ABSTRACT
As the COVID-19 pandemic affected people's mental health, many people turned to their companion animals for comfort. Reports from around the world showed how dogs helped to take people's minds off negative thoughts, alleviated loneliness, and provided a sense of purpose. Following the easing of restrictions, schools and other educational settings increasingly focused on children and young people's well-being as a priority. Given the existing evidence, which suggests that dogs can make a positive contribution to this, it is not surprising to see the increasing interest in school dogs. In 2022, one online insurance company composed a Dog Friendly Index comprising 51 countries, based on a range of metrics, including the number of dog-friendly hotels and vets, data from the Animal Protection Index rating (e.g., prohibition of animal suffering, and recognition of animal sentience) and animal rights legislation. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
