social capital. Building on and expanding the known health benefits of dog ownership and dog walking, this study revealed modest support for the link between dog walking and activities with neighbours among young-to-middle aged adults, but no meaningful associations were found for older adults. Additionally, no significant link was observed between dog walking and social cohesion among either age group. Future research can further improve the use of dog-based behavioural health interventions for fostering social capital.
... Some studies have found that the benefits of having a pet can extend to non-pet owners and the broader community (Greenebaum, 2004;Walsh, 2009a;Wood et al., 2007). According to the results of a qualitative study with Australian dog owners (N = 26), participants were more likely to be greeted by other people and to carry on longer conversations when accompanied by their dogs (Power, 2013). These interactions were perceived more favorably when dogs were present. ...
... Aside from risks such as allergies and bites, pets were seen as enhancing neighborhood safety and friendliness (Wood et al., 2007). While it is unclear whether these casual encounters provide the basis for more enduring friendships, community integration and social support are considered important for well-being (Power, 2013;Wood et al., 2007). ...
If consumer spending is any indication of people’s devotion to their pets, then it should come as no surprise that pet care has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Cats and dogs are the most abundant pets in industrialized countries, and it is now commonplace to speak of pets as family members. The increased spending on pets has been attributed to the sheer number of pets owned by people and, perhaps more revealing, the depth and intensity of the emotional bond that some people experience in their relationship with their pet. Guided by relevant literature, this article uses a psychological lens to explore pet-oriented leisure and consumption, what is potentially driving people’s investment in their pets, and what this means for the health and well-being of people and pets. Pets influence people’s sense of self and promote happiness by providing enjoyable leisure experiences. Evidence for the impact of pet-related spending on health is sparse.
... These are increasingly being recognised as holding significant relevance for the management of longterm health conditions [5]. Indication of the potential benefit that pets convey to the experience of mental health comes from evidence detailing the benefits of pet ownership in relation to stress reduction, improved quality of life, and pets as promoters of social and community interaction [6][7][8]. Recent work has shed light on the relevance of pets in the social networks of people who have received a diagnosis of a severe and enduring mental health illness (e.g. Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder) [9] suggesting that pets can be considered alongside other human relationships. ...
... Very little data fell outside of the framework and what did related mostly to the demographics of pet owners. The results support the wider health benefits of companion animals for the general population [6][7][8]. However, the discrepancy often identified between quantitative and qualitative findings within the review and the range of factors mediating the relationship between pets and their owners identified within existing literature speaks to the complexity of this relationship. ...
Background
There is increasing recognition of the therapeutic function pets can play in relation to mental health. However, there has been no systematic review of the evidence related to the comprehensive role of companion animals and how pets might contribute to the work associated with managing a long-term mental health condition. The aim of this study was to explore the extent, nature and quality of the evidence implicating the role and utility of pet ownership for people living with a mental health condition. MethodsA systematic search for studies exploring the role of companion animals in the management of mental health conditions was undertaken by searching 9 databases and undertaking a scoping review of grey literature from the earliest record until March 2017. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to be published in English and report on primary data related to the relationship between domestic animal ownership and the management of diagnosable mental health conditions. Synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data was undertaken in parallel using a narrative synthesis informed by an illness work theoretical framework. ResultsA total of 17 studies were included in the review. Quantitative evidence relating to the benefits of pet ownership was mixed with included studies demonstrating positive, negative and neutral impacts of pet ownership. Qualitative studies illuminated the intensiveness of connectivity people with companion animals reported, and the multi-faceted ways in which pets contributed to the work associated with managing a mental health condition, particularly in times of crisis. The negative aspects of pet ownership were also highlighted, including the practical and emotional burden of pet ownership and the psychological impact that losing a pet has. Conclusion
This review suggests that pets provide benefits to those with mental health conditions. Further research is required to test the nature and extent of this relationship, incorporating outcomes that cover the range of roles and types of support pets confer in relation to mental health and the means by which these can be incorporated into the mainstay of support for people experiencing a mental health problem.
... Consistent with similar investigations (Power, 2013), more women (22) than men (5) volunteered to participate in the study. The age range of participants (17-74, M = 46) reflected the experiences of dog owners in various stages of adulthood. ...
... For some, having a dog led to a shift in their values and increased their sense of personal fulfillment. Dogs appeared to put people at ease making it more likely to have pleasant interactions while out in the community (Power, 2013). In addition to promoting social engagement, dogs were described as being attuned to signs of emotional distress from their owners and were quick to respond through licking and pawing. ...
Human beings attempt to find meaning in their everyday lives. The relational significance of the human-animal bond is no exception. This article draws upon a qualitative study examining the subjective experience of living with a companion dog. Dog owners (n = 27) were invited to participate in focus groups. Based on a thematic analysis, three themes are highlighted: (a) this is a sacred relationship; (b) all we have is today; and (c) I’m going to fix you, hang on. Discussed in light of interdisciplinary perspectives, these findings may lead to a deeper understanding of the human-animal bond in research and clinical work.
... meet new people (P<0.05) and undertake additional activities (P<0.05) ( Table 1). These results may be explained by the dog's need to be walked, which forces their owners to leave the house and cover a certain distance (Power, 2013). Some always take the same routes, but others decide to explore new areas. ...
The aim of the study was to determine whether dog keeping affected the physical and mental condition of dog owners in Poland. Data from 715 surveys were analysed. The questionnaire contained questions on the different aspects of dog ownership and certain characteristics of the respondents (such as sex, residence and age). The distribution of answers to each question was given on a scale of one to five. The survey showed that the owners gained certain benefits (mainly emotional ones) and experienced some losses (usually associated with the animal’s passing) stemming from dog ownership. Knowledge of these types of costs and benefits can improve future owners’ awareness and help to prevent homelessness in dogs.
... 3. I paid only peripheral attention to digital communication between neighbors. 4. LHE units are usually equipped with more than one elevator, including the passenger and service ones. 5. Dogs and little children conventionally act as social glue in the neighborhood, as they signify safety and induce pleasant communication (see, e.g., Power, 2013). ...
