COLUMBIA — Researchers at MU want to know whether people who foster pets on a short-term basis receive the same benefits as pet owners.
They said they will test the effects by matching older adults with shelter dogs until the dogs are placed in more permanent homes.
The study is through the College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction.
MU said the study is being funded by the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, a division of Mars Incorporated, and the International Society for Anthrozoology.
Rebecca Johnson is leading the research. She said studies show that pet owners are more likely to exercise and be socially involved. But older adults are hesitant to adopt dogs out of fear they will outlive them, among other reasons.