Human-Animal Network Host

Our Focus

Relationships between people and animals shape our everyday lives. They can help improve mental health, reduce loneliness, and enable us feel more connected. This is especially important today, when many people are feeling isolated. Our relationships with animals also impact their lives, in both good and not so good ways. We apply the term human–animal connection to describe this bigger picture.

In April 2025 we began building the foundation for a Canadian research network to better understand the human-animal connection. In April 2026 we secured over $3 million dollars to carry out this vision, with the majority awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Our network brings together researchers, community members, organizations, people with lived experience, and the animals they live and work with. Together, we are studying how humans and animals—especially dogs and to a lesser extent horses—affect each other and are turning this knowledge into action.

Our developing network follows a “One Health Social Science” approach, which aligns with Indigenous, animal welfare, and other relational ways of seeing and thinking. We are committed to doing better at considering the animals’ perspectives, as well as accounting for the influence of history, culture, and social systems.

Our Team

e have over 116 local, national, and international partners in our network. Our team is supported by a SSHRC-funded Chair in One Health & Human-Animal Connections. If you would like to get involved in our network, or just keep up-to-date with what we are up to, you can apply below to become a member (coming soon) or sign up for our newsletter here.

Have a specific question? Send us an email!

3 Goals to Build an Impactful Network Over the Next 5 Years

1. Develop and share knowledge

We will advance and share research and knowledge on how human-animal connections contribute to wellbeing, as well as the related challenges emerging in our increasingly disconnected world.

2. Engage with theory and methods

We will contribute methodological and theoretical approaches to better incorporate animals’ perspectives in understanding human-animal connections.

3. Establish a model

We will establish a model for transdisciplinary collaboration in human-animal connections research, exploring how to work effectively as a team that values knowledge beyond traditional academic perspectives, and supports student training.

Team Leaders

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Network Co-Director

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Dr. Lisa Carver, Queens U

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Network Co-Director

lEARN mORE

Dr. Darlene Chalmers, U Regina

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. Darlene Chalmers, U Regina

Network Co-Director

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Dr. Colleen Anne Dell, USask

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. Darlene Chalmers, U Regina

Network Director & Research Chair in One Health and Human-Animal Connections

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Dr. James Gillett, McMaster

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Lauren Grant, Guelph U

Network Co-Director

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Dr. Lauren Grant, Guelph U

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Lauren Grant, Guelph U

Network Co-Director

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Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Network Co-Director

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Dr. Linzi Williamson, USask

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Network Assistant Director

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Dr. Jordan Woodsworth, USask

Dr. Haorui Wu, Dalhousie U

Network Co-Director

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Dr. Haorui Wu, Dalhousie U

Network Co-Director

lEARN MORE

Co-Investigators

Adam Stibbards, Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology

Alexandra M. Zidenberg, Université de Montréal

Alexandra Protopopova, The University of British Columbia

Andy Adler, Carleton University

Angela Fernandez, University of Toronto

Basem Gohar, University of Guelph

Camille Bellet, University of Manchester

Carolyn J. Walsh, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Chad Danyluck, Carleton University

Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, York University

Christine Y. Tardif-Williams, Brock University

Corinne Syrnyk, St. Mary's University - Calgary

Elizabeth Mumford, University of Surrey

Emily Bray, University of Arizona

Evan L. MacLean, University of Arizona

Holly A. Graham, University of Saskatchewan

Jennifer W. Applebaum, University of Florida

Juliette Di Francesco, Université de Montréal

Kerri E. Rodriguez, University of Arizona

Laurie McDuffee, University of Prince Edward Island

Lori Kogan, Colorado State University

Marie-Jose Enders, Open Universiteit

Megan K. Mueller, Tufts University

Melanie J. Rock, University of Calgary

Michael Yellow Bird, University of Manitoba

Nancy A. Poole, Centre of Excellence for Women's Health

Nancy R. Gee, Virginia Commonwealth University

Nieky van Veggel, Anglia Ruskin University

Patricia Pendry, Washington State University

Philip S. Arkow, University of Florida

Robert J. Losey, University of Alberta

Rochelle Stevenson, Thompson Rivers University

Sandra L. Bosacki, Brock University

Sara Packull-McCormick, Wilfrid Laurier University

Sharon L. Acoose, First Nations University of Canada

Sherry H. Stewart, Dalhousie University

Simon Y. Gadbois, Dalhousie University

Tiffani J. Howell, La Trobe University

Ulrich C. Teucher, University of Saskatchewan

Valerie Caron, University of Saskatchewan

Collaborators

Co-Investigators

Alexis (Lexi) Rowsell, Community member

Alisa McArthur, St, Mary's University

Amanda J. Plante, University of Saskatchewan

Anna Jack-Waugh, University of West Scotland

Ardra L. Cole, Mount Saint Vincent University

Aubrey H. Fine, California State Polytechnic University

Barbara Fornssler, University of Saskatchewan

Benjamin D.B. Carey, University of Saskatchewan

Camille Xinmei Rousseau, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Caroline Faucher, University of Newcastle

Carolyn Doi, University of Saskatchewan

Catherine A. Beaupre, University of Saskatchewan

Christina Chandler, Align Canine Training Inc.