This article aims to contribute to the study of the relationship between the increasing size and verticality of contemporary cities and the lived experiences of their residents. Drawing on 20 residential biographies of apartment owners in the newly built large housing estates (LHEs) on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, Russia, I explore how their specific geometry and materiality co-constitute everyday neighboring interactions. As an analytical tool, I apply a version of social practice theory that treats materiality as an influential constitutive component of everyday life. The article shows how geometry, including verticality and size, as well as shared materiality, shape and mediate neighboring practices. I argue that diverse neighboring interactions, occurring simultaneously at larger and smaller scales, as well as in visible and invisible modes, are inherent in vibrantly gigantic and monolithic housing. The article coins the concept of elastic neighboring, focusing on the everyday oscillation between residents’ isolation and awareness of each other.
... Pets are seen as family members by most owners (Bowen, 1993;McConnell et al., 2011McConnell et al., , 2019Serpell and Paul, 2011;Irvine and Cilia, 2017;Laurent-Simpson, 2021;Kogan et al., 2022b; Humane Society of the United States., n.d.), and many view their pets as children (Turner, 2001;Volsche, 2018Volsche, , 2019Owens and Grauerholz, 2019). Numerous studies suggest that pets offer a variety of physical benefits (Kushner et al., 2006;Coleman et al., 2008;McConnell et al., 2011;Power, 2013;Bakerjian, 2014) including improved cardiovascular health (Anderson et al., 1992;Friedmann and Thomas, 1995;Wright et al., 2007;Levine et al., 2013), and increased physical activity (Oka and Shibata, 2009;Lentino et al., 2012). Psychological benefits include improved mental health (Antonacopoulos and Pychyl, 2010;McConnell et al., 2011;Hui Gan et al., 2020), reduced loneliness (Pikhartova et al., 2014) and depression (McConnell et al., 2017), and a source of support and companionship (Hunt and Stein, 2007;Walsh, 2009;Wisdom et al., 2009;Zimolag and Krupa, 2009;Levine et al., 2013;Brooks et al., 2016Brooks et al., , 2018) -even during times of high stress (Young et al., 2020;Bussolari et al., 2021a;Kogan et al., 2021;McDonald et al., 2021b;Phillipou et al., 2021). ...
Parental guilt, one common subtype of guilt often associated with work-family conflict (WFC), has been found to be associated with depression and anxiety. Because many people view their pets as family members and even children, the current study was designed to explore dog owners’ dog-related guilt and its relationship with depression and anxiety. Through an online anonymous survey, the results of our study suggest that dog owners’ guilt and dog-related WFC are at comparable levels to those reported in human family studies. They are also both significant predictors of depression and anxiety. It is important for mental health professionals to be aware of this disenfranchised guilt and help clients cope in positive ways. Guidance related to self-compassion is offered as one strategy to help pet owners struggling with this common, but often trivialized, source of guilt.
... Indication of the potential benefit that pets convey to the experience of mental health comes from evidence detailing the benefits of pet ownership in relation to stress reduction, improved quality of life, and pets as promoters of social and community interaction. [11][12][13] Recent work done by Power 14 has shed light on the relevance of pets in the social networks of people who have received a diagnosis of a severe and enduring mental health illness (e.g. Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder) suggesting that pets can be considered alongside other human relationships. ...
Background: Mental health problems are common in the general population with an estimated one in six people in any past week experiencing a common mental health difficulty. Psychological benefits include increased resilience at times of adversity, increased participation in meaningful activities, increased social functioning, increased happiness and hedonic tone, and increased positive self-view and self-agency. Material and Methods: The present study examines depression, anxiety, stress, and anger among pet owners. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted and data from adults (N=185) was collected using two widely used tools, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), and Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992). Results: The ANOVA test showed that there was no significant difference in depression (F = 2.43, p > 0.05), anxiety (F = 2.08, p > 0.05), stress (F = 1.50, p > 0.05), and anger (F = 0.21, p > 0.05) of the participants based on pet ownership.The Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that there was no significant difference in depression, anxiety, stress and anger of the participants based on the number of members in the family and the number of senior citizens in the family. Conclusion: Majority of the participants who had senior citizen(s) in their families were having a pet or were planning to get one in the near future. The study also revealed that majority of the participants who had a pet or planning to get one were living in nuclear families.
... walking further provides an opportunity to meet other dog owners and often results in groups of 347 neighbours meeting up regularly to walk their dogs. According to Power (2013), dogs shape 348 neighbourhood relationships by encouraging people to get outside on a regular basis, and by 349 providing a neutral topic of conversation and point of connection with other dog owners. 350 ...
The combination of increasing numbers of people in cities, coupled with decreasing levels of biodiversity, is hypothesised to result in the extinction of experience, or the continued disintegration of the human relationship with the natural world. We use the concepts of sense of place and dwelling to investigate the human relationship with nature in cities by considering the emotional connections between people and places. We conducted ‘go-along’ interviews with 21 residents of Hamilton, New Zealand, to explore the significance of neighbourhood parks and home gardens in the lives of urban residents. Our study highlights the importance of greenspaces in cities to the physical, mental and social health of local residents. Bush parks provided the best opportunities for respondents to observe nature and thereby escape the stress of city life. Participants wanted a variety of parks which would meet the range of their community’s needs and provide habitat for wildlife. Proximity and frequent use of parks resulted in a sense of ownership and responsibility which led to concrete action, such as participation in ecological restoration of valued greenspaces. Providing high quality natural greenspaces within walking distance of residents’ homes disrupts the extinction of experience by fostering positive personal experiences of nature, crucial for the health and wellbeing of people and for native biodiversity.
... Pet owners scored significantly better in mental health than non-pet owners during the CB, a finding also seen in previous non-pandemic studies [45][46][47]. While nuanced, this relationship provides relief from damaging psychological effects [44], but is also riddled with socioeconomic stressors and uncertainty regarding disease spread [24]. ...
Introduction:
The negative impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health and physical activity is well reported. While prior studies showed a positive influence of pet ownership on physical activity and mental health, the interactions between the pandemic and pet ownership are not well studied.
