Practical Human Behaviour Change for the Health and Welfare of Animals

Practical guidance to improving animal wellbeing by changing human behaviour

Practical Human Behaviour Change for the Health and Welfare of Animals is the practical guide to helping people change behaviour for the welfare, wellbeing, and health of their animals. Grounded in evidence, this book enables readers to understand some of the underlying causes of human behaviour towards animals and deliver the crucial techniques and skills to help people make needed behavior changes. These techniques, including the use of the Stages of Change model, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and skilled Active Listening, support practical interventions for owner’s behaviors such as those around diet, exercise, weight control, and breeding; the text also supports professionals through difficult conversations such as euthanasia, hoarding, and giving up ownership. These approaches have been found to improve outcomes for animals as well as engagement with workers by owners. This way of working also reduces psychological burden on workers and help with job satisfaction.

To aid in reader comprehension, Practical Human Behaviour Change for the Health and Welfare of Animals is complemented by case examples, analogies, and exercises. A supporting website provides worksheets and resources to further support the reader’s learning and help put skills into practice.

Written by a highly qualified author with more than 20 years of experience in human behaviour change for animal welfare, the book discusses topics such as:

• What helps people change—and what doesn’t—covering traditional techniques that are less likely to help, and alternative methods that have been proven to support behavioral change in others
• Principles and key ideas underpinning motivational interviewing and active listening skills for motivational interviewing
• Structuring conversations with a focus, developing understanding of the owner’s situation and experiences, working with ambivalence, and supporting people to prepare for change
• Preparing for action via goal setting and action planning, supporting people to move into making changes and to maintain change in the long-term

Practical Human Behaviour Change for the Health and Welfare of Animals is a valuable resource for veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and animal care providers; it is also highly useful for animal welfare and sanctuary workers, animal rehoming workers, and individuals working in health, environmental, and trading standards where animal welfare issues are encountered.

Bronwen Williams, RMN, BSc, PGCHE, MSc, is a UK Registered Mental Health Nurse and independent trainer and educator. Her courses include motivational interviewing for NHS and Social Care staff as well as animal welfare workers. She has an interest in the impact of animals on human mental health. She has worked in the NHS over four decades and previously for 30 years as a volunteer welfare officer for an equine welfare charity, all in the UK.