Conference to give proof of animal healing powers
Owning or just petting a cat or dog can help lower ones blood pressure and even help a child with a chronic illness, MSU researchers have found.Lana Kaiser, a professor of nursing who organized the conference, said these findings have been accepted as truth for years, but the science to back them up has not been discovered until now.Since the creation of the Human Animal Bond Initiative - an effort by MSU faculty and community members to uncover the healing powers of animals - was created last year, MSU and nationwide researchers have been hard at work.Their findings will be presented at a conference Friday and Saturday.The two-day event, Cuddle a Critter and Call Me in the Morning: The Science Behind Our Relationships With Animals, will be held at the Michigan Athletic Club, 2900 Hannah Blvd., and the Life Sciences Building on campus.Linda Spence, an assistant professor of nursing, will introduce speakers at the conference, including Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University.