Objective:
To determine the association between pet ownership, physical activity levels and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 19 to July 13, 2020 among Singapore residents aged 21 to 64 years through a previously published questionnaire. Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to develop mixed-effects models for outcome comparisons. We recorded participant data on pet ownership, duration and intensity of physical activity, and RAND 36-item Health Survey mental health domains during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results:
The questionnaire was completed by 431 pet owners and 103 non-pet owners. A greater proportion of pet owners were female, non-married, employed and owned pets in the past. Pet owners reported 31.8 (95% CI 13.6 to 50; p = .001) more minutes per week of mild-intensity physical activity compared to non-pet owners. No statistically significant differences were found for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity. Pet owners had better emotional well-being (ꞵ = 9.66, 95% CI 4.97 to 14.4; p < .001), energy (ꞵ = 8.29, 95% CI 3.46 to 13.1; p = .001) and social functioning (ꞵ = 11.2, 95% CI 5.03 to 17.4; p < .001) scores than non-pet owners. However, no statistically significant difference was observed for general health scores. Pet owner physical activity levels, general health, emotional well-being and energy scores correlated positively with pet attachment scores.
Conclusion:
Pet ownership was associated with greater physical activity levels and better mental health, particularly in main caregivers with higher pet attachment scores. These findings suggest that pet ownership is beneficial to physical and mental well-being during periods of social isolation amidst a global pandemic.
... There is also a need to help promote a sense of security and positive community relations once families renting with pets are housed. Tenants living with a dog who barks incessantly when left alone, for example, may worry about neighbor complaints and getting evicted as a result (11,69). Separation anxietyrelated behaviors may be on the rise in the last year, as many dogs have become accustomed to being at home all or most of the day with their families during the pandemic (70,71). ...
Previous studies have underscored the difficulty low-income pet owners often face when attempting to secure affordable rental housing. Further exacerbating this housing disparity are fees charged on top of normal monthly rent to pet owners in “pet-friendly” rental housing. In this study, we aggregated rental housing listings from the twenty most populous cities in Texas, USA from a popular online rental database. We paired the rental listings with census tract information from the American Community Survey in order to investigate economic and racial/ethnic patterns in the spatial distribution of the properties. We find that less expensive pet-friendly listings were more likely to have pet fees charged on top of rent than rental units that were more expensive. Additionally, when pet fee burden was defined as a function of average income by census tract, low-income communities and communities of color were more likely than higher income and predominantly White communities to pay disproportionately higher fees to keep pets in their homes. We also find patterns of spatial inequalities related to pet fee burden by a metric of income inequality by city. The burden of pet rental fees may contribute to both housing insecurity and companion animal relinquishment. We discuss these findings as they relate to inequalities in housing, with particular attention to marginalized and disadvantaged people with pets. We conclude with recommendations for policy and practice.
... For socially secluded individuals, an animal can be a mean to social interaction that may result in higher social capital (Wood et al., 2005). Talking about an animal is less threatening than exposing oneself in an interaction (Power, 2013). ...
Being in a relationship with an animal can promote the well-being of people. For many individuals, this usually takes place at home. This study reports about homes for people with mental health problems (with or without co-occurring substance use), who live in supported housing operated by public landlords, entailing tenancies that are usually stricter regarding their pet policies than ordinary homes. We thus addressed the following research questions through ethnographic fieldwork at seven distinct places: which types of human–animal relationships occur in supported housing, and how do they affect the tenants? We analyzed the collected data informed by the Grounded Theory approach and found three types of human–animal relationships within supported housing affecting the tenants differently, namely, “no animals,” “visiting animals,” and “shared/sole ownership of animals.” Animals in the buildings can stage atmospheres that promote solidarity and connectedness among people. In contrast, situations in which animals are forbidden can create emotional tensions between tenants and staff or landlords. When discussing fostering animal atmospheres and limits to keeping pets, we concluded that animals can contribute to the mental health recovery of tenants by creating acknowledgment and rootedness. Therefore, public housing services need to guarantee equal rights to the tenants as they do with every citizen, including the right to keep a pet.
... However, for others, walking the dog during this period continued to provide an opportunity to speak to other people. For the latter, encountering other people during walks fostered a sense of community between dog walkers: another function of dog walking that has been recognised in previous research [76]. ...
Simple Summary
On 23 March 2020, the UK Government introduced a nationwide lockdown as part of efforts to reduce the impact of COVID-19. Lockdown control measures led many dog owners to make changes to their daily routines. This study aimed to explore how the experience of dog ownership in the United Kingdom (UK) was impacted during this lockdown. Data for this research came from open-ended survey questions on the impact of COVID-19 on dog ownership, and electronic diary entries. Three key themes emerged from the data: spending time at home with dog(s), walking practices, and behaviour and training. Owners enjoyed spending more time than usual with their dog(s) but understood that spending increased time with them may lead to the dog(s) struggling in the future when left alone. However, very few owners gave their dog(s) “alone time” during the lockdown. Owners valued the opportunity to walk their dog(s) as part of their permitted daily exercise, but some felt that lockdown restrictions on exercise did not allow them to provide their dog(s) with sufficient exercise. They also worried that lockdown guidelines restricted opportunities for dogs to interact with other dogs. Additionally, some owners noticed new problematic behaviours in their dog(s). Using these findings, we make suggestions on how dog welfare organisations might help to best support dog welfare. These include supporting dog owners in teaching their dogs to cope with being alone, even if owners do not need to leave their dogs alone.
Abstract
On 23 March 2020, the UK Government imposed a nationwide lockdown as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. This study aimed to explore how the experience of dog ownership in the UK was impacted during this lockdown. Data for this research came from open-ended survey questions and an electronic diary completed by members of the general public and participants involved in “Generation Pup”, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study of dogs. A total of 10,510 free-text entries were analysed. Three major themes emerged: spending time at home with dog(s), walking practices, and behaviour and training. Owners valued having more time than usual with their dog(s) but also recognised that spending extra time with their dog(s) may negatively impact on the dog’s future ability to cope when left alone. However, very few owners provided alone time for their dog(s) during the lockdown. The opportunity to walk their dog(s) as part of their permitted daily exercise was regarded positively, but walks under the lockdown guidelines were not always felt to be adequate with respect to providing sufficient exercise and opportunities for interaction with other dogs. Owners reported observing new undesirable behaviours in their dog(s) during the lockdown, including barking and dogs being “clingy” or vocalising when briefly left alone. Based on these findings, we suggest intervention strategies to best support dog welfare that include helping dog owners to teach dogs to cope with being alone, even if owners do not need to leave their dogs alone.
... Taken together, our findings indicate that the association of current pet ownership with physical activity levels may be influenced by the type of pet and the degree of engagement with pets. Pet ownership has been described to positively impact mental health through a range of mechanisms including reducing stress 43,44 , promoting social interaction 45,46 , classical conditioning of relaxation response, providing emotional support and tactile interactions 47 , creating a non-threatening atmosphere 12 , catalysing the development of social support networks 48 , as well as boosting self-esteem 13 . In our overall propensity score-matched cohort, we did not detect a significant association of pet ownership with any of the four SF-36 subscales studied. ...
Although existing literature increasingly suggests a positive influence of pet ownership on human physical activity levels, results from many European, American, and Japanese studies have been inconsistent. How pet ownership impacts mental health and atopy is likewise controversial and whether distinct demographic subgroups experience differential effects is unclear. This cross-sectional study surveyed participants (n = 823) via a self-administered online questionnaire. Comparisons of outcomes between pet owners and non-pet owners with subgroup analyses were performed within a propensity score-matched subset (n = 566) of respondents. There were no differences in physical activity levels or mental health scores between pet owners and non-pet owners. In subgroup analyses, compared to non-pet owners, main pet caregivers reported 14.1 (95% CI 2.79–25.3) and 19.0 (95% CI 4.70–33.3) more minutes per week of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity respectively and higher SF-36 emotional well-being (β = 2.7, 95% CI 0.100–5.32) and energy scores (β = 3.8, 95% CI 0.410–7.27). Age was a significant effect modifier of the association between pet ownership and emotional well-being, energy and social functioning scores, with greater scores above the ages of 39, 35 and 39 years old respectively (interaction p = 0.043, 0.044, 0.042). Finally, pet acquisition was associated with worsening of allergic rhinitis, while pet ownership cessation was associated with improvement of allergic rhinitis and eczema symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing the public health impact of pet ownership in Southeast Asia and its findings add contextual nuance to suggest potential benefits derived from pet ownership.
... Furthermore, dogs also care for humans through actively embedding physical activity into their lives, providing security and safety, emotional support, and the ability to navigate safely [16][17][18]. Other studies point to how dogs also facilitate social interaction by acting as a social stimulus through making people more approachable, being a subject for idle chat of shared interests and helping provide a sense of community [19,20]. ...
Simple Summary
Dogs are considered property under U.K. law, while owners generally regard their canine companions as family. Reports that the number of stolen dogs in England and Wales rose from 1788 in 2016 to 1909 in 2017 led to public calls to change the law. Recognising that a more robust analysis of dog theft crime statistics is required, we gathered dog theft data for 2015, 2016, and 2017 from 41 of 44 police forces. This paper examines how dog theft crime statistics are constructed, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of these data, and categorises, maps, and measures dog theft changes temporally per police force in England and Wales. Our findings reveal there has been an increase in dog theft crimes, with 1559 thefts in 2015, 1653 in 2016 (+6.03%), and 1842 in 2017 (+11.43%), and a decrease in court charges related to dog theft crimes, with 64 (3.97%) in 2015, 51 (3.08%) in 2016, and 39 (2.11%) in 2017. The actual number of dog theft crimes will be higher as three forces could not supply useable data. There is a need for a qualitative study to understand dog theft crime in different parts of the country, and a standardised approach to recording dog theft by all police forces in England and Wales. We recommend classifying dog theft (or pet theft more generally) as a crime in itself under the Sentencing Guidelines associated with the Theft Act 1968.
Abstract
Dogs are considered property under U.K. law, while current discourses of pet ownership place canine companions as part of an extended family. This means sentences for those who steal dogs are not reflective of a dogs’ sentience and agency, rather in line with charges for those who steal a laptop or wallet. This is particularly problematic as dog theft is currently on the rise in England and Wales, leading to public calls to change the law. Recognising that a more robust analysis of dog theft crime statistics is required, we gathered dog theft data for 2015, 2016, and 2017 from 41 of 44 police forces through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. This paper uses these data to examine how dog theft crime statistics are constructed, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of these data, and categorises, maps, and measures dog theft changes temporally per police force in England and Wales. Our findings reveal there has been an increase in dog theft crimes, with 1559 in 2015, 1653 in 2016 (+6.03%), and 1842 in 2017 (+11.43%), and a decrease in court charges related to dog theft crimes, with 64 (3.97%) in 2015, 51 (3.08%) in 2016, and 39 (2.11%) in 2017. There were police force inconsistencies in recording dog theft crime, which meant some data were unusable or could not be accessed or analysed. We recommend a qualitative study to understand stakeholder perspectives of dog theft crime in different areas, and a standardised and transparent approach to recording the theft of a dog by all forces across England and Wales. This could be achieved by classifying dog theft (or pet theft more generally) as a crime in itself under the Sentencing Guidelines associated with the Theft Act 1968.
... Furthermore, dogs also care for humans through actively embedding physical activity into their lives, providing security and safety, emotional support, and the ability to navigate safely [16,17,18]. Other studies point to how dogs also facilitate social interaction by acting as a social stimulus through making people more approachable, being a subject for idle chat of shared interests, and helping provide a sense of community [19,20]. ...
Dogs are considered property under UK law, while current discourses of pet ownership place canine companions as part of an extended family. This means sentences for those who steal dogs are not reflective of a dogs’ sentience and agency, rather reflecting the same charges for those who steal a laptop or wallet. This is particularly problematic as dog theft is currently on the rise in England and Wales and led to public calls to change the law. Recognizing that a more robust analysis of dog theft crime statistics is required, we gathered dog theft data for 2015, 2016 and 2017 from 37 of 44 police forces through FOI requests. This paper uses this data to examine how dog theft crime statistics are constructed; assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this data; and categorizes, maps and measures dog theft changes temporally per police force in England and Wales. Our findings reveal there has been an increase in dog theft crimes, 1,294 in 2015, 1,525 in 2016 (+17.85%), and 1,678 in 2017 (+10.03%); and a decrease in court charges related to dog theft crimes, 62 (4.7%) in 2015, 48 (3.14%) in 2016, 37 (2.2%) in 2017. There were police force inconsistencies in recording dog theft crime which meant some data was unusable or could not be accessed or analysed. There is a need for a qualitative study to understand dog theft crime in different areas, and standardised approach to recording the theft of a dog by all forces across England and Wales.
