Expert Commentary Featured on Kinship

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Do Dogs Actually Raise Our Serotonin Levels? They sure feel like the key to happiness.

“As noted in The Role of Companion Animals in Treatment of Medical Disorders, a book co-written by Dr. Gee, there is an increasing amount of evidence that indicates pets may be beneficial to people experiencing PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Other research shows that having a dog tends to up your activity level, alleviate isolation, and provide a sense of purpose.”

Mercado, M. (2025, September 10). Do dogs actually raise our serotonin levels? They sure feel like the key to happiness. Kinship. https://www.kinship.com/dog-lifestyle/do-dogs-raise-serotonin-levels

Expert Commentary Syndicated on AOL

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

The surprising health perks of having a pet.

“Companion animals can help alleviate loneliness,” says Nancy R. Gee, Ph.D., director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. “And older adults are particularly vulnerable to the negative impact of loneliness.”

Posit Science (2025, April 19). The surprising health perks of having a pet. AOL. https://www.aol.com/surprising-health-perks-having-pet-170500021.html

Journal Publication in Pets

Monday, February 24, 2025

Pet attachment and Influence as moderators of the relationships of psychological factors to physical function in community-residing older adults.

We examined the moderating role of pet attachment in the relationships of psychological status (mental wellbeing, happiness, anxiety, depression) to physical function (physical wellbeing, usual- and rapid-gait speeds, physical performance battery) in community-residing older adult pet owners. ... A cross-sectional, secondary analysis of pet-owning older adult participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 178).

Koodaly, L., Friedmann, E., Gee, N. R., Simonsick, E. M., Resnick, B., Nahm, E.-S., Galik, E., & Holmes, S. (2025). Pet attachment and Influence as moderators of the relationships of psychological factors to physical function in community-residing older adults. Pets, 2(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/pets2010010

Journal Publication in the Journal of Ageing and Longevity

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Recruitment feasibility for a randomized controlled pilot study of animal-assisted intervention for hospitalized older adults.

This study evaluated the feasibility of recruiting hospitalized older adults into a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) involving visits from therapy dogs with an active control (conversation with a volunteer) and treatment as usual (TU) for addressing health and mental health outcomes... This study explored the difficulties inherent in recruiting medically ill, hospitalized older adults for an RCT of hospital-based therapy dog visits.

Townsend, L., Gee, N. R., Friedmann, E., Mueller, M. K., & Barker, S. B. (2024). Recruitment feasibility for a randomized controlled pilot study of animal-assisted intervention for hospitalized older adults. Journal of Ageing and Longevity, 4(4), 404-416. https://doi.org/10.3390/jal4040029

Expert Commentary Featured on NPR

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Anxious at the Portland airport? Beni the Llama is here for you, spreading joy.

There is some evidence that animals in therapy programs have a calming effect on people, but "the reality is we need more research," says Nancy Gee, Director of the Center for Human Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. While therapy animals can include a range of species such as fish and horses, the majority of existing research is with dogs.

Riddle, K. (2024, November 4). Anxious at the Portland airport? Beni the Llama is here for you, spreading joy. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-healthnews/2024/11/03/nx-s1-5173755/therapy-animals-portland-airport-llama-alpaca

Journal Publication in Psycho-neuroendocrinology

Friday, November 1, 2024

Effects of human-animal interaction on salivary and urinary oxytocin in children and dogs.

Oxytocin pathways are hypothesized to play important roles in human-animal interactions and may contribute to some benefits of these interspecific social relationships. We explored the effects of naturalistic interactions between children and dogs on oxytocin release in both species, as well as associations between methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm), social behavior, and oxytocin response in this context.

Gnanadesikan, G. E., King, K., Elizabeth, C., Flyer, A. C., Ossello, G., Smith, P., Steklis, N. G., Steklis, H. D., Carter, C. S., Connelly, J. J., Barnett, M., Gee, N., Tecot, S., & MacLean, E. (2024). Effects of human-animal interaction on salivary and urinary oxytocin in children and dogs. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107147

Journal Publication in Anthrozoös

Friday, September 27, 2024

Pet attachment and maintenance of physical and cognitive function in community-residing older adults: Evidence from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).

Pet ownership is associated with reduced deterioration in physical and cognitive function as older adults age... We examined the relationship of pet, dog, and cat attachment to changes in physical and cognitive function among 214 pet-owning, generally healthy, community-dwelling adults aged 50–100 years (M = 68.0, SD = 7.8) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).

Friedmann, E., Gee, N. R., Simonsick, E. M., Kitner-Triolo, M. H., Resnick, B., Gurlu, M., Shim, S., & Adesanya, I. (2024). Pet attachment and maintenance of physical and cognitive function in community-residing older adults: Evidence from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Anthrozoös, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2024.2395125

Journal Publication in Innovation in Aging

Monday, September 16, 2024

A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in hospitalized older adults.

Loneliness is linked to significant health threats and is potentially more dangerous than obesity; it affects as many as 29% of noninstitutionalized older adults... Emerging evidence suggests that companion animals provide a number of health and well-being benefits and that interacting with a trained therapy dog may reduce loneliness.

