The Human-Animal Wellness Collaboratory (HAWC) is a non-profit research organization within the Department of Psychology at Monmouth University. We are a research lab from the Department of Psychology. Although we are not a club per se, we are still invested in helping students discover passions for the welfare of animals.
We conduct both in-house research evaluating training, enrichment, and the humane use of animals in teaching as well as with off-site at collaborating animal shelters and zoological facilities.
We are also involved in community outreach initiatives that aim to improve the well-being of both animals and the people that care for them.
Some of our current research projects that we’re currently working on include: working in shelters to study the welfare of shelter dogs and working at Six Flags to study baboon and sea lion behavior and cognition.
We also are studying dog and owner behavior as well as play and aggression in dog parks, and working with animal rescue workers to study compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress. Most of our “events” revolve around our research, meetings, and presentations.
Meetings are held in the Psychology Department (new HAWC lab coming soon!) in the first floor of Howard Hall every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. For further information, contact me or our Director, Lindsay Mehrkam, Ph.D.
PHOTO TAKEN by Ray Romanski
