The Human Animal Bond Research Institute recently awarded a grant to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Research Center for Human Animal Interaction. HABRI’s mission is to advance, through science, education and advocacy, the vital role of the human-animal bond in health and well-being of people, pets and communities. The Service Dog and Autistic Children Grant Award comes in the form of $48,000 that will go toward research that focuses on evaluating the impact of service dogs on children with autism spectrum disorder.
Gretchen Carlisle, PhD, Med, RN, research scientist and adjunct instructor in ReCHAI, serves as the project’s principal investigator on the research project, “Impact of Service Dogs on the Psychosocial Well-Being of Children with ASD, their Parents and their Families.” Carlisle will collaborate with her team at Mizzou, as well as colleagues in France.
“I’m excited to begin this new project which includes international collaboration,” said Carlisle. “Little is known about the impact of service dog acquisition on families of autistic children, so this study will provide crucial information not only for scientists, but also for service dog training organizations and the families of autistic children.”
By Nick Childress