Experts Join Together for International Dialogue on the Human-Animal Bond

July 2, 2021

A silhouette of a dog putting its paw on a woman's outstretched hand as they sit in the grass against a sunrise sky

Registration is now available for the 2021 Centers for the Human-Animal Bond Conference hosted by the Purdue University Center for the Human-Animal Bond. The virtual conference scheduled for November 4-5 will bring together a diverse set of national and international academic human-animal interaction centers and institutes for a global, interdisciplinary conversation focused on advancement in this field.

The Centers for the Human-Animal Bond (CHAB) Conference first was hosted in 2006, and in 2016 a 10-year follow-up conference continued the conversation. Both of these previous conferences resulted in special issues in peer-reviewed journals (2008 in JVME and 2018 in HAIB), and this year’s conference will seek to continue this legacy.

The 2021 CHAB Conference will provide a critical opportunity to bring together a diverse set of national and international academic Human-Animal Interaction centers and institutes. When discussing the significance of the conference, Purdue Veterinary Medicine Associate Professor of Human-Animal Interaction Maggie O’Haire stated, “The conference will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary conversation with substantial opportunities for the exchange and discussion of new ideas for future research on animal assisted interventions and additional dimensions of the human-animal bond”.  Dr. O’Haire went on to say that the periodic and structured dialogue and coordination by multi-disciplinary and geographically diverse human-animal interaction centers are critical to accelerating the advancement of the field and collaboration across disciplines, leading to further understanding of the physiological, psychological, and cultural implications of the human-animal bond.

The first day of the conference is free and open to the public and will include a plenary speaker and panel discussion in the morning, a “lunch and learn” with center directors during the lunch hour, followed by another panel discussion and plenary speaker in the afternoon.  During the lunch and learn, representatives from world-class centers and institutions from around the globe will provide an overview of their organization and the work they are accomplishing. Registration for November 4 is currently available. Click here to register.

The second day of the conference will consist of closed sessions for invited leaders in the field of human-animal interaction.

The conference is able to offer a day with free registration open to the public thanks to generous sponsorships from the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and Mars Petcare. Additional support for the conference is provided by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond and the University’s Office of the Provost.

Click here to learn more about the 2021 Centers for the Human-Animal Bond Conference.

Writer(s): Ben Shepard | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week our gratitude goes to Andrea Kellogg, who is the director of Lifelong Learning.

Purdue Veterinary Students Get Up Close View of Veterinary Care at Professional Bull Riding Event

During a weekend dedicated to championship-level competition, students from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine gained a first-hand perspective on a unique aspect of the livestock industry with a behind-the-scenes pass to the Professional Bull Riding event held recently in Indianapolis.  Ram Trucks PBR Indianapolis presented by Cooper Tires was held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse March 21-22, even as first- and second-round NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games were held across the country the same weekend.

In Memory – Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Physiology Gerald Bottoms

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Gerald D. Bottoms, a longtime faculty member and Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Physiology, passed away on February 24, 2026.  He was 95.

PVM Scholars Recognized at Purdue One Health and Well-Being Research Event

Purdue University’s recent One Health and Well-Being Research Event: A Celebration of Interdisciplinary Health Research, put the spotlight on several scholars in the College of Veterinary Medicine.  The one-day event was organized by the College of Health and Human Sciences in partnership with several other colleges including Purdue Veterinary Medicine. It is estimated that more than 300 people attended the event at the Purdue Memorial Union North and South Ballrooms March 10.

In Memory – Dr. Jeffrey Hanssen (PU DVM ’71)

The College of Veterinary Medicine mourns the passing of an alumnus and longtime practitioner from Greenfield, Indiana. Dr. Jeffrey Hanssen died March 12, 2026, at Brandywine - Brickyard Healthcare Center in Greenfield. He was 71.

Beautiful Spring Lilies Pose Serious Danger to Cats

Spring weather heralds the arrival of the beautiful blooms of true lilies (Lilium sp.) and daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.). Unfortunately, many cats have been poisoned by these lovely plants. The poisoning is so severe and the possible consequences so dire (even death) that in 2021, the FDA issued this warning: “Lilies in the “true lily” and “daylily” families are very dangerous for cats. The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase. Eating just a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days. The toxin, which only affects cats, has not been identified. Dogs that eat lilies may have minor stomach upset but they don’t develop kidney failure.”

Through study abroad opportunities, Purdue’s Veterinary Technology Distance Learning program is helping students think globally

Promoting animal health is a value that transcends cultures and unites the world. That’s why there are veterinary professionals practicing in nearly every country around the globe. But access to high-quality, affordable veterinary care is far from universal — in many nations, particularly developing nations, access to veterinarians is inconsistent, and affordability is a concern all over the world. To confidently address these issues, veterinary professionals must be able to think globally. That’s why Purdue Veterinary Medicine encourages students to study abroad, including those in the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program (VTDL). “Study abroad enriches our online curriculum by bringing classroom concepts to life in a global, real-world context,” said Addison Sheldon, the college’s director of global engagement. The VTDL program offers students the option to study abroad in Guatemala, Japan and Zimbabwe by partnering with local universities and organizations.

Public Invited to Learn about Veterinary Medicine at 2026 PVM Open House April 18

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine will welcome the public for its annual Spring Open House at Lynn Hall on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the event will feature a hands-on look at the world of veterinary medicine.

Annual Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium Remains Popular in 12th Year

The enduring popularity of the annual Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium was evident again this spring as more than 125 participants turned out for the day-long continuing education program in Lynn Hall. The 12th annual symposium on Sunday, March 8, attracted attendees from Indiana and seven other states, including Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Ohio.

Ruby’s Road to Recovery

When Ruby first came to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, she was just nine months old, and her injuries were more complex than when they first appeared. Ruby is a toy poodle and over a month earlier, while playing, she jumped off a couch and fractured both of her front legs. Despite several weeks of treatment with splints and casts, her legs were not healing properly. She had surgery performed on both her front legs and received a bone graft to help speed up the healing process. With meticulous surgical aftercare and a planned series of rechecks, Ruby began her journey to recovery.