• Question: If you have any pets, do they help you with your research?

    Asked by erinwaterfield123 on 8 Jan 2018.
    • Photo: Suzanne Harvey

      Suzanne Harvey answered on 8 Jan 2018:

      I would actually say my research helps me with my pets! I have a pet chameleon, so he communicates through the colour of his skin, and I can tell if he is stressed or happy by looking at him. Working with wild animals has helped me to create an environment that he is happy in, because most tropical species cannot be domesticated like cats and dogs.

    • Photo: Alyssa Alcorn

      Alyssa Alcorn answered on 8 Jan 2018:

      No pets 🙁 I work too many hours and travel too much for it to be fair for me to have a pet. I couldn’t give it enough care. The closest I have is the Neko Atsume cat collector app, which I annoyingly play with on the train on my way to do research!

    • Photo: Freya Wilson

      Freya Wilson answered on 9 Jan 2018:

      I had a cat when I lived with my mum. She used to sit on my work all the time and ‘help’ by keeping it warm for me… I find animals are an excellent de-stressing tool. Unfortunately I can’t have pets in rented accommodation 🙁

    • Photo: Daniel Mills

      Daniel Mills answered on 10 Jan 2018:

      I used to have two cats, who I took home after we had finished the research we were doing with them on how certain smells might help calm them. So yes they are a good help. I also use other family members like my wife and children in some of my work.

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