The well-being of humans, other species, and the environment are deeply interconnected, from thoughtful human-animal interactions to global biodiversity. Through research focused on mental health and equity and accessible education, the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) elevates the value of the living world and the interrelationship of humans, other species and the environment.
Guided by our commitment to social justice, ethics, and cultural responsiveness—and a belief in the power of systemic change—we drive improvements in human-animal-environment interactions. We collaborate and share our expertise with our Colorado community and worldwide, knowing that when we promote healthy human-animal-environment relationships, we improve outcomes for all.
Dr. Kevin Morris Featured Speaker for University of Denver's R1: Research with Impact Lecture Series
Dr. Kevin Morris, IHAC's Executive Director, has been selected as a speaker for the University of Denver's R1: Research with Impact Lecture Series, which highlights cutting-edge research being conducted at the DU campus. Join us on November 13, in-person on the University of Denver campus at 6:30 PM MT, to hear about the latest IHAC research from Dr. Morris!
Our amazing research team has a new publication out! It is titled, “The Presence of a Pet Dog Is Associated with a More Balanced Response to a Social Stressor.”
In this randomized control study, we examined whether a pet dog’s presence influenced healthy adults’ acute stress response by looking at self-reports, heart rate, and other biological factors such as plasma cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase. Our findings revealed that participants with their pet dogs had significantly lower heart rates, lower plasma cortisol responses, and higher salivary alpha-amylase responses than people without their dogs, indicating that the presence of a pet dog may support a healthy stress response. This study is the FIRST to suggest that dogs may support a balanced, intermediate stress response capacity.
Join Our Self-Paced Orientation to Human-Animal Interactions Course!
IHACPro's Orientation to Human-Animal Interactions professional development course is a great starting place for students to gain an introduction to the variety of applications and research in this field. It is completely self-paced, and contains five modules worth of content that includes examinations of how human-animal interactions can be incorporated into micro, mezzo, and macro career fields, the power of the human-animal bond, terminology, and practical applications.
All IHACPro offerings are consistently updated to feature the latest research in the field to ensure you are receiving the most updated best practices and science-backed concepts. Join us today! No application necessary.
We are working to improve the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment through rigorous research and scholarship focused on mental health and equity. Our research aims to understand how interactions with other species and the environment affect individual and community health and well-being, and provides new insights into the relationships between humans, animals, and the environment we share.
Our professional development programs, or IHACPro, focus on helping professionals increase their understanding of animal behavior and human-animal-environment interactions, as well as enhancing their practice working in partnership with animals. We center ethics and animal welfare in all of our educational programs, including professional development certificates, courses, webinars, and the Master of Social Work (MSW) Human-Animal-Environment Interaction certificate.
The Animals and Human Health Certificate focuses on human-animal interactions, activities, learning, and applications, including how to create and implement high-quality interaction programs.
The Canine-Assisted Intervention Specialist program provides competency-based training for human-animal interaction professionals seeking to improve their knowledge and skills working with dogs.
Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate
The Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner program provides the education, training, and supervision necessary for ethical applications in therapy practice integrating equines.
The Equine Behavior course teaches how the behavior of horses relates to their care, healthy development, and overall welfare and needs with a focus on human-horse interactions.
The Orientation to Human-Animal Interactions course introduces the connection between humans and animals and looks at micro, mezzo, and macro career applications in this field.
Our Human-Animal-Environment Interactions in Social Work (HAEI-SW) Master’s certificate, earned in tandem with a Master of Social Work (MSW), is the first of its kind in the nation and explores social justice from the perspective of humans, animals, and the environment.
“The Institute for Human-Animal Connection is exactly the answer to all among us who know that animals deserve better but who lack either the data or the training to interpret the data that would allow us to take our case to the next level.”
Marlon Reis, Colorado First Gentleman and Animal Welfare Advocate
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Our Global Impact
30+ Graduate students participate in IHAC research projects yearly.
140 MSW students trained on human-animal-environment interactions annually.
1,000+ People from six continents have participated in IHACPro courses and certificates.
Together we can strengthen the connection between people, animals, and the environment.