Mars supports int'l meet on research into social benefits of keeping pets

The conference Better public health with pets makes a key contribution to the debate.

The conference Better public health with pets taking place on  1st  June 2009 aims to show that there is scope to develop and improve medical and care services by involving pets. With better knowledge among politicians and decision-makers, the contribution of pets to a healthier population could increase considerably. The conference is one example of the lively debate running throughout the Western World about the positive effects of spending time with pets.

The conference will be addressing fundamental physiological explanations for why people feel better when they have pets around them, and why pets are important in a care context. It will also be presenting practical case studies, including horse riding therapy in Germany for autistic children. Dennis Turner, President of IAHAIO, will be providing an international review of current research and the very latest issues under discussion.

Better public health with pets is the pre-conference to the 12th International IAHAIO (International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations) Conference on Human-Animal Interaction, to be held in Stockholm on 1-4 July 2010. IAHAIO holds an international conference every three years – one of the leading occasions to find out about new research in this rapidly growing area.

Mars has maintained a long and close partnership with IAHAIO, supporting the international conferences since their launch in 1990.  Ahead of the IAHAIO conference in 2010, Mars is working in close collaboration with IAHAIO through WALTHAM®, the World’s Leading Authority on Petcare and Nutrition, providing the Science behind the brands of Mars Petcare.  WALTHAM® is a division of Mars, Incorporated.

About Mars Petcare
The Petcare segment of Mars Incorporated is the leading petcare manufacturer in the world, with 89 facilities in 21 countries. Headquartered in Brussels, Mars Petcare produces brands including PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR® and ROYAL CANIN®.

Mars Petcare is a segment of Mars Incorporated, a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employing 70,000 associates in more than 70 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world’s largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six segments that produce some of the world’s leading brands. In addition to the petcare brands above, popular Mars, Incorporated brands include: Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANELTM MX, SERAMIS®, and COCOAPROTM.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com

About IAHAIO
IAHAIO, the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations, was founded in 1990 to gather together national associations and related organizations interested in advancing the understanding and appreciation of the link between animals and humans.

The Society is registered in Washington, USA with representatives from four sub-committees co-ordinating membership, conferences, projects, and finance from other associations around the globe.

The Association’s main role is to provide a helpful co-ordinating structure between all member countries. As worldwide interest in and support for this young science increases, IAHAIO’s role as a communication link is essential to convey the latest research findings and encourage further projects. The next international IAHAIO conference will be held in Stockholm on 1-4 July 2010 and the preconference, Better public health with pets, will be held on 1 June 2009 in Stockholm.