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Paws on Campus wellbeing programme launched
"Interacting with dogs can have a range of benefits for students from reducing stress to increasing positive mood." - Professor Jo Williams

Edinburgh University’s canine-assisted programme aims to improve students’ mental health.

The University of Edinburgh has developed a new wellbeing programme that aims to provide support to students who are experiencing anxiety and stress. Paws on Campus will combine clinical psychology with veterinary science in a series of structured activity sessions.

The canine-assisted sessions aim to improve mental health as well as promoting an understanding of animal welfare. They are being delivered in collaboration with Canine Concern Scotland’s Therapets Service that will provide registered dogs and their handlers.

The programme is particularly suited to students who enjoy spending time with companion animals or those who are missing pets from home.

Professor Jo Williams, one of the creators of the programme said: “Interacting with dogs can have a range of benefits for students from reducing stress to increasing positive mood. 

“We have developed Paws on Campus to meet the needs of students by co-producing the sessions with the students themselves. Each session has a key focus, based on psychological research, to enhance wellbeing and provide each participant with skills that they can use to support their mental health. 

“Interacting with the dogs is an essential part of the programme and students also learn about canine welfare and compassion to self and others.” 

The Paws on Campus programme is the first of its kind in the UK, and builds on research conducted by the University of Washington and University of British Columbia. 

Following a number of trial sessions at the end of 2022, individuals can be referred to the programme via the university’s student wellbeing service.

Izzy Adams, a student who took part in the trial said: “The sessions flow really well and it has been great learning the various grounding and awareness techniques that you can also do in your own time. I found it made mindfulness – something that I struggled with before - so much easier when there is a dog to focus on.”

Professor Williams added: “We are hoping that the project will create a framework for university campus dog programmes that can be used nationally and internationally.”

More information about Paws on Campus can be found on the University of Edinburgh's website.

Image (C) University of Edinburgh

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."