Gee, N. R., Townsend, T., Friedmann, E., Barker, S., Mueller, M. (2024). A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in hospitalized older adults. Innovation in Aging, 8(11). https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae085

Journal Publication in BMC Pediatrics

Friday, September 13, 2024

Companion animals and child development outcomes: Longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of a UK birth cohort study.

Research into the impact of social relationships on childhood and adolescent health and wellbeing has been largely limited to children’s relationships with other humans, while studies into the impact of pet ownership are sparse and have generally not adjusted for potential confounders. This study aimed to investigate the association between pet ownership and a range of developmental outcomes in childhood and adolescence.

Purewal, R., Christley, R., Kordas, K., Joinson, C., Meints, K., Gee, N. R., & Westgarth, C. (2024). Companion animals and child development outcomes: Longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of a UK birth cohort study. BMC Pediatrics, 24(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-05049-7

Expert Commentary Featured in Financial Times

Monday, August 5, 2024

Are we fooling ourselves that owning a dog is good for us?

It’s not even clear that there’s always a correlation between pets and human health or bliss, let alone a causal link, says Gee. “Many people assume dogs are good for us but they can be bad for us as well ... pets are not a panacea, there are times when they are good for us and times when not so much.”

Waldmeir, P. (2024, August 5). Are we fooling ourselves that owning a dog is good for us? Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/9e854cf4-98ab-4d72-b161-2321835d5b3a

Expert Commentary Featured in VCU News

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Could dogs be the new performance-enhancing drug?

Gee has been studying the interactions between therapy dogs and humans for more than two decades and leads the Dogs on Call program at VCU, which started in 2001. While more research needs to be done on the specific therapy interventions between athletes and dogs, Gee says recent studies show that a pet makes a difference during high stress activities.

Stephens, M. (2024, August 1). Could dogs be the new performance-enhancing drug? VCU News. https://www.vcuhealth.org/news/could-dogs-be-the-new-performance-enhancing-drug/

CHAI Featured on CBS6

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Everywhere You Are: Dogs On Call.

Last week as a part of wellness week at CBS6, our friends from Dogs on Call visited to help our team members destress after a long week.  The Dogs on Call therapy dog program provides complimentary therapy to enhance the wellbeing of patients, staff, and students, through canine-assisted interventions.

WTVR CBS6. (2024, May 29). Everywhere You Are: Dogs On Call [Video]. https://www.wtvr.com/on-air/virginia-this-morning/everywhere-you-are-dogs-on-call

Expert Commentary Featured in Virginia Living

Saturday, May 25, 2024

To be a kid again.

“Interacting with animals is scientifically proven to elevate mood,” says Dr. Gee, “along with multiple other health benefits. In adults, animal-human interaction decreases stress, depression, agitation, and even symptoms of PTSD. Objective physiologic indicators include decreased cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure.”

Guyer, S. P. (2024, May 17). To be a kid again. Virginia Living. https://virginialiving.com/healthwellness/to-be-a-kid-again/

Expert Commentary Featured in Die Zeit

Monday, May 13, 2024

Your child will also take care of the ticks, right?

Gee is a professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Animal-Human Interaction at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She has been researching the relationship between humans and animals for decades.

Kiel, V. (2024, May 13). Ihr Kind kümmert sich dann auch um die Zecken, ja? [Your child will also take care of the ticks, right?]. Die Zeit. https://www.zeit.de/wissen/2024-05/haustiere-kinder-vorteile-nachteile-studien

Dogs on Call Dog Featured on CBS6.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Meet the golden retriever helping Richmond first graders learn to read.

Rudee and his owner Ron Maxey started visiting Anna Julia Cooper School about a year ago for the volunteer work they call "Reading to Rudy." The program has become quite popular among students.

Coleburn, C. (2024, April 18). Meet the golden retriever helping Richmond first graders learn to read. WTVR CBS6. https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/rudee-golden-retriever-reading-april-18-2024

CHAI Expert Commentary Featured on CBS8

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

The science behind the connection between a human and a dog.

“I’ve witnessed these visits firsthand. And I can tell you, it gives me chills just talking about it. Because they are so powerful in what is happening in that moment,” said Nancy Gee, PhD, Director of the Human-Animal Interaction Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Black, A. (2024, April 17). The science behind the connection between a human and a dog. CBS8. https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/outreach/working-furkids/the-science-behind-the-connection-between-a-human-and-a-dog/509-c91691c58769-4e27-9914-c60965a8d537

Expert Commentary Featured in Deseret News

Monday, April 1, 2024

The healing power of dogs: From offering comfort in times of distress to aiding individuals with disabilities in their daily tasks, animals can play a powerful role in treatment plans.

From offering comfort in times of distress to aiding individuals with disabilities in their daily tasks, animals can play a powerful role in treatment plans.

Bradford, A. (2024, April 1). The healing power of dogs: From offering comfort in times of distress to aiding individuals with disabilities in their daily tasks, animals can play a powerful role in treatment plans. The Deseret Times. https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2024/04/01/types-of-therapy-dogs/

Expert Commentary Featured in the New York Times

Sunday, March 24, 2024

The dogs helping the covenant children find their way back.

