Research & engagement with practitioners

Building on three knowledge exchange and research impact grants, we are currently working on projects with the Scottish SPCA, Blue Cross, Staf (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum), and Fostering Compassion. Dr Janine Muldoon leads this work.

Together with our partner, the Scottish SPCA, we held three successive knowledge exchange grants. There were awarded to enable us to:

1.  promote our work widely,

2.  develop and enhance our relationships with practitioners, and 

3. provide support to help professionals working with children and/or animals to make beneficial changes to policy and practice

This work led to a research project that we carried out in collaboration with the Scottish SPCA and Blue Cross. This involved an online survey, 'Supporting People and Pets in Scotland', that aimed to better understand the challenges facing pet owners and the issues that lead to relinquishing a pet. New joint support services will be developed as a result of the findings.

We are currently developing this work further with Blue Cross, extending the project to examine the challenges in a UK wide sample.

We also have a new project underway that is examining the relationships care experienced children and young people have with their pets, and how changes to housing/homes impacts these relationships. This is funded by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) and is being carried out in collaboration with Staf (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum), Fostering Compassion, and the Scottish SPCA.

In addition to the information on research grants on this page, we also have a Practitioners and Collaborators page that outlines the different organisations we work with, and has useful links to practitioner briefings and resources. If you have questions, please email janine.muldoon@ed.ac.uk.

(1) Breaking the cycle of cruelty and harm for children and animals

This work was funded by an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) knowledge exchange and impact acceleration grant

(2) Closing the gap between research and practice in childhood cruelty prevention

This work was funded through an award from the University of Edinburgh College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS)

(3) The link between animal cruelty, domestic violence and childhood trauma

This work is funded by an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) knowledge exchange and impact acceleration grant

Identifying optimal support for people and pets in Scotland

A recent research project that aimed to identify the challenges experienced by pet owners in Scotland

Pets and changing homes: the views of care experienced children/young people

A project exploring the nature of care-experienced children's relationships with pets and the impact of housing/home transitions

Identifying optimal support for people and pets in the UK

A project funded by Blue Cross examining the nature and extent of challenges experienced by pet owners across the UK in the context of the current financial crisis