About

Leanne Nieforth, MS, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on the human-animal partnership, particularly within the context of the human-animal bond. She is involved in the Human-Animal Partnerships and Interactions Lab at the Center for the Human-Animal Bond, contributing to research that explores various aspects of human-animal interactions.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Computer Science
• Medicine
• Business
• Biology
• Virology
• Internal medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Epistemology
• Developmental psychology
• Psychiatry

Selected publications

• Educator Perspectives on the Integration of Visiting Dogs Into Schools

  Contemporary School Psychology · 2026-03-30

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Many schools are seeking new and innovative ways to promote a healthy and vibrant school culture. One program that continues to grow in popularity is visiting dogs, or dogs that are trained to accompany their handlers into facilities with the purpose of improving the wellbeing of those with whom they come into contact. Though these programs are becoming more and more common in schools, research is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify the perspectives of educators related to the potential for and actual impact of the integration of visiting dogs in schools. Using both an online survey and focus groups, educator reflections related to their prior experiences and suggestions for future dog-visitation programs were captured. A total of 31 individuals with and without experience with visiting dogs completed the survey and a total of 19 individuals with experience with visiting dogs participated in the focus groups. Results suggest educators were supportive of visiting dogs. Both students and teachers appeared to benefit from interacting with visiting dogs and their handlers. Benefits included social connection, improved focus, and an understanding of safe human-animal interactions. Educators indicated that being informed about the program and being involved in planning and decision-making would enhance effectiveness for their students. In particular, they felt that students would benefit from predictable routine visits and autonomy in visiting dog interactions. Taken together, findings can be incorporated into visiting dog program planning for safe, collaborative, and effective implementation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Guidance for protocol content and reporting of dog-assisted interventions in randomised controlled trials: explanation and elaboration of the SPIRIT 2025 and CONSORT 2025 extensions

  BMC Medical Research Methodology · 2026-05-14

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Dog-assisted interventions (DAIs) to improve human health and wellbeing are increasingly implemented in health, care and educational settings. However, the quality and consistency of reporting of trial design and findings remains poor. Current trial reporting guidelines do not adequately address the unique methodological, ethical, and welfare considerations involved in DAI randomised controlled trials (RCTs). To improve the design and transparent reporting of these trials, we developed SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) 2025 and CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2025 extensions for DAI trials. The current paper presents the explanation and elaboration (E&E) for these extensions. METHODS: Using the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) methodological framework, a four-phase consensus approach was conducted: (1) a systematic review; (2) three-round Delphi survey; (3) expert consensus workshops, and (4) checklist finalisation. This E&E paper complements the DAI extensions checklist (reported elsewhere) by providing item-by-item rationales, guidance, and illustrative examples from DAI trials to demonstrate good reporting. RESULTS: The four-phase consensus approach resulted in 69 extensions for DAI RCT reporting (35 applied to SPIRIT; 34 applied to CONSORT). This paper explains the purpose of each extension item and highlights best practice for reporting, based on examples from published DAI protocols and trial reports. CONCLUSION: These DAI extensions provide guidance for the design and reporting of high-quality and transparent DAI RCTs. This E&E paper supports the application of these extensions by offering detailed explanations and examples. Adoption by researchers, journal editors, funders, and ethics committees may enhance the credibility and impact of DAI research.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A dogs-at-work program in a veterinary college: promoting workplace wellbeing and resilience

  Frontiers in Psychology · 2026-03-26

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Dogs-at-work (DAW) programs may be able to take advantage of the benefits of human-animal interactions to support the resilience and wellbeing of employees in high stress workplaces, but research in this area is limited. Consequently, employers are often hesitant to implement these programs. To expand our understanding and support implementation of these programs, this study uses the Resilience Portfolio Model to explore how wellbeing and resilience differ between veterinary staff, based on participation in a long-standing dogs-at-work program. An online survey consisting of open-ended questions about participants' perceptions and experiences with the program, and validated measures of mental health and work-related wellbeing, was distributed to faculty and staff eligible to participate in the DAW program. Results demonstrated that the 23 DAW participants and 65 non-participants were comparable across nearly all wellbeing measures, in alignment with population norms. Qualitative coding revealed four themes for perceptions and experiences with the DAW program and participating dogs: (1) an increase in social interactions, (2) improvements in mental health, (3) opportunities for physical activity, and (4) recommendations for program logistics. In line with the Resilience Portfolio Model, meaning-making, regulatory, interpersonal, and environmental strengths were all represented in the findings. Taken together, results indicated that veterinary staff perceived benefits from interacting with dogs at work and may draw resilience-supporting strengths from these interactions. Results also highlighted practical opportunities for program improvement, including equitable access and long-term program management needs.