“Over this period of sort of, 35,000 years, dogs have become incredibly adept at socializing with humans, so they’re sensitive to our emotional state,” said Dr. Nancy Gee, who oversees the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Cochrane, E. (2024, March 24). The dogs helping the covenant children find their way back. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/24/us/covenant-children-dogs.html

Journal Publication in Hormones and Behavior

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Glucocorticoid response to naturalistic interactions between children and dogs.

Although research has shown that pets appear to provide certain types of social support to children, little is known about the physiological bases of these effects, especially in naturalistic contexts. In this study, we investigated the effect of free-form interactions between children (ages 8–10 years) and dogs on salivary cortisol concentrations in both species.

Gnanadesikan, G. E., Carranza, E., King, K.M., Flyer, A.C. Ossello, G. Smith, P.G., Steklis, N.G., Steklis, H.D., Connelly, J.J., Barnett, M. Gee, N., Tecot, S., MacLean, E.L. (2024). Glucocorticoid response to naturalistic interactions between children and dogs. Hormones and Behavior, 161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105523

CHAI Research Featured in Fortune Italia

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Dog Human Fitness, the effect of a healthy relationship between owner and dog.

Many studies, such as the one conducted in 2021 at the Center for Human-Animal Interaction of the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University, in the United States, had certified that walking or running with a four-legged friend benefits muscle and cardiovascular function, breathing and mental performance, not to mention the positive effects on stress, anxiety and ideal weight.

Bonnazzi, F. (2024 February 14). Dog Human Fitness, l’effetto di una sana relazione fra padrone e cane [Dog Human Fitness, the effect of a healthy relationship between owner and dog]. Fortune Italia. https://www.fortuneita.com/2024/02/14/dog-human-fitness-leffetto-di-una-sana-relazione-fra-padrone-e-cane/

Expert Commentary Featured on Mint

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Almost 70% of cats and dogs are homeless in India, new report finds: A new report found that over 60 million homeless pets in India are living on the streets, while 8.8 million are in shelters.

Over the years, several studies have shown how pets have a positive influence on humans.

Amin. A. (2024, February 13). Almost 70% of cats and dogs are homeless in India, new report finds: A new report found that over 60 million homeless pets in India are living on the streets, while 8.8 million are in shelters. Mint Lounge. https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/ideas/cats-dogs-homeless-india-pets-animals-111707364703177.html

Journal Publication in Anthrozoös

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Do workplace fish tanks influence employee wellbeing and cognitive performance? An embedded mixed-methods study.

"Ornamental fishes carry a much lower risk than other companion animals and may be a suitable alternative in situations where other animals would introduce too great a risk (e.g., allergy, accidental injury). The aim of this study was to investigate whether watching an aquarium during the working day influenced employee wellbeing through the reduction of stress and improvements in stress-related outcomes."

Clements, H., Valentin, S., Jenkins, N., Rankin, J., Gee, N. R., Snellgrove, D., & Sloman, K. A. (2024). Do workplace fish tanks influence employee wellbeing and cognitive performance? An embedded mixed-methods study. Anthrozoös, 37(3), 459–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2024.2303227

Expert Commentary Featured on National Geographic

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Do pets really make people happier and healthier?

"Having a non-judgmental confidant can serve to buffer the effects of stress on both physical and psychological health outcomes," explains Nancy Gee, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Austin, D. (2023, September 19). Do pets really make people happier and healthier? National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/benefits-pet-dog-ownership-mental-health

Journal Publication in the Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics

Saturday, September 9, 2023

"Dogs on Call": A community-engaged human subjects training with hospital based therapy dog teams.

As community-engaged research (CER) methods evolve, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) must adapt policies to facilitate CER research. This paper describes a novel collaboration between hospital-based therapy dog volunteer teams (CERs), academic faculty, and an IRB.

Townsend, L., Towsley, N., & Gee, N.R. (2023, September 3). "Dogs on Call": A community-engaged human subjects training with hospital based therapy dog teams. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 18(5), 363-371. https://doi.org/10.1177/15562646231191962

Journal Publication in Scientific Reports

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Pet ownership and maintenance of cognitive function in community-residing older adults: Evidence from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).

Pet ownership has been associated with reduced deterioration in physical health as older adults age; little research focused on deterioration in cognitive function. We examine the relationship of pet, dog, cat ownership, and dog walking to changes in cognitive function among 637 generally healthy community-dwelling older adults (185 pet owners) aged 50–100 years (M = 68.3, SD = 9.6) within the BLSA.

Friedmann, E., Gee, N. R., Simonsick, E. M., Kitner-Triolo, M. H., Resnick, B., Adesanya, I., Koodaly, L., & Gurlu, M. (2023). Pet ownership and maintenance of cognitive function in communityresiding older adults: Evidence from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Scientific Reports, 13(1), 14738. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41813-y

Expert Commentary Featured on Yahoo! Life

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Stressed out? Here are 5 science-backed ways to relax.

Nancy Gee, professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been researching this topic for more than two decades. She tells Yahoo Life one study shows, “Just five minutes of interacting with a dog, for a stressed healthcare worker, can decrease their cortisol to the same level as if they had sat alone in a quiet room for 15 minutes.”

Whitley, H. L. (2023, August 31). Stressed out? Here are 5 science-backed ways to relax. Yahoo! Life. https://www.aol.co.uk/lifestyle/stressed-5-science-backed-ways-120040135.html

 

Journal Publication in Psychiatric News

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

How companion animals can participate in treatment of mental illness.

Accumulating evidence demonstrates the importance of companion animals in the lives of humans. This article discusses the varied ways those animals may participate in the treatment of mental illness.

Gee, N. R., Townsend, L., Findling, R. L. (2023). How companion animals can participate in treatment of mental illness.  Psychiatric News, 58(9), 23-26. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2023.09.9.35

CHAI Research Featured on the BBC Global News's The Happy Pod

Saturday, August 19, 2023

The disabled TV director pushing for change.

What our study is showing us is some really measurable improvements from having a dog visit them in the hospital.  People often think of it as a "feel good nice to have" but what we're finding is it's actually more than that - it's really delivering measurable to those patients and importantly to healthcare staff.

Leonard, J. (Host). (2023, August 19). The disabled TV director pushing for change [Audio podcast episode]. In The Happy Pod. BBC Global News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5htx

Expert Commentary Featured on Inverse

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Can pets make us less lonely? This unlikely creature might be best for our mental health.

Attachments are crucial to experiences of human connection. Gee says that people need attachments or bonds “with other living beings.” She mentions four attachment criteria: “When we attach to another person, we find them enjoyable; we find them comforting; they're missed when they're absent; and we seek them out when we're in distress.”

Spivack, E. (2023, August 12). Can pets make us less lonely? This unlikely creature might be best for our mental health. Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/health/pets-loneliness-science-health-which-animal-is-best

Expert Commentary Featured on Earth

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Petting a dog, even when it's not your own, can boost your health for months.

“I think it is safe to say that animals are beneficial to our mental and physical health. We’re seeing really nice effects,” said Professor Nancy Gee, director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sexton, C. (2023, August 9). Petting a dog, even when it's not your own, can boost your health for months. Earth.  https://www.earth.com/news/petting-a-dog-even-when-its-not-your-own-can-boost-your-health-for-months/

Expert Commentary Featured on NPR

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Weekly Dose of Wonder: Spending time with a dog can be good for your health.

What's four-legged, furry and often serves up a mood boost? That's right: dogs. As part of our series Weekly Dose of Wonder, here's how even brief interactions with pups can be good for health.

Godoy, M. (2023, August 2). Weekly Dose of Wonder: Spending time with a dog can be good for your health [Radio broadcast]. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2023/08/02/1191671789/weekly-dose-of-wonder-spending-time-with-adog-can-be-good-for-your-health

CHAI Featured on Yahoo! News

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Dogs on Call visit CBS 6.

...to help us unwind during this mental health awareness month, CBS 6 got a visit from a group of therapy dogs from VCU Medical Center today.  These guys and gals are from VCU's Dogs on Call program with the Center for Human-Animal Interaction.

WTVR CBS6. (2023, May 18). Dogs on Call visit CBS 6 [Video]. Yahoo! News. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/dogs-call-visit-cbs-6-150419862.html

CHAI Research Featured in VCU News

Thursday, April 13, 2023

New book highlights VCU Dogs on Call as a model program.

“The child may make more eye contact or generally be gentler in the presence of the animal,” Gee said. “Not all kids on the spectrum will react the same way to animals, so each child needs to be evaluated to see if an animal is a good fit for them. In the cases where there is a good fit between child and animal, the child often becomes more involved with people around them. The animal creates an opportunity for the child to be more socially engaged.”

Tupponce, J. (2023, April 13). New book highlights VCU Dogs on Call as a model program. VCU News.  https://www.vcuhealth.org/news/new-book-highlights-vcu-dogs-on-call-as-a-model-program/

Journal Publication in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Monday, March 27, 2023

Reimagining healthcare: Human–animal bond support as a primary, secondary, and tertiary public health intervention.

The emergence of human–animal support services (HASS)—services provided to help keep people and their companion animals together—in the United States has been driven by two global public health crises... Drawing from Ottawa Charter tenets and using the United States as a case study, we: (1) recognize and explicate HASS as public health resources for human and animal well-being and (2) delineate examples of HASS within the three-tiered public health intervention framework. HASS examples situated in the three-tier framework reveal a public health continuum for symbiotic well-being and health.

Hoy-Gerlach, J., & Townsend, L. (2023). Reimagining healthcare: Human–animal bond support as a primary, secondary, and tertiary public health intervention. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(7). http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075272

CHAI Research Featured in American Veterinary Medical Association News

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

AVMA partners with psychiatric professionals to promote human-animal bond.

The APA’s newly released book for mental health practitioners, “The Role of Companion Animals in the Treatment of Mental Disorders,” examines the existing evidence to support animal-based interventions as well as the risks associated with various types of programs. The book provides a thorough analysis of the latest research and explores topics that include protecting the animal’s health and welfare, with an emphasis on understanding applicable laws and regulations.

