Spring 2025
Fall 2024
- We welcomed a new research assistant, Jon Logan-Rung to the lab in November 2024. Jon will be assisting in data collection for our research on PTSD service dogs. Welcome, Jon!
- Dr. Bray and Dr. Rodriguez traveled to Washington, D.C. to present their research on service dogs for veterans with PTSD, in collaboration with K9s for Warriors, to the Senate Mental Health Caucus on Capitol Hill.
- The HAB Lab received a grant from the University of Arizona One Health Initiative to conduct a pilot study on the efficacy of a combined service dog and prolonged exposure therapy intervention for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We’re excited to start this pilot study this Fall!
- New publication out June 2024 on the efficacy of service dogs for veterans with PTSD, led by Dr. Maggie O’Haire and UA PhD student Sarah Leighton, now published in JAMA. Read about the study in AP News: “Service dogs helped ease PTSD symptoms in US military veterans, researchers say”. Sarah Leighton and Dr. Rodriguez also wrote a piece for The Conversation explaining the study’s findings and significance.
- Science News Explores interviewed Dr. Rodriguez for a new article, “Pets and other animals can boost health and well-being”
- We are excited to welcome Molly Delzio to the HAB Lab, who is starting her PhD in Psychology in Fall 2024. Welcome, Molly!
Spring 2024
- Taylor Elton, a Senior RA in the HAB Lab, graduated with her BS in Psychological Sciences in May. Congrats, Taylor!
- New publication out March 2024: “The effects of service dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers: a cross-sectional study” – Read about the study in an article from The Wildest here.
- The HAB Lab has received two new grants to study the roles of full-time therapy dogs, or “Station Dogs”, in police stations. Our goal is to understand how therapy dogs may benefit officer wellness, station cohesion, and police-community relationships. This research is in collaboration with the non-profit assistance dog organization K9s For Warriors, which places Station Dogs free of cost in police and fire stations across the US. The first study is funded by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) – read more about the funding announcement here. The second study is funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in collaboration with CNA – read more about this funding announcement here.
Fall 2023
- We are excited to welcome Adelaide Ruekgauer, who will be the HAB Lab’s new Research Coordinator starting Nov 2023. Welcome, Adi!
- Angelina Jouault, a Senior RA in the HAB Lab, graduated with her BS in Psychological Sciences in December. Congrats, Angelina!
- National Geographic interviewed Dr. Rodriguez for a new article, “Do Pets Really Make People Happier and Healthier?”
- Dr. Rodriguez was a guest on the BBC Crowd Science podcast! Listen to the episode “Are Dogs Good for Us?”
- New publication out October 2023: “The Effect of Mental Activation of One’s Pet Dog on Stress Reactivity”. This study looks at how thinking of one’s pet may buffer stress in response to an experimental stressor.
- The HAB Lab is officially launched!