Clive D.L. Wynne, Arizona State University

Daniel C. Thibodeau, AUMEAMUS Service Dogs

Donna Gilchrist, Hard Knox Talks

Erin Wasson, Wasson Counselling and Consulting

Hafsah Syed, University of Calgary

Holly A. McKenzie, University of Saskatchewan

Holly E. Flett, Community Member

James Stempien, University of Saskatchewan

Jennifer L. Koehl, Pennsylvania State University

Larry Laliberte, Knowledge Keeper, Community Member

Lee E. Niel, University of Guelph

Leesa K. Fawcett, York University

Loa Gordon, McMaster University

Louise Ritchie, University of West Scotland

Michele Whitney, Heart & Science: Center for Grief, Equity & Human-Animal Connection

Paul G. de Groot, Community Member

Poppy Wilson, Horse Medicine Equine Assisted Wellness

Renata Roma, PAWSitive Connections Lab

Roberta J. Campbell-Chudoba, University of Saskatchewan

Sarah May Lindsay, University of Western Ontario

Sherri C. Gordon, Community Member

Simon Metcalfe, Community Member

Stacy J.R. Wallace, Correctional Service Canada

Timothy Kang, University of Saskatchewan

Todd A. Ramsum, Community Member

Wendy Rib, St. Petersburg College

Partners

Co-Investigators

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals

Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families

AUDEAMUS Service Dogs

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

Canadian Institute of Animal-Assisted Interventions

Community Veterinary Outreach

Correctional Service of Canada

Equine International

International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations

Mayo Clinic

Meadow Lake Tribal Council

Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation

One Health Commission

Provincial Association of Transition Houses and Services of Saskatchewan

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Save Rez Dogs

St. John Ambulance - National

St. John Ambulance - Saskatchewan

The Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services

Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care

Post-Doctoral Fellows

MacKenzie McKeown, PDF and Research Manager, University of Saskatchewan

More PDFs to be announced soon!

Students

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Associates

Alisa Houshmand, Research Assistant, University of Saskatchewan

Bindu Yadav, Scholarship, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan

More to be announced soon!

Associates

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Associates

To Be Announced

Our Roles Defined

Co-Director

Co-investigator

Our co-directors are individuals who share intellectual leadership with our project director, assistant director, and other co-directors. A co-director plays a significant role in planning and conducting the research and research-related activity. While the project director and host institution are accountable for coordinating the grant’s overall financial administrative aspects, a co-director can have some responsibility for financial aspects of the research. Ref

Co-investigator

Our co-investigators are individuals who make a significant contribution to the intellectual direction of the research or research-related activity, who play a significant role in the conduct of the research or research-related activity, and who may also have some responsibility for financial aspects of the research. Ref

Collaborator

Co-investigator

Collaborator

Our collaborators are individuals who may make a significant contribution to the intellectual direction of the research or research-related activity, and who may play a significant role in the conduct of the research or research-related activity. Ref

Partner

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Collaborator

Our partner organizations actively contribute in a meaningful way to the success of our network. Our partner organizations support the activities of our formal partnership by sharing in intellectual leadership or providing expertise. Our partner organizations also provide cash and/or in-kind contributions. Ref

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Our post-doctoral fellows are recent PhD graduates and are gaining advanced research, training and mentorship experience.

Student

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Our undergraduate and graduate level students are working as research assistants and/or receiving a scholarship for their work with the network.

Early Outputs

Article

Paper published based on our grant application

Dell, C., Pavelich, A., Woodsworth, J., Mumford, E., Gillett, J., Wu, H., Carver, L. (2026). One Health Zooeyia in Our Asocial Age: A Transdisciplinary and Systems Approach to the Human-animal Bond. CABI One Health.

Access here

Call for Papers

Special issue of SAGE Journal of Public Health Research co-edited by network members.

Call open until September 30, 20206.

"Companion Animals and Public Health: Reciprocal Relationships Beyond Anthropocentrism"

Learn more here

Human-Animal Connections Network

Partnering to reshape society's relationships with animals.

Our Focus

Our Team

3 Goals to Build an Impactful Network Over the Next 5 Years

1. Develop and share knowledge

2. Engage with theory and methods

3. Establish a model

Team Leaders

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. Lisa Carver, Queens U

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. Darlene Chalmers, U Regina

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. Darlene Chalmers, U Regina

Dr. Colleen Anne Dell, USask

Dr. John Tyler Binfet, UBC Okanogan

Dr. Darlene Chalmers, U Regina

Dr. James Gillett, McMaster

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Lauren Grant, Guelph U

Dr. Lauren Grant, Guelph U

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Lauren Grant, Guelph U

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Linzi Williamson, USask

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Angela McGinnis, U Regina

Dr. Jordan Woodsworth, USask

Dr. Haorui Wu, Dalhousie U

Dr. Haorui Wu, Dalhousie U

Dr. Haorui Wu, Dalhousie U

Dr. Haorui Wu, Dalhousie U

Dr. Haorui Wu, Dalhousie U

Our Team Members

Co-Investigators

Co-Investigators

Co-Investigators

Collaborators

Co-Investigators

Co-Investigators

Partners

Co-Investigators

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Students

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Associates

Associates

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Associates

Our Roles Defined

Co-Director

Co-investigator

Co-investigator

Co-investigator

Co-investigator

Co-investigator

Collaborator

Co-investigator

Collaborator

Partner

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Collaborator

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Student

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Early Outputs

Article

Call for Papers