  PublisherDOI

• Positive, Negative, and Neutral Outcomes of Pets in the Workplace: A Systematic Review

  Anthrozoös · 2025-10-24 · 1 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Strides toward making equine-assisted services an accessible recreational therapy through inclusive helmet design

  American Journal of Recreation Therapy · 2025-09-01

  article

  Riding or being around horses is one form of therapeutic recreation. For safety, helmets are required by most practitioners, if not strongly encouraged. Yet, current helmet designs for equine activities remain largely inaccessible and noninclusive, raising significant safety concerns within equine-assisted services (EASs). This study examines the experiences of EAS providers (N = 201) in fitting helmets for clients, many of whom have diverse access needs. A secondary analysis of deidentified survey responses was conducted. Findings demonstrate systemic barriers related to helmet sizing, fit, and compatibility with hairstyles and assistive technologies, such as cochlear implants. These challenges underscore the need for an inclusive helmet design that addresses bodily diversity. Drawing on the Adaptive Synergy framework, adaptive technologies from other sports may offer timely and novel pathways for decreasing barriers and increasing accessibility. Furthermore, companies are encouraged to include those lacking access to the industry in the conversation to gain user involvement, which may increase innovation, accessibility, and end-user engagement. Through the intersection of design, access, and autonomy, this research contributes to broader debates about how exclusionary practices in safety equipment perpetuate marginalization and stigmatization of disabled persons within sport and therapeutic recreation.

  PublisherDOI

• Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in EAS: A microcosm of non-traditional education

  Human-Animal Interactions · 2025-06-18

  articleOpen access

  Abstract The current global mental health crisis highlights a need for a focus on culturally relevant and accessible mental health and education services. One such sector is incorporating horses into mental health and learning interventions. The HERD Institute, an organization within this sector, offers education for practitioners in both equine facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) and equine facilitated learning (EFL). The HERD Institute centers diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within the practice of EFL and EFP. The objective of this study was to explore mental health clinician-based experiences and education-based practitioner experiences related to DEIB and systems of oppression within the HERD Institute’s learning environment as it then relates to participants’ own clinical or educational practice. Using a participatory action research framework, conversational, semi-structured interviews were completed. Interview responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: (1) identity and self-reflection with horses, (2) awareness of scope of practice, and (3) being in relationship. These findings elucidate the importance of explicit education of DEIB, the complexity of self-reflection and the innate desire to be in relationship with others, horses and the environment. The HERD Institute serves as a microcosm for other types of educational spaces evidencing a need to be intentional with DEIB education and practice.

  PublisherDOI

• Demands and resources of a long-standing bring-your-dog-to-work program: a constant comparative analysis

  Frontiers in Public Health · 2025-06-10 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Introduction: Given the evidence that companion animals may provide social and emotional support to their human counterparts, some companies have begun offering bring-your-dog-to-work programs in an effort to reduce employee strain and improve workplace wellness outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how a long-standing bring-your-dog-to-work program at a large midwestern university veterinary college, the Dogs at Work Program, impacted the workplace well-being of program participants. Methods: = 11 staff and faculty members who participated in the program completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences. Interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative technique. Results: Constant comparative analysis revealed four themes situated within a job demands-resources theoretical framework: (1) Dogs providing emotional support as a resource, (2) Dogs providing social support as a resource, (3) Increased responsibility as a demand, and (4) Lack of adherence to program rules as a demand. Results indicated that bringing pet dogs into the workplace was viewed positively because the dogs provided an impetus for pleasant breaks from stressful work, improved work-life balance, and helped to develop and enhance social relationships. On the other hand, participants also mentioned that dogs could be a distraction from workplace productivity, especially if they were poorly behaved. Discussion: Well-enforced policies for dog activity and behavior are critical to ensure that dogs at work do not diminish productivity or upset some employees. Nevertheless, bring-your-dog-to-work-programs appear to show promise in terms of reducing strain and may be linked to improved mental health outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Anthropomorphizing with Critical Reflexivity: The Danger and Potential of Anthropomorphizing in Equine-Facilitated Learning and Psychotherapy

  Animals · 2025-02-19 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  This article used an intersectional feminist analytic framework to theorize the role of anthropomorphizing human-equine interactions in the HERD Institute's modality for practitioners of Equine-facilitated learning and equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFL/P). EFL/P is a traditionally human-centered activity which leverages anthropomorphizing equine behavior and emotions to better understand human selves and dynamics by assigning human emotions to equids and human-equine interactions. Intersectional feminist theories were used to interpret 11 in-depth interviews with EFL/P practitioners. The data analysis identified anthropomorphizing behaviors which were used as the foundation for the creation of two vignettes. The vignettes present different ethical dilemmas of anthropomorphizing that may impact equine welfare in EFL/P explicitly discussed by interlocutors. One vignette examines interpreting and assigning human injustices within equine behavior (e.g., resource guarding) and the second engages with human interpretations of equine choice versus consent in an EFL/P session. The vignettes demonstrate how anthropomorphizing may be used to develop an understanding of human dynamics or equine welfare. The researchers suggest that the use of critical reflexivity when anthropomorphizing may increase attention toward equine welfare in EFL/P settings. As such, it may be beneficial to consider the development and refinement of EFL/P training/certification and continuing education.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Can Pets Prevent Suicide? The Impact of Companion Animals on Suicidality: Scoping Review and Clinical Recommendations

  Healthcare · 2025-11-26

  reviewOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: Suicide is widely recognized as an international health epidemic despite significant efforts for prevention. Various psychosocial factors can impact an individual's suicide risk. This scoping review explored the current literature on the impact of companion animals (i.e., pets) on suicidality. METHODS: A scoping review was completed utilizing PRISMA guidelines and the PRISMA Scoping Review Extension to assess the scope of existing research on this topic. The extracted studies were reviewed by a team of research and mental health professionals to develop themes and clinical recommendations, ensuring a direct bridge from research findings to practical application. RESULTS: The search yielded 1948 articles for title and abstract review, of which 64 were retained for full-text review, with 30 meeting the inclusion criteria. Included studies were reviewed by the research team, and data were extracted and discussed. Themes were identified as they relate to suicidality and summarized as representing protective factors against suicide, risk factors for suicide, unclear/inconclusive impact on suicidality, or no impact on suicidality. CONCLUSION: The results of this review provide insight into the complex ways in which pets can contribute to both protective and risk factors for suicidality. Understanding this impact can inform clinical practice and suicide prevention efforts.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• “There’s no blueprint for this kind of loss”: Resilience following the death of an equine in an equine-assisted services program

  Death Studies · 2025-05-28

  articleSenior author

  For practitioners involved in equine-assisted services (EAS), the death of a horse can be a significant life disruption. This study aims to understand the communicative resilience processes that equine-assisted service practitioners express following the death of an equine in their program. This study analyzed secondary qualitative data from a cross-sectional online survey completed by 84 participants. Analysis revealed practitioners engaged in all five communicative resilience processes following the death of an equine in their program. This research extends current resilience research by examining how individuals engage in these processes in the context of equine death. Practical implications are offered for practitioners to use these processes as a framework following the death of an equine and utilize this in their program to foster resilience. Suggestions for future research examining resilience in the context of other animal assisted service organizations and companion animal death are offered.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Marguerite E. O’Haire

  University of Arizona

  17 shared

• Sarah C. Leighton

  9 shared

• Kerri E. Rodriguez

  University of Arizona

  6 shared

• Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  4 shared

• Elizabeth Craig

  North Carolina State University

  3 shared

• A. J. Schwichtenberg

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  3 shared

• Elise A. Miller

  University of Arizona

  3 shared

• Melissa Winkle

  3 shared