Understanding your companion
by Courtney McLain, posted Oct. 20, 2008
The MU Sinclair School of Nursing and the MU College of Veterinary Medicine have collaborated to start the Human-Companion Animal Interaction course. This course astonishes its students every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Adams Conference Center in the vet school.
Dr. Rebecca Johnson, Charlotte McKenney and other professors created this course to teach a wide range of students how companions affect people’s lives.
“We originally started this class for nursing students,” Johnson said. “I never imagined we would have the diversity we have now.”
Johnson started teaching this class last semester and only had 16 students. Now, there are 68 students enrolled in Dr. Johnson’s class. Among those students, more than 15 majors and interest areas are represented. Some of these majors are pre-nursing, pre-vet, parks and recreation, and even political science.
“All students need the information this class provides to them,” Johnson said. “Students need to understand the impact pets have on people and the economy.”
According to Dr. Johnson, more than 70 percent of households in the U.S. with children have a pet. Pet owners will spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars to purchase the pet. After the pet is home, there is the cost for food, grooming supplies and any other essentials for the animal.
Dr. Johnson brings in researchers from all over the U.S. to inform her students of the severity of the roles animals can play in people’s lives.
“I really enjoy when we have guest speakers in the class,” said senior Jason Neri. “They are interesting and informative.”
One exceptionally special researcher is Dr. Audrey Fine. He has more than 30 years of experience providing therapy to troubled children by using animals. His program is called “Afternoons with Puppy.” Dr. Fine is unlike other guest speakers because he is the editor of the textbook used for the course.
“It is a unique opportunity for the students when Dr. Fine comes to do a presentation,” Johnson said. “The students have him sign their textbook and relate to him on a different level.”
The Human-Companion Animal Interaction course is a unique learning opportunity for students who take advantage of it.