Larkin, M. (2023, March 15). AVMA partners with psychiatric professionals to promote human-animal bond. American Veterinary Medical Association News. https://www.avma.org/news/avma-partners-psychiatric-professionals-promote-human-animal-bond

Journal Publication in Human-Animal Interactions

Friday, March 10, 2023

Complexities and considerations in conducting animal-assisted intervention research: A discussion of randomized controlled trials.

While conducting RCTs in any field of study is an intensive and complex undertaking, researchers conducting RCTs to evaluate the efficacy of AAIs are faced with unique considerations. The goal of this manuscript is to discuss these complexities and considerations surrounding conducting an RCT of an AAI program in regard to study planning, conceptualization, design, implementation, and dissemination.

Rodriguez, K.E., Green, F.L.L., Binfet, J., Townsend, L., Gee, N.R. (2023). Complexities and considerations in conducting animal-assisted intervention research: A discussion of randomized controlled trials. Human-Animal Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2023.0004

CHAI Featured in VCU News

Friday, March 3, 2023

Rounds with hounds: Medical students research and participate in dog therapy via VCU’s Center for Human-Animal Interaction.

The four-week, fourth-year rotation has students shadow Dogs on Call dog-handler teams and join research projects examining the impact of the program on patients. Gee hopes that the students and residents walk away understanding not just the benefits of the program, but the scientific evidence supporting it.

Kruszewski, J. (2023, March 3). Rounds with hounds: Medical students research and participate in dog therapy via VCU’s Center for Human-Animal Interaction. VCU News. https://news.vcu.edu/article/2023/03/medical-students-research-dog-therapy-via-vcus-center-for-human-animal-interaction

CHAI Research Featured in Psychiatry Unbound

Friday, March 3, 2023

Companion animals.

...this idea of Lassie saving Jimmy from the well, right? That's fiction. And we need people to respect the animals for who they are. They're unique and impressive, and they can do a lot of really incredible things, but they're not fictional characters. And so really understanding the power of the actual animal, the reality of the actual animal, and respecting the animal for what they bring to the table.

Roberts, L. (Host). (2023, March 3). Companion Animals [Audio podcast episode]. In Psychiatry Unbound. American Psychiatric Association Publishing. https://psychiatryonline.org/psychiatry-unbound/022-companion-animals

CHAI Featured on ABC8

Thursday, March 2, 2023

‘Dogs on Call’ brings paw-sitivity to VCU’s Medical Center.

When Margaret Popik visits the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center with her eight-year-old Golden Doodle Elsa, she says Elsa is the main attraction. “I feel like I’m walking around with the Beatles or Taylor Swift because people run to you. We call it getting love bombed,” Popik said. “People light up, and they come over. I am always ready with hand sanitizer.”

Barefoot, A. (2023, March 2). ‘Dogs on Call’ brings paw-sitivity to VCU’s Medical Center. WRIC ABC8 News.  https://www.wric.com/community/positively-richmond/dogs-on-call-brings-paw-sitivity-to-vcus-medical-center/

Book Publication by American Psychiatric Association Publishing

Thursday, February 16, 2023

The role of companion animals in the treatment of mental disorders

Although millions of pet owners will vouch for the benefits of companion animals, the decision about whether to implement animal-based interventions for mental disorders is not always a simple one... This robust volume features detailed discussion of topics that include human-animal interactions in specific patient populations and settings, as well as best practices for ensuring animal welfare and well-being, with an emphasis on understanding applicable laws and regulations.

N. R. Gee, L. Townsend, & R. Findling (Eds). (2023). The role of companion animals in the treatment of mental disorders. American Psychiatric Association Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9781615379910

CHAI Featured in VCU News

Monday, February 13, 2023

Canine cupids: When VCU Dogs On Call volunteers hand out valentines, recipients get a dose of their unconditional love.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Dogs On Call therapy dogs know a lot about love and affection — they spend their days warming the hearts of patients, visitors, students, faculty and staff. The highly trained fuzzballs, along with their human handlers, visit the VCU Medical Center and other VCU Health clinical facilities as well as student events on campus to spread their love and calming presence to anyone who needs a feel-good moment.

Frisa, E. (2023, February 13). Canine cupids: When VCU Dogs On Call volunteers hand out valentines, recipients get a dose of their unconditional love. VCU News. https://news.vcu.edu/article/2023/02/canine-cupids

CHAI Featured in Richmond Magazine

Friday, February 10, 2023

Head of the pack: VCU collaborates on a study showing dogs make students calmer, better in the classroom.

“What we found is that the special needs students secreted less cortisol when they interacted with the dog than in the yoga relaxation or in the classroom as usual condition,” Gee says. “That bore itself out over the course of the semester. ... As the semester goes on, children get more and more stressed. And that didn’t happen in the dog condition.”

