Posts by Rebecca Niemiec
New Peer-Reviewed Study Finds Animal Welfare and Quality Debriefings Are Key to Job Fulfillment and Reduced Burnout Among Laboratory Animal Professionals
A new study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association by researchers at the Animal Human Policy Center examines the occupational experiences and well-being of laboratory animal professionals (LAPs) across the United States. The research finds that perceptions of high animal welfare standards and satisfaction with post-incident debriefing practices are strongly linked to higher job fulfillment, lower…
Read MoreNew Peer-Reviewed Study Finds Widespread Public Support—and Pluralistic Ignorance—Regarding Animal Protection in the United States
A new study published in Human–Animal Interactions and led by researchers from Colorado State University’s Animal-Human Policy Center examines public support for animal protection policies in the United States and reveals a strong pattern of pluralistic ignorance—a systematic tendency for individuals to underestimate how much others support stronger animal welfare protections. The research provides a…
Read MoreAHPC Study Identifies What Works—and What’s Needed—to Address Animal Cruelty Nationwide
A new study from researchers at Colorado State University’s Animal-Human Policy Center examines what helps—and hinders—efforts to address animal cruelty and neglect across the United States. Drawing on interviews with professionals working on animal cruelty cases in 14 states, the research highlights proven strategies, persistent challenges, and critical resource gaps in current animal protection systems.…
Read MorePeer Reviewed AHPC Study Finds Strong Public Support for Banning Fur Sales in Northeast States
A study published in Animals, conducted by AHPC co-directors Dr Rebecca Niemiec, Dr Lori Kogan and colleagues, examines public attitudes toward fur farming and fur sales bans across four northeastern U.S. states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. The study also investigated how different message framings influence support for policy restrictions. Using survey data from over 2000…
Read MoreNew AHPC Study Reveals Gaps in Pet Owners’ Preparedness for Heat and Disasters
A study published in Human-Animal Interactions, conducted by AHPC co-director Dr Lori Kogan and colleagues, highlights areas of concern related to how U.S. dog owners care for their dogs during extreme heat and environmental disasters. The researchers surveyed more than 400 owners and found that while many owners recognize obvious signs of heat stress, few can identify…
Read MoreAHPC Study Finds Cancer Patients Face Hidden Stress Over Caring for Pets
A new study conducted by Dr Kogan, AHPC co-director, and colleagues, published in Cancer Nursing sheds light on an often-overlooked challenge for people undergoing cancer treatment: the stress of caring for beloved pets. Researchers surveyed nearly 1,000 cancer survivors who owned dogs or cats and found that while pets provided comfort and emotional support, they also created…
Read MoreAHPC co-director featured on “All Beings Considered” podcast
AHPC collaborates on peer-reviewed study on public perspectives towards native bees and honeybees
New Peer Reviewed AHPC Study Examines the Role of Pets in Social Services and Human Health Services
A new Animal Human Policy Center study published in Human-Animal Interactions highlights how pets significantly shape people’s decisions about seeking healthcare and social services — and exposes major gaps in the systems meant to support them. Researchers from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado surveyed 285 healthcare and social service professionals, including physicians,…
Read MoreNew Research Shows The Impacts of Messaging on Public Support for Carnivore Protection Ballot Initiatives
At the Animal-Human Policy Center, we set out to test how different messages impact public support for carnivore protection ballot initiatives. Traditional wildlife stakeholders have increasingly used “ballot box biology” arguments—claiming wildlife decisions should be left to state biologists rather than the public. Our prior research suggested that this narrative may have contributed to the…
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