Anthrozoology Research Group

17/09/2026

We're still looking for interested dog owners to take part in a study at La Trobe University Bendigo. Please email [email protected] for more information and to confirm eligibility to take part. Please note dogs must be up to date on their C3 vaccination.

23/06/2026

If you are interested in taking part in a study with your dog with La Trobe University Bendigo, or want more information, email [email protected]

31/07/2025

Calling all cat lovers! We're studying how to help more cats find loving homes. Please consider taking part in our research!

https://redcap.latrobe.edu.au/redcap/surveys/?s=WXR8HET8EN8DRYP3

Want to help science learn about what makes cats awesome? 😺

Our friends at La Trobe University, led by Professor Pauleen Bennett, are researching what Australians love about cats (Ethics Approval Number: HEC25196). We’re excited to support them and learn more about how to help cats find homes.

If you are 18 years of age or older and reside in Australia, they’d love to hear from you! Your participation is anonymous and should take approximately 30 minutes or less.

Better yet, the researchers will be donating $3 per participant, up to a total value of $2000, to Maneki Neko Cat Rescue on behalf of all study participants! 💚

Take part here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/5dtru4jx

30/07/2025

Are you a dog groomer in Australia? We want to hear from you!

We're looking for current Australian dog groomers to take part in an anonymous survey about workplace wellbeing, stress, and job demands. The project has been approved by La Trobe University’s human ethics committee (HEC25242) and your responses will help researchers better understand the everyday experiences of groomers and identify areas where future support or training could be useful.

You can take part if you:
– Are 18 years or older
– Currently work as a dog groomer in Australia
– Work primarily with dogs

The survey takes about 30 minutes and is completely anonymous. In appreciation of your participation, we will be donating $4 per completed survey to Pets of the Homeless, up to a total donation of $1000.

Start the survey here: https://redcap.link/dog_groomer_wellbeing

Thank you for considering participating and sharing your experience!

17/07/2025

Do you work in a veterinary clinic? We’d love to learn about your thoughts on client care and staff wellbeing.

We're looking for individuals who are currently employed in veterinary clinics to take part in an anonymous survey about your opinions and behaviours in relation to approaches that support clients and promote staff wellbeing.

The project has been approved by La Trobe University’s human ethics committee (HEC25239) and your responses will help researchers better understand the everyday experiences of veterinary professionals and identify areas where future support or training could be useful.

You can take part if you:
– Are 18 years or older
– Currently work in a veterinary clinic
– Are able to read and write in English, the language of the survey

The survey takes about 20 minutes and is completely anonymous. In appreciation of your participation, we will be donating $3AUD per completed survey to Flynn’s Walk, up to a total donation of $1000AUD.

To find out more about the study and participate, click here: https://redcap.link/vet.clientcare.staffwellbeing

Thank you for considering participating and sharing your perspectives.

04/07/2025

Are you an Australian Animal Management Officer/Ranger? Would you like to contribute to research that can support wellbeing and mental health? If you answered yes, we'd love to hear from you. To find out more and participate in this 20-minute, online voluntary survey, please, scan the QR code in the image below or click here: https://redcap.latrobe.edu.au/redcap/surveys/?s=T4PTAHNNHXDM9XAJ

In appreciation for your contribution, we will donate $5 to 'Pets of the Homeless' on behalf of each completed survey, up to the total value of $1000. This registered charity works to help keep vulnerable people and their pets together by alleviating the burden of providing essential pet care during times of hardship.

11/03/2025

While we love our dogs, our research team doesn't only focus on them! We're excited to share that our PhD students have just published a paper in The Conversation, exploring feline friendships.

Cats get a bad name for being "aloof and elusive". But how true is this? The recipe for successful feline friendships is a little complex.

27/02/2025

The University of Edinburgh is currently exploring ageing changes in dogs aged 8 years and over. If you have an older dog and a spare ten minutes, please consider helping our colleagues: https://bit.ly/3YBNv0S

06/11/2024

Check out the ARG's latest paper about assistance dog access denials, in collab with Dr Jessica Oliva - Research Group. Bottom line: access denials are happening too often, and it doesn't matter if someone has a visible or invisible disability, or if they have a 'standard' breed (e.g., Lab/Golden) or not. Access denials are illegal and unacceptable. For the open access publication:

Anecdotal reports and limited available empirical evidence indicate that assistance-dog handlers are often denied access to places they are legally entitled to take their assistance dog. However, t...

16/09/2024

We're partnering with Swinburne University to study dog-assisted therapy for panic disorder. If you live in Melbourne, VIC, Australia, have symptoms of panic, and are interested in a group therapy session, scan the QR code below for more info or click here: https://forms.office.com/r/zND7wXMu66