Small, L. (2023, February 10). Head of the pack: VCU collaborates on a study showing dogs make students calmer, better in the classroom. Richmond Magazine. https://richmondmagazine.com/news/education/dogs-in-classrooms/

CHAI Featured in Richmond Magazine

Sunday, February 5, 2023

A shot of cheer: Hospital programs bring smiles to children’s faces.

At the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, the pitter-patter of paws coming down the hallway creates an atmosphere of excitement among patients, visitors and staff. These four-legged guests stop by weekly courtesy of the nonprofit Center for Human-Animal Interaction.

Egocheaga, A. (2023, February 5). A shot of cheer: Hospital programs bring smiles to children’s faces. Richmond Magazine. https://richmondmagazine.com/news/sunday-story/a-shot-of-cheer/

Journal Publication in Innovation in Aging

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Pet ownersship and maintenance of physical function in older adults evidence from the Baltimore longitudinal study of aging (BLSA).

Pet ownership or human–animal interaction has been associated with better health outcomes in individuals with disease or disability. We hypothesized that pet ownership, as well as dog ownership and cat ownership separately, are associated with maintaining physical function, and leisure time physical activity and that among dog owners, dog walking is associated with maintaining these outcomes for generally healthy community-dwelling older adults participating in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Friedmann, E. Gee, N. R., Simonsick, E. M., Barr, E., Resnick, B., Werthman, E., & Adesanya, I. (2022). Pet ownersship and maintenance of physical function in older adults evidence from the Baltimore longitudinal study of aging (BLSA). Innovation in Aging, 7(1), 2023, igac080. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac080

Expert Commentary on NPR's With Good Reason

Friday, October 14, 2022

The Pets We Love.

Nancy Gee is Director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University.  She's studying how therapeutic relationships between dogs and humans can have actual health benefits.

McConnell, S. (Executive Producer). (2022, October 14). The Pets We Love [Audio podcast episode]. In With Good Reason. Virginia Humanities. https://www.withgoodreasonradio.org/episode/the-pets-we-love/

Journal Publication in Animals

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Defining terms used for animals working in support roles for people with support needs.

Although animals are being employed for a growing number of roles to support people, the terms used to describe those animals (e.g., “therapy animal” and “emotional support animal”) can be confusing... This paper presents the results of a collaboration between over 100 researchers, practitioners, and end users of animal-based supports from all over the world.

Howell, T. J., Nieforth, L., Thomas-Pino, C., Samet, L., Agbonika, S., Cuevas-Pavincich, F., Fry, N. E., Hill, K., Jegatheesan, B., Kakinuma, M., MacNamara, M., Mattila-Rautiainen, S., Perry, A., Tardif-Williams, C. Y., Walsh, E. A., Winkle, M., Yamamoto, M., Yerbury, R., Rawat, V., ... Bennett, P. (2022). Defining terms used for animals working in support roles for people with support needs. Animals, 12(15), 1975. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151975

Journal Publication in Frontiers in Pediatrics

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Can dog-assisted and relaxation interventions boost spatial ability in children with and without special educational needs? A longitudinal, randomized controlled trial.

The current study is the first to investigate if dog-assisted and relaxation interventions can improve spatial abilities in school children. It makes a novel contribution to empirical research by measuring longitudinally if an Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) or relaxation intervention can boost children's development of spatial abilities. Randomized controlled trials were employed over time including dog intervention, relaxation intervention and no treatment control groups. Interventions were carried out over 4 weeks, twice a week for 20 min.

Brelsford, V. L., Dimolareva, M., Rowan, E., Gee, N. R., Meints, K. (2022). Can dog-assisted and relaxation interventions boost spatial ability in children with and without special educational needs? A longitudinal, randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.886324

Journal Publication in Animals

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Reactivation of a hospital-based therapy dog bisitation program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Negative mental health outcomes have affected healthcare workers, patients, and community members following pandemics: most recently, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak. Although therapy dog visitation programs are associated with reduced stress, most hospital-based programs were placed on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined human–animal interactions during the reactivation of a hospital-based therapy dog program during the pandemic. Characteristics of the interactions and the participants involved were recorded and analyzed.

Townsend, L., Heatwole, J. K., Gee, N. R. (2022). Reactivation of a hospital-based therapy dog bisitation program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Animals, 12(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141842

Journal Publication in PLOS One

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Can dogs reduce stress levels in school children? Effects of dog-assisted interventions on salivary cortisol in children with and without special educational needs using randomized control trials.

Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have shown beneficial effects on health and wellbeing, however, robust knowledge on stress mediation in children is lacking... This study is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate dog-assisted interventions as a mediator of stress in school children with and without special educational needs (SEN) over the school term.

Meints, K., Brelsford, V. L., Dimolareva, M., Maréchal, L., Pennington, K., Rowan, E., Gee, N. R. (2022). Can dogs reduce stress levels in school children? Effects of dog-assisted interventions on salivary cortisol in children with and without special educational needs using randomized control trials. PLOS One 17(6): e0269333. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269333

Expert Commentary in Everyday Health

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

6 potential health benefits of owning a pet.

“For many, pets serve as social capital in neighborhoods and communities,” says Dr. Gee. “They precipitate the exchange of favors and encourage civic engagement.” 