... this cat was still staying at a relative's house and i wasn't 100 per cent sure -because she was old, i didn't want to move her around too much. making people recognisable and increasing connections with others (Power, 2013, Wood et al., 2007. The risk of not declaring dogs was thus seen as heightened because they were more likely to be noticed by the property owner or neighbours. ...
Companion animals are rarely considered in rental policy or research. This absence belies their prevalence and growing centrality within practices of family and home, and persists despite evidence of links between companion animals and rental insecurity. This paper begins to address this gap. Through an online survey and in-depth interviews with people who rented with companion animals in Sydney, Australia, over the 10 years to 2013, the paper identifies connections between pet ownership and rental insecurity, including perceptions about the low availability and poor quality of advertised ‘pet-friendly’ properties. The paper argues that pet ownership can trigger feelings of rental insecurity, and advocates for inclusion of pet ownership as a variable impacting secure occupancy. It suggests companion animals are an escalating rental risk, their significance to their owners causing some to accept accelerating levels of rental insecurity by keeping pets without landlord knowledge. These experience impact on the ability of renters to feel ‘at home’ in rental properties.
... Whilst the meaning of community has been debated (Hawe, 1994), health promoters generally use the term to refer to a group of people who share interests, experiences, identities or locations (Heritage & Dooris, 2009). Nonetheless, dogs themselves may become full-fledged members of -or outcasts from -dog-walking communities (Degeling, Rock, Rogers, & Riley, 2016;Graham & Glover, 2014;Hansen, 2013;Jackson, 2012;Power, 2013;Tissot, 2011;Toohey, McCormack, Doyle-Baker, Adams, & Rock, 2013;Wood, Giles-Corti, Bulsara, & Bosch, 2007). Dogs may also contribute to perceptions of local neighbourhoods and the public spaces therein (McCormack et al., 2010;Toohey & Rock, 2011). ...
Health promotion views collaborations between local governments and citizens as key to improving health and lessening inequities in urban areas. Public parks, which are typically managed by local governments, are key settings for promoting physical activity, positive social interactions and overall well-being. Yet research on civic participation in park management is essentially absent from the health promotion literature. When the City of Calgary began to implement a new policy on off-leash dogs in parks, we had an opportunity to study civic participation in decision-making. We did so by examining policy documents, participating in meetings and conducting interviews. Off-leash parks have particular relevance for health promotion because they may support physical activity and networking for some, but may escalate conflict and deter park use amongst others. In this case study, the local government engaged citizens in developing an overarching off-leash policy for the city as a whole and in implementing the new policy at the level of neighbourhoods. Of the first three parks to be considered under the new policy, an off-leash area was ultimately designated in just one: a park located in a disadvantaged neighbourhood. By exploring this unexpected outcome, our case study suggests that public engagement, as practiced by local policymakers, may differ from community participation, as endorsed in health promotion. Further reflection on the meaning of ‘public’ is warranted in public health.
... Studies of policies on dog ownership in cities also point to simmering tensions and overt conflicts concerning which people gain access to and exert influence over public space (Brandow, 2008;Walsh, 2011). Indeed, practices of inclusion and exclusion have been found to be central to the establishment and dynamics of dog-owning communities (Graham & Glover, 2014;Power, 2013). A sophisticated contribution in this vein extends Bourdieu's concept of habitus to consider how ideas and practices associated with responsible dog ownership have influenced the process of gentrification in an inner-city US neighbourhood. ...
Responsible dog ownership has been identified as a point of intervention to promote physical activity, based upon an expectation of dog walking in public space. Nevertheless, quantitative research has found variability among owners in their dog walking. In this study, we explore the implications for health promotion of such variability. We do so by drawing on the concepts of habitus and social capital to analyse qualitative interviews. Participants were recruited from a social network in a cosmopolitan city with a policy framework intended to ensure equitable access to public space for dog walkers. The analysis confirms dog ownership can promote both physical activity and social capital, to the extent of mutual reinforcement. Yet we identified patterns of care in which dogs could influence people’s emotional well-being without promoting physical activity. In particular, some owners were not capable of extensive dog walking but still benefited emotionally from dog ownership and from interpersonal interactions facilitated by dog ownership. Some participants’ dogs, however, could not be walked in public without risking public safety and social sanctions. Responsible dog ownership can therefore also entail not exercising dogs. Contra to the emerging ideal in health promotion, a ‘dog-shaped hole’ in someone’s life does not always take the form of a walking companion.
... Consistent with previous research (Power, 2013;Wood et al., 2007), the study found that dogs serve as an "icebreaker" when meeting other people. In the category "sense of belonging," owners provided examples of "reciprocity" between friends and neighbors, described by Wood et al. (2007) as an indicator of "social capital." ...
Using a qualitative design, the purpose of this study was to examine how people describe their relationship with their dog and what they do that suggest this bond represents a meaningful relationship. Dog owners (N = 27) aged 19 years and older were invited to participate in one of seven focus group discussions. A qualitative content analysis revealed the presence of three themes: (a) the impact of dogs on interpersonal relationships, (b) dogs as subjective beings, and (c) psychological and health benefits of dogs. The second theme reflects the personal agency of dogs and their unique contributions to the human-dog relationship. These themes are discussed in light of the current research in the field. The findings suggest implications for counseling research and practice in improving the health and well-being of dog owners.
