Developing standards for research in Animal-Assisted Services (AAS), Human-Animal Interactions (HAI), and the Human-Animal Bond (HAB): An international and interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

Background: The fields of Animal-Assisted Services (AAS), Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) and the Human-Animal Bond (HAB), over recent decades, have expanded in practice and research. However, acceptance of the area as one worthy of robust scientific enquiry has been limited. This reluctance is due to a range of issues including inconsistent use of methodological terminology and fidelity, publication bias, and paucity of a collaborative approach to addressing the research-practitioner gap. The complex nature and unique characteristics of many AAS/HAI/HAB necessitate specific considerations in the planning, execution, and reporting stages of research, particularly in respect of ethical considerations concerning humans and animals involved and/or impacted. Methods: Given these concerns, the International Association for Human-Animal Organizations (IAHAIO) initiated and disseminated a call for an international, collaborative process to develop minimum standards for research in the field. The current article describes the latter nearly 3-year process – which involved over 50 researchers, practitioners, and educators – resulting in the 2025 publication “Minimum standards for research involving people and/or animals in the field of AAS, HAI and/or the HAB”, referred to as The Standards . The latter living, iterative, collaborative document is positioned within a One Welfare approach, taking a dynamic and relational systems approach to the interconnections between involved humans, non-human animals, and the wider physical and social environments. A systems approach is novel in the field and underscores the paramount importance of ensuring the welfare and well-being of humans, non-humans, and the environment, as all aspects are intertwined and can affect research validity, practice efficacy, and ethical stance. Results and conclusion: This article summarises the key contents and objectives of The Standards and discusses their relevance within current academic, professional, and educational perspectives, and extracts meaning and implications for the field. Hence it provides avenues for future research, discussion, and further engagement of researchers, practitioners, and educators in improving understanding of and engagement in AAS/HAI/HAB.