Lastoe, S. (2022, April 19). 6 potential health benefits of owning a pet. Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/potential-health-benefits-of-owning-a-pet/

Expert Commentary in Science News Explores

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

In an emergency, you may want to see Dr. Dog.

More than 20 years ago, Sandra Barker started one of the first therapy-dog programs in hospitals. At the time, she worked at Virginia Commonwealth University, or VCU, in Richmond, Va.

Hurt, A. E. (2022, April 13). In an emergency, you may want to see Dr. Dog. Science News Direct. https://www.snexplores.org/article/therapy-dog-reduces-pain-anxiety-emergency-room

Expert Commentary Featured in the New York Post

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Dentist’s adorable dog snuggles up to calm down anxious patients: ‘He’s such a good boy’.

Gee pointed out that evidence found in studies suggests spending just five to 20 minutes with a four-legged friend can drop levels of the stress hormone cortisol in people.

Steinberg, B. (2024, February 2). Dentist’s adorable dog snuggles up to calm down anxious patients: ‘He’s such a good boy’. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2024/02/02/lifestyle/dentists-adorable-dog-snuggles-up-to-calm-down-anxious-patients-hes-such-a-good-boy/

Journal Publication in Veterinary Sciences

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Recognizing and mitigating canine stress during animal assisted interventions.

This article focuses specifically on dogs, highlighting factors that may lead handlers and therapists to miss or ignore canine stress signals during human-animal interactions and offers strategies to recognize and ameliorate dogs’ distress more consistently. The primary goals of this discussion are to summarize the current thinking on canine well-being and to highlight practical applications of animal welfare principles in real-world AAI settings.

Research Featured in Forbes

Monday, September 6, 2021

Even more reasons to love your dog: Better thinking, reduced stress and happier work.

A study by Virginia Commonwealth University found when dogs were present in the workplace, people got to know each other and had more conversations based on the four-legged visitors.

Brower, T. (2021, September 6). Even more reasons to love your dog: Better thinking, reduced stress and happier work. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/09/06/even-more-reasons-to-love-your-dog-reduced-stress-and-happier-work/

Journal Publication in Animals

Monday, August 9, 2021

Companion animal type and level of engagement matter: A mixed-methods study examining links between companion animal guardianship, loneliness and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This research examined the influence of companion animals, and specifically ornamental fishes, on mental well-being and loneliness during the pandemic.

Clements, H., Valentin, S., Jenkins, N., Rankin, J., Gee, N. R., Snellgrove, D., & Sloman, K. A. (2021). Companion animal type and level of engagement matter: A mixed-methods study examining links between companion animal guardianship, loneliness and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Animals, 11(8), 2349. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082349

Journal Publication in Anthrozoös

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

A leash on life: An exploratory study on the effects of a shelter-dog walking program for veterans on dogs’ stress.

This exploratory project evaluated the impact of a shelter-dog walking program for veterans on stress experienced by the dogs. It also examined whether the PTSD status of the veteran influenced the impact of the walk on the dog.

Friedmann, E., Krause-Parello, C. A., Payton, M., Blanchard, K., Storm, A., Barr, E., & Gee, N. R. (2021). A leash on life: An exploratory study on the effects of a shelter-dog walking program for veterans on dogs’ stress. Anthrozoös, 35(1), 23–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2021.1944559

Expert Commentary Featured in Modern Dog Magazine

Monday, June 28, 2021

Pandemic pups: Adopted dogs offer a furry support system.

...our pets give us a sense of direction that has been missing for many during the pandemic, says Nancy Gee, Director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine. Duty towards their dogs motivates older owners, in particular, to protect their health.

Fellegi, V. (2021, June 28). Pandemic pups: Adopted dogs offer a furry support system. Modern Dog Magazine. https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/pandemic-pups-adopted-dogs-offer-a-furry-support-system/

Journal Publication in Animals

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Dog walking and the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on loneliness in older adults.

Recent research suggests that older adults who walk their dogs experience fewer symptoms of loneliness than those who do not walk their dogs. The current study was designed to evaluate whether dog walking helps older adults facing significant social consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic avoid increased feelings of loneliness.

Carr, D., Friedmann, E., Gee, N. R., Gilchrist, C., Sachs-Ericsson, N., & Koodaly, L. (2021). Dog walking and the social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on loneliness in older adults. Animals, 11(7), 1852. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071852

Journal Publication in Animals

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Cognitive and composite behavioural welfare assessments of pet cats between the ages of 9–22 months, living in single and multi-cat households.

Although agonistic interactions between cats are often regarded clinically as a source of stress, there is currently limited research evidence regarding the welfare impact of keeping multiple cats as pets. The aim of this study was to compare welfare indicators between cats living in single and multi-cat households, as well as between cats living in multi-cat households where agonistic behaviour was/was not reported by owners.

 

Research Featured on Fox4

Friday, June 11, 2021

How the pandemic Is shining a spotlight on the loneliness epidemic in the U.S..

On Tuesday, May 25, veterinarian Angela Hughes, PhD, DVM, and Nancy Gee, PhD, Director of the Center for Human Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University, will be available to discuss the issue of loneliness among older Americans and reveal the goals of the therapy dog study surrounding this issue. This new study – and the field of research into Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) – is all about exploring the potential of the incredible bond that pets and people can have and the role each can play in making life better for the other.

Lynn, A. (2021, June 11). How the pandemic Is shining a spotlight on the loneliness epidemic in the U.S.. Fox4. https://www.fox4now.com/the-morning-blend/how-the-pandemic-is-shining-a-spotlight-on-the-loneliness-epidemic-in-the-u-s

Journal Publication in AERA Open

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Incorporating human–animal interaction into academic stress management programs: Effects on typical and at-risk college students’ executive function.

Implementation of university-based animal-assisted stress-prevention programs is increasing despite limited knowledge about impacts on students’ academic success. This randomized trial (N = 309) examined the effects of a 4-week stress-prevention program with varying levels of human–animal interaction (HAI) and evidence-based content presentations on students’ executive functioning (EF).

Pendry, P., Carr, A. M., Vandagriff, J. L., & Gee, N. R. (2021). Incorporating human–animal interaction into academic stress management programs: Effects on typical and at-risk college students’ executive function. AERA Open, 7. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584211011612

CHAI Featured on CBS6

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Therapy dogs prepare for their return to VCU Medical Center.

For years, the Dogs on Call program has been a pleasant distraction and therapy for doctors, nurses, medical students, and sick patients. "Healthcare workers especially, need us back in the hospital," program director Nancy Gee, Ph.D., said. "I've seen firsthand what our teams do and the difference they make. I'll tell you there's times that there's not a dry eye in the room. It's incredibly impactful in that moment."

Sears, Tracy. (2021, March 31). Therapy dogs prepare for their return to VCU Medical Center. CBS6. https://www.wtvr.com/rebound/you-are-not-alone/therapy-dogs-vcu-medical-center

Journal Publication in Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Monday, March 29, 2021

Canine-assisted interventions in hospitals: Best practices for maximizing human and canine safety.

Canine-assisted interventions (CAI) are becoming more popular in hospital settings, representing a crucial intersection between animals, veterinary medicine, and society... This paper presents a rationale for CAI in hospitals and describes the evidence, issues, and challenges to establishing and maintaining safe and effective programs for humans and animals.

Barker, S. & Gee, N. R. (2021). Canine-assisted interventions in hospitals: Best practices for maximizing human and canine safety.  Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.615730

Journal Publication in Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Monday, March 29, 2021

Dogs supporting human health and wellbeing: A biopsychosocial approach.

This paper utilizes a longstanding theoretical framework- the biopsychosocial model- to contextualize the existing research on a broad spectrum of settings and populations in which dogs have been included as an adjunct or complementary therapy to improve some aspect of human health and well-being.

Gee, N. R., Rodriguez, K., Fine, A., & Trammel, J. (2021) Dogs supporting human health and wellbeing: A biopsychosocial approach. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.630465

CHAI Featured in The Straits Times

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Learn how furry friends can help with therapy.

When Canadian clinical psychologist Aubrey Fine took his first pet, a gerbil named Sasha, to a programme for children with learning needs in the 1970s, a boy who was usually hyperactive went up to him and asked if he could hold Sasha. "Sure, but only if you can sit down on the ground and cross your legs," Dr Fine, who was then in his 20s, replied. "When I put Sasha in your palm, I want you to not move because I don't want you to scare my little friend."

Shan Chin, H. (2021, March 23). Learn how furry friends can help with therapy. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/learn-how-furry-friends-can-help-with-therapy

CHAI Featured in VCU News

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

A look at how the VCU community is sharing the love and giving back in difficult times.

While they can’t visit the hospital as they normally would, the adorable pooches are conducting virtual visits with patients and staff who request a visit to brighten their day. One of the favorite love-related activities is Operation Cookie where Dogs on Call teams — think humans — purchase individually wrapped cookies and attach one of the Dogs on Call playing cards to the package. In case you’re wondering, each therapy dog has a card with their picture and name that is usually given to patients and staff when the dogs visit. 

Tupponce, J. (2021, February 10). A look at how the VCU community is sharing the love and giving back in difficult times. VCU News. https://news.vcu.edu/article/A_look_at_how_the_VCU_community_is_sharing_the_love_and_giving

Journal Publication in Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Variability in human-animal interaction research.

The field of Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) is plagued with mixed results... The purpose of this paper is to take a closer look at this variability in research outcomes and to provide plausible explanations and potential remedies.

Rodriguez, K., Herzog, H., & Gee, N. R. (2021). Variability in human-animal interaction research. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.619600

Book Publication by Springer

Monday, December 14, 2020

Well-being over the life course: Incorporating human-animal interaction.

This book provides a multidisciplinary overview of the impact of human–animal interaction on well-being from childhood to later life. It presents a life course perspective to the study of human–animal interaction, addressing concepts of family and the role of pets therein, as well as the impact of companion animals on child development and successful aging.

Bures, R. M., & Gee, N. R. (2020). Well-being over the life course: Incorporating human-animal interaction. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64085-9