Love in Cold Blood
Are Reptile Owners Emotionally Attached to Their Pets
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2162292 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Celia Haddon (University of Lincoln), Oliver H P Burman (0000-0003-0122-1190, University of Lincoln), Phil Assheton (0000-0002-0707-3427, University of Lincoln), Anna Wilkinson (0000-0002-4500-0181, University of Lincoln) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 739-749 |
| Publication date | 2021-09-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Anthrozoös (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0892-7936 • E-ISSN: 1753-0377 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/08927936.2021.1926711 |
| OpenAlex | W3155350076 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 44 |
A growing number of reptiles are being kept as companion animals in private households, and this has resulted in a concomitant rise in welfare concerns. Poor welfare has been linked to a lack of the emotional attachment in other groups. The aim of this study was to investigate owner attachment to pet reptiles, grouped as lizards, snakes, and tortoises. The Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) questionnaire was administered online to a self-selected sample of 2,992 adult reptile owners, including 1,281 owners of both reptiles and dogs. The latter responded first for reptiles and then for dogs. Findings revealed evidence of an emotional attachment toward reptiles that was within the range of those observed in traditional pets. In addition, owners had a stronger attachment to lizards than snakes or tortoises and were also more attached to snakes than tortoises. Owners with both dogs and reptiles showed significantly higher attachment scores to their dogs than to reptiles. However, attachment scores for dogs were higher than those found in other studies. This work reveals strong evidence for a human–reptile attachment and suggests that instances of poor welfare may not result from a lack of attachment but rather a lack of knowledge
Animal welfare · Animal-assisted therapy · Biology · HUBzero · Pet therapy · Veterinary medicine · Welfare · Zoology · Animal and Plant Science Education · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Ecology
Human-animal bonds and mental health
The Brief Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale
On crocodiles and turtles. Stereotypes, emotional tendencies and implications for conservation
Laps Sa
Matching Bonds
Exploring Emotional Attachment to Non-Traditional Pets Using the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (Laps)
Bootstrap Methods and their Application
Influence of Companion Animals on the Physical and Psychological Health of Older People
Sampling hard to reach populations
The Malicious Serpent
Mice
The Morality of the Reptile "Pet" Trade
Gender Differences in Human–Animal Interactions
Animals and Attachment Theory
Attachment, Exploration, and Separation
Psychometric Evaluation of the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (Laps)
Attitudes Toward Animals
"Benefits derived from companion animals, and the use of the term "attachment
Pet owner behaviors and attachment to yard versus house dogs
Pet attachment and personality type
Factors affecting the Human Attribution of Emotions toward Animals
| Unique citing works | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,5 |
| Citation span | 2022 - 2026 (5) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 6 |