Die Frage nach den Potenzialen von Nachbarschaften gewinnt derzeit wieder an Bedeutung. Gründe dafür liegen unter anderem in der zunehmenden Unübersichtlichkeit infolge von Pluralisierungs- und damit verbundenen Ausdifferenzierungsprozessen. Die Planung und Steuerung von Städten folgt heute keinem kategorischen Imperativ mehr, verortet sich in Hyperdynamiken und erfordert von Expert*innen aus den unterschiedlichen Handlungsfeldern die Fähigkeit, mit Mehrdeutigkeiten und Unsicherheiten umzugehen. Im Suchprozess nach geeigneten Interventionsebenen werden Nachbarschaften als stabile „Keimzellen“ der Lebenswelt konstruiert, und die Reduktion auf überschaubare sozialräumliche und territoriale Ausschnitte suggeriert Berechenbarkeit und Planbarkeit. Der Beitrag durchbricht dieses Verständnis und konzeptualisiert Nachbarschaften als etwas Situatives, Kontextabhängiges und Prozessuales, das auf der Basis eines gemeinsam geteilten Raumes durch menschliches Handeln im Alltag entsteht. Nähe und Distanz, Annäherung und Abgrenzung, sowie Ideale des Mit- und Nebeneinanders in städtischen Räumen werden dabei am geteilten Wohnort kontinuierlich verhandelt. Nachbarschaft aus einer alltagstheoretischen Perspektive zu konzeptualisieren, soll dabei eine Unter- und Überschätzung des lokalen Potenzials von „Nachbarschaft“ in der Stadtentwicklung sichtbar machen.
This article features a partnership between a veterinary school and a charity that aims to enhance the wellbeing of low‐income people. Through this partnership, the charity periodically hosts veterinary clinics for clients and their pets. Even as the veterinarians and veterinary students duly examine people's pets, these pop‐up clinics aim to help people and their pets. Hence our analysis revolves around the ethics of ‘more‐than‐human solidarity’. By ‘more‐than‐human solidarity’, we mean efforts to help others that either center on or that implicate non‐human beings. To delve into the ethical and sociological implications of subsidised veterinary services, and to assist with program planning, we conducted several in‐depth interviews with veterinarians. Most substantively, we found that the veterinary school's outreach clinics give rise to multi‐species biographical value, which is prized as a pedagogical resource for veterinary students. The veterinarians whom we interviewed felt troubled by the extent to which the pop‐up clinics ultimately benefited the veterinary school, but also by the shortage of subsidised veterinary services in the vicinity. Based on these interviews and our own reflections, we invite more scholarship on cultural, economic and political influences that shape the lives of human beings and non‐human animals alike.
Australia is a nation of pet owners with over sixty per cent of households including at least one companion animal. Yet despite the prevalence of companion animals, they are unevenly located across housing forms. Compared with detached privately owned housing, strata title developments have been particularly restrictive to pet-keeping. Drawing on qualitative research from Sydney, Australia, this chapter examines how pet ownership and practices of neighbouring apartments are shaped by the responsibilities that accompany pet-keeping. It highlights how pets can bring neighbours together, but also identifies likely points of tension. The chapter reviews the governance of pets through strata title and ethical implications of such governance. It reflects on the responsibilities of pet owners as well as those of the broader community of owners.
Abstract :To illustrate the decline in a strong sense of community the characteristics of suburban living are often cited by social and cultural commentators. Spatially dispersed, lifeless during the daytime due to commuting, an excessive concern with keeping up appearances in terms of lawns, flowerbeds and property maintenance, moreover, suburbia, suffers perhaps worst of all, from weak social relations between residents. Such disparaging commentary on suburban neighbourhoods is frequently a premise for social scientists to define
This article focuses on the criteria used by dog owners to define their animals as minded individuals with whom they maintain viable and satisfying social relationships. The discussion is based on field data drawn from a study in a veterinary clinic, interviews with dog owners, and autoethnographic materials compiled by the author as he observed and interacted with his own dogs. Special attention is directed at caretakers' understandings of their dogs' thought processes, emotional experiences, and unique personalities. The significance of investigations of animal-human interaction to enlarging sociological views of mindedness and the construction of social identities is emphasized.
This article reports a case study of dogs' contributions to interaction and the development of relationships among unacquainted persons. The study examines dynamics of inclusion among dog owners at a public park and is based on participant observation of those processes. That examination reveals that dogs expose their human companions in public places to encounters with strangers, facilitate interaction among the previously unacquainted, and help establish trust among the newly acquainted. It also demonstrates that dogs' participation in public life is of some importance to their human participants.
This article presents an overview of the characteristics of the market for higher density residential property (flats, units and town houses) in the three largest Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The article then discusses some of the implications of current planning proposals for further higher density housing in Australian cities under urban consolidation or compact city policies and reviews a range of issues that may well arise. In particular, issues concerning the role of the rental investment market and Strata Title framework in determining the outcomes of current metropolitan compact city policies and the implications of higher density housing for social stability are discussed.
Casual conversations were recorded as elderly persons routinely walked their dogs through a familiar mobile home park in the United States. Control observations included walks without dogs by owners and non-owners of dogs. All owners talked to and about their dogs. Transcribed conversations indicated that dogs were a primary focus of conversation. A majority of sentences to dogs were imperatives; the owners were instructing the dogs. Dog owners frequently included dogs' names or nicknames in their sentences when they spoke to the dogs and made reference to the dogs' wishes or needs. Speaking to dogs was also associated with frequent repetition of sentences. Passersby talked to the owners about their dogs whether or not the dogs were present. When dog owners spoke with other people, their conversations often concerned activities that were occurring in the present, whereas conversations of non-owners focused on stories about past events. Dog owners reported taking twice as many daily walks as non-owners. Dog owners also reported significantly less dissatisfaction with their social, physical and emotional states.
This study examines how people engage with the dynamic environment of the dog park in the face of unclear or ambiguous rules and emergent norms. Using participant observation, the analysis shows how, in the formal dog park, caretakers become "control managers" who must negotiate problems related to a variety of dog behaviors, especially mounting, aggression, and waste management. In this process, caretakers use various strategies to manage their own and others' possible perceptions and understandings of appropriate behavior for dogs in public places.
Alongside much talk of the dissolution of a nature /culture binary view of the world, there is also, symmetrically, considerable change observed in the performance of relations with non‐humans and the proliferation of hybrids (Latour 1993, Haraway 2003). Through an examination of why and how humans and companion species have begun to live with each other in new ways this paper will challenge (at least) two of those sociological disciplines currently governed by humanist ontologies. It suggests that the sociology of the family and the sociology of housing need a new post‐humanist makeover, for it is increasingly doubtful whether either are exclusively human domains. This is because neither families, households or housing can be thought of any longer as humans among themselves. Companion animals are now found not only in the vast majority of human households / families but their position, role, agency and status has shifted quite profoundly. Using data from a national survey of human–animal relations in Australia it will be shown that companion animals are widely regarded as, and act as, family members and that they occupy housing in profoundly different ways1. The paper argues that this new period of intimacy also ushers in the potential for greater mutual becomings (or co(a)gency to use Michael's term2) as both companion species and their humans (together with their technonatural contexts) explore even more possibilities of co‐presence. The paper concludes with an example of this, taken from the House Rabbit Society: a radical and ever more popular experiment in becomingrabbitbecominghuman (to use a Deleuzian convention)3.
In this paper I employ critically the idea of urbicide to explore the reciprocity between geopolitical discourses and the changing materiality of cities experiencing conflict. In doing so, the paper problematises assumptions about cities newly replacing states as post-Cold war pivots of political violence. This critique operates through the example of Beirut, a city which endured conflict before the end of the Cold War and a city where the production of geopolitical meanings was multi-sited, as national, trans-national and sub-national geopolitical discourses were renegotiated through the everyday urban spaces of war. Analysing the relationship between these discourses and the violence perpetrated by the militias amidst and against Beirut's built fabric, the paper brings a fresh empirical focus on the understudied early phases of the Lebanese civil war (1975–1976) by reading contrapuntally a number of state-based geopolitical accounts of the time on Lebanon alongside oral, written and graphic representations produced by urban militias during combat as well as in present recollections by their former members. The paper argues that urbicide is a useful concept to interpret the links between political violence and physical urban space. However, urbicide should also be employed as a theoretical and methodological tool to investigate contextually specific and multi-sited geopolitical accounts between the national and the subnational rather than as a descriptive category exclusive to post-Cold War conflicts or alluding to abstract ideas of urbanity.
The last fifty years have seen dogs increasingly drawn into the home as family members. While the health and social implications of these relatings have been the focus of much research, the everyday practices by which more-than-human families are constituted have received little attention. The paper draws on interviews with, and diaries recorded by, new dog owners in 2006–2007. It highlights three ways that dogs became family in and through the home. First, describing dogs as ‘furry children’, participants emphasised the time spent caring for dogs. Second, engaging with dogs as ‘pack animals’, participants discussed an inherent ‘otherness’ that shaped family relations, and reconceptualised the human-family as a pack relation. Third, the individual agency of dogs was recognised as shaping family and home. However, these familial relatings were often tenuous as humans were faced with the particular character and ‘otherness’ of dogs. While the majority experienced a strengthening of family ties following the introduction of a dog, a number of individuals discussed the divisive impact of this experience. The paper extends debates about family and home, broadening family beyond biological relations to include more-than-human relationships forged through cohabitation and interaction.
Discourses on anti-social behaviour in the UK are embedded within a wider politics of conduct based around concepts of citizenship, self-regulation, welfare conditionality, obligations to communities and rights and responsibilities. This paper explores how the regulation of behaviour is framed within ideas of community and contractual governance and identifies the central role for housing within strategies aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and promoting civility. It discusses the use of Anti-social Behaviour Orders in governing conduct within a wider package of regulatory mechanisms including Acceptable Behaviour Contracts and tenancy agreements. An increasing focus on governing the interactions between neighbours is identified along with techniques to achieve this, including the growing use of conditionality in welfare entitlement. The paper argues that the regulation of conduct is symbolic of significant realignments of the roles of various actors in policing residential areas and raises fundamental questions about the link between conduct, citizenship rights and the scope and ambition of governance interventions aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour at individual and community levels.
Research suggests that dogs can facilitate social interactions, which, in turn, may promote psychological health. This study explored the ability of dogs to facilitate social responses relative to other accompaniments and investigated whether the social catalysis effect is generic or influenced by the appearance of the dog. The behavior of 1800 pedestrians approaching a female experimenter was recorded as a function of the presence of three dogs (Labrador Retriever pup, Labrador adult, Rottweiler adult) and two neutral stimuli (teddy bear, potted plant). The behavior of pedestrians approaching the woman whenever she was alone (control) was also explored. Information was collected on the passers-by' gender, number of people in the party, type of acknowledgement elicited and length of conversations. More people ignored the experimenter whenever she was alone or with the teddy or plant, than whenever she was walking a dog. The Rottweiler resulted in more nonresponses than the puppy or adult Labrador, who in turn elicited more smiles and verbal responses. Females, and those alone, elicited more smiles and conversations than males, or those in pairs. It is concluded that dogs can facilitate social interactions between adults better than other accompaniments; however, the social catalysis effect is not generic, but dog specific.
The demographic variables related to pet ownership in New Zealand families of 8-12 -year-olds were investigated. Questionnaire surveys were used to establish data from 312 families of primary school children. Family composition, reasons for pet acquisition, and the advantages and disadvantages of pets were also examined. Almost 90% of families owned at least one pet, and over half of these families included a child who was the sole owner of a pet. Parental employment level, living locality, and sibling status (number and position) were related to pet ownership. Parents acquired pets for their children mainly to teach responsibility and care, or because their child had asked for the pet, and these reasons were related to sibling status. Perceived advantages of pet ownership included teaching responsibility and care, love, respect and affection, and companionship. Over half the sample claimed no disadvantages of pet ownership. The most common disadvantages were finding holiday care, the time and work involved in pet care, and the mess caused by animals. Implications for future research include the distinction between child-owned and family-owned pets, the reasons for acquiring pets and their effect on the relationship with the pet, and comparisons of parent and child beliefs about the role of the family pet.
Using depth interviews and participant observation, the predominant metaphors that emerge in pet owners' relationships with theiranimals are pets as pleasures, problems, parts of self, members of the family, and toys. These metaphors as well as patterns of interacting with and accounting for pets, suggest vacillation between viewing companion animals as human and civilized and viewing them as animalistic and chaotic. It is argued that these views comprise a mixed metaphor needed to more fully understand our fascination with pets.
This article reviews changing approaches to the idea of neighbourhood communities in social science research. It specifically considers the implications for thinking about the neighbourhood either as the settings where social relations and communal bonds are produced or as non-geographical networks. There is a long history of territorial-based community studies that have focused on everyday life in neighbourhood locations; most typically, working-class urban neighbourhoods or edge-of-city housing estates. Research exploring networked communities in contrast considers ways in which individuals are caught up in webs of networked organisations and individuals that stretch across space and seemingly render place less relevant to community formation. The review outlines some for the challenges of these approaches to the idea of community and cautions against dismissing the significance of neighbourhood in the ways in which individuals construct communities of networks, contacts and relations with others.
Companion animals (pets) exemplify the affinities possible between humans and nonhuman ani-mals. Evidence documenting a diversity of emotional, physical, and therapeutic benefits of pet guardianship (ownership) substantiates sentimental anecdotes from pet owners. Although the lit-erature focuses primarily on the "one to one" benefits accruing from interactions with pets, this paper explores the potential role of pets as facilitators of social interactions and sense of community. Th e paper uses triangulation to synthesize findings from qualitative and quantitative research undertaken in three Western Australian suburbs. Th e qualitative data derive from 12 focus groups and quantitative data, from a survey of 339 residents. In both qualitative and quantitative research, pet ownership positively associated with social interactions, favor exchanges, civic engagement, per-ceptions of neighborhood friendliness, and sense of community. Pets appeared to ameliorate some determinants of mental health such as loneliness. Findings suggest pets have a ripple effect extend-ing beyond their guardians (owners) to non-pet owners and the broader community. Given the high rates of pet residency in neighborhoods, there is merit in further considering the nexus between pets and community health and well being.
It is known that pet dogs can act as catalysts for human social interactions, and it has been suggested that this may enhance feelings of well-being. Two studies were carried out to establish the robustness of this effect. In Study 1, a highly trained dog was used to ensure that the dog itself did not solicit attention from passers-by, and data were collected across a range of normal daily activities in which a dog could be included, not confined to conventional dog walking areas as in previous studies. Being accompanied by a dog increased the frequency of social interactions, especially interactions with strangers. In Study 2, also using a trained dog, a different (male) participant observer was dressed either smartly or scruffily. Although there were significantly more interactions when he was smartly dressed, the greatest effect was between the Dog present and No Dog conditions irrespective of the handler's dress. It is concluded that the social catalysis effect is very robust, which opens the way for investigating possible consequences of the effect for wellbeing and health.
Critical urban research arising from the ‘new urban politics’ rich heritage has conventionally privileged the politics of accumulation and the city's downtown over the politics of social reproduction and everyday, residential spaces. This paper focuses on residential spaces and the politics involved in recasting everyday practices of social reproduction through private neighbourhood governance. Focusing on the master-planned estates increasingly prevalent across Sydney's residential landscape, it explores the material practices and subjectivities shaped by these estates’ contractual governance and the contours and limits to the formation of self-governing middle-class consumer citizens. The paper highlights a granular fabric to urban politics produced as residents engage with meeting the demands of daily urban life and providing the means of middle-class social reproduction in a neo-liberalised context. Finally, it points to opportunities for a more complete grammar of contemporary urban politics provided by this expanded focus.
The issue of social mixing has recently moved to the forefront of gentrification debate. In part, this has been stimulated by neoliberal urban policies promoting ‘social mix’, research showing the inability of gentrified neighbourhoods to remain socially mixed and attempts to rethink the association between gentrification and displacement. This paper draws upon a mixed-methods study that examined levels of social mixing between gentrifying and incumbent communities in three neighbourhoods undergoing new-build gentrification in London, UK. Little evidence was found for substantial interactions between populations, and there were few shared perceptions of community. The author claims that the particular character of new-build gentrification has played an important role in generating this socially tectonic situation. Husserl’s concept of the lifeworld and Bourdieu’s thesis on the relative structuring of class identity are drawn upon to provide an explanatory framework.
The past decade has seen a remarkable turn towards the cultural in human geography. This shift has been marked by a strange gap between theory and empirical practice. Radical though the turn to the cultural has been in reconstituting the ways that human geography thinks of itself as a discipline, its impact on ways that geographers actually do empirical research has been in certain respects relatively limited. Indeed, while the cultural turn has become strongly associated with a valorisation of qualitative methodologies, the actual range of methods used has been relatively narrow. Drawing on the work of Nigel Thrift and a range of other human geographers who are exploring the metaphor of performance to understand this realm of practical action, I argue that not only can social action be viewed as performance, so too is it productive to reframe the research process itself as a kind of performance. This reframing allows for a more experimental and more flexible attitude towards both the production and interpretation of research evidence. It also makes it easier to think of new ways of engaging with how individuals and groups inhabit their worlds through practical action. Drawing on my own experimentation with written and photographic research diaries, I explore a number of ways through which the performative ethos can inform and invigorate the human geographic imagination. I conclude by arguing that human geography needs to be more imaginative, pluralistic, and pragmatic in its attitude towards both (a) methodology and (b) the kinds of final research accounts it produces.
There is growing interest across a range of disciplines in the relationship between pets and health, with a range of therapeutic, physiological, psychological and psychosocial benefits now documented. While much of the literature has focused on the individual benefits of pet ownership, this study considered the potential health benefits that might accrue to the broader community, as encapsulated in the construct of social capital. A random survey of 339 adult residents from Perth, Western Australia were selected from three suburbs and interviewed by telephone. Pet ownership was found to be positively associated with some forms of social contact and interaction, and with perceptions of neighbourhood friendliness. After adjustment for demographic variables, pet owners scored higher on social capital and civic engagement scales. The results suggest that pet ownership provides potential opportunities for interactions between neighbours and that further research in this area is warranted. Social capital is another potential mechanism by which pets exert an influence on human health.
This review examines the association between dog ownership and adult physical activity levels. While there is evidence to suggest that dog ownership produces considerable health benefit and provides an important form of social support that encourages dog owners to walk, there is limited evidence on the physical environmental and policy-related factors that affect dog owners walking with their dog. With the high level of dog ownership in many industrialized countries, further exploration of the relationship between dog ownership and physical activity levels may be important for preventing declining levels of physical activity and the associated detrimental health effects.
- Garrity T. F.
- Keil C. P.