There must be many of them out there but I suspect that all too often they are not heard or unaware?
If you live in the jungle studying lizardcrap and have a variable internet connection, I suppose it may be hard to keep track of stupid laws back home.
Some scientists in Europe at least are not completely corrupted and will sometimes work for free even!
Check out http://www.petcare.org.uk/
The british pet care trust. they produced a pdf with some scientific merit which may be useful to you, Pets are good for you.

Regards
oby

Click link to download a copy, below few extraits
http://www.petcare.org.uk/images/stories/pdfs/goodforyou.pdf?phpMyAdmin=5ec76861e4d05edf1ceb0f372c7030ff


"In a further study by A.H. Kidd and B.M. Fieldmann, elderly pet-owners were said to act with a greater sense of responsibility; they were regarded as more reliable or dependable, lacked egotism and self-centredness. Most were more helpful and benevolent and were more independent and self-sufficient than non pet-owners. "

"No wonder nearly half the population of Britain owns a pet. They help strengthen relations within a family, they bridge the generation gap and they share their loyalty with everyone — and without judgment."

"Researchers have also found evidence that attachment to a pet — rather than just being in a household where there is an animal — may be a particular benefit to children. Dr Nienke Endenburg, of the University of Utrecht, Netherlands told a 2002 conference organised by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), “Being attached to a pet is related to positive emotional functioning and the positive self-esteem of children is enhanced by owning a pet.”
Pets are good for you - PDF download

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