Brussels, 29 September 2021 – In an online event organised with Parliament Magazine, the newly formed Pet Alliance Europe discussed human-animal bond research, how it can be applied in health care policies, and whether Europeans recognise the many benefits that assistance animals can provide.
Hosted by MEP Sirpa Pietikainen, Honorary President of the European Parliament Intergroup on Animal Welfare, the event focused on whether companion animals can play a more prominent role in our society and in our health. The MEP shared her views on how pets supported our mental health during this past year and how their good care in return is important.
Panellist Andrea Gavinelli, Head of Animal Welfare at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, answered questions on provisions for companion animals within the current review of EU Animal Welfare legislation.
Professor Dominique Grandjean, from the Alfort National Veterinary School (EnvA) in France, presented Project Nosaïs-Covid-19 detection dogs. The project’s work training dogs to detect COVID-19 on human sweat samples has been validated by the WHO (World Health Organisation) and a working group has been established together with the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) and national teams from Finland, the UK and the USA to support further training as well as establish international guidelines for training the dogs.
The European animal health and pet food industry associations, AnimalhealthEurope and FEDIAF, developed the term #PetPower when the associations came together last year to bring this topic to the EU agenda. It refers collectively to animal-assisted interventions, service animal offerings and the general human-animal bond. The associations hope that by bringing projects such Nosaïs Covid-19 detection dogs to the attention of EU decision-makers the wide-ranging benefits can be considered for policy development.
Speaking at the event AnimalhealthEurope President, Hans-Guenther Dittrich said:
“Pet-keeping is a common part of many cultures. Humans have been sharing their lives with animals from time immemorial, and according to research, this bond has a profound effect on us. We wish to maximise the effects of #PetPower by advocating for recognition at EU level of consensus-led standards for the welfare of assistance dogs and for harmonisation of standards of care for animal-assisted interventions.”
FEDIAF President Annet Palamba added:
“We would also like to see an increased focus on the science behind #PetPower. It is important that studies are scientifically rigorous and shared widely so that people in medical fields, health care decision-makers and policy makers understand the power of the bond. We believe such research can support prioritisation of how to leverage the effects for physical, mental, and emotional care in national and regional healthcare policies, healthy ageing policies, and education policies.”
To keep up to date on news about Pet Alliance Europe and #PetPower, please follow @PetPower_EU on Twitter and check out the Pet Alliance website: www.pet-power.eu
For the full recordings of the event, please click HERE
ENDS
Notes for editors:
- AnimalhealthEurope represents companies that research, develop and manufacture veterinary medicines in Europe. It represents innovators and generics alike, as well as large, medium-sized and small companies. AnimalhealthEurope’s membership covers 90% of the European market for veterinary products.
- FEDIAF represents the European pet food industry. While we work sustainably every day to provide safe products that benefit pets, our work goes beyond pets and goes beyond pet food. Our work is also about society. Because we believe that pet ownership has the potential to enhance the lives of all Europeans. For more information about FEDIAF and its commitment to safe and healthy pet food, please visit www.fediaf.org
For more information about FEDIAF and its commitment to safe and healthy pet food, please visit fediaf.org.
For more information, please contact: Raquel Izquierdo de Santiago, Secretary General, + 32 (2) 536 05 20 –fediaf@fediaf.org
Click here to read our previous news
***
FEDIAF represents the European pet food industry with around 200 production sites. It is an umbrella organization of national pet food industry associations plus direct company members. FEDIAF’s mission is to be the credible and responsible voice of the European pet food industry collaborating with authorities, regulators and academics for achieving favourable conditions for the supply of safe, nutritious and palatable products to pets and their owners. Based in Brussels, FEDIAF is fully committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, to the wellbeing of pet animals, to their important social role and to the respect of sustainable development.www.fediaf.org