The following is a review of the literature on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) as a potential treatment for US service members with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD). EAP is a relatively new and undeclared psychotherapeutic technique that presents limitless opportunities for holistic growth in patients who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who have not achieved an improvement in their quality of life as a result of other conventional treatments. Due to its heterogenous nature, PTSD directly dismantles the brain’s reward circuitry pathway, altering the individual’s capacity for emotional resolution. For US veterans suffering from PTSD who have not received palpable improvements through traditional talk therapies, EAP is a treatment for emotional vulnerability and communal reintegration when used in conjunction with techniques of attachment theory and cognitive-behavioral theory. Previous studies show an uptick in interpersonal trust and an alleviation of maladaptive defensive mechanisms set in place by the individual to protect the psyche. Research is indicative of an alleviation in overall symptomatology with an emphasis in the rehearsal of therapeutic strategies within interpersonal relationships to rehabilitate social engagement and cognition. Due to the lack of foundational acceptance of EAP thus far as a treatment for PTSD, it is challenging to ascertain a marginalized understanding of the holistic effects of EAP on PTSD as a stand alone psychotherapeutic treatment.

This survey was used to identify the concerns of the public. There are many population techniques that the public feels are harmful to the behavior and nature of the horses. This research defined the different techniques and history of the situation to then analyze the public's opinion of the topic. The survey was trying to determine if any of the techniques could be accepted by the public to control the population of the horses that won’t put the forest, other species, and the herds themselves in danger of possible overpopulation effects.

The data collected from this research showed conflict for the subject. Some of the data was skewed due to conflicting viewpoints on the topic. Analyzing the other aspects of the data we saw noticed that 73% of the servers felt the horses were wild. A majority agreed that the horses should stay there and not be relocated. Some individuals who took the survey were interested in adopting out the horses to help manage horses, there were some concerns with background checks for these adopters since slaughter houses and poor living conditions is a concern.

This survey was used to identify the concerns of the public. There are many population techniques that the public feels are harmful to the behavior and nature of the horses. This research defined the different techniques and history of the situation to then analyze the public's opinion of the topic. The survey was trying to determine if any of the techniques could be accepted by the public to control the population of the horses that won’t put the forest, other species, and the herds themselves in danger of possible overpopulation effects.

The data collected from this research showed conflict for the subject. Some of the data was skewed due to conflicting viewpoints on the topic. Analyzing the other aspects of the data we saw noticed that 73% of the servers felt the horses were wild. A majority agreed that the horses should stay there and not be relocated. Some individuals who took the survey were interested in adopting out the horses to help manage horses, there were some concerns with background checks for these adopters since slaughter houses and poor living conditions is a concern.

The issue of wild horse management in the American West has become prevalent in the media recently and management strategies are often criticized and opposed by the public. Horses have been a core feature of American history and culture nearly since the colonization of the western frontier, and popular media such as television and movies paint a romantic but often unrealistic picture of wild horses. Land management agencies must balance limited resources with an ever-growing wild horse population in order to properly manage public land so that it retains its ecological integrity and is still able to be used by multiple stakeholders, and they also must endure public criticism throughout the process. I used a photo elicitation survey to gather responses to photographic images of wild horses and determine how the public feels about wild horse management, given that horses are seen as a symbol of freedom and the American West. It was revealed that people who are unfamiliar with the issue still have opinions about how the horses should be managed, and these opinions often mirror what can be found in popular media.

The stress levels of the average person in today's society are extremely high and this can have a massive effect on health, especially on the cardiovascular system. The two most common types of stress, acute and chronic, effect the cardiovascular system differently. Acute stress comes from a short term source of perceived danger, such as giving a presentation in front of a crowd, or being chased by a wild animal. Chronic stress is the dull anxiety that hangs around consistently and comes from long-term sources of stress, such as a negative work environment or feeling trapped in a poor relationship. A review of the available research literature shows that while acute stress can have positive or negative effects on the body, chronic stress is consistently damaging to cardiovascular health. The adrenaline rush associated with acute stress can increase focus and improve performance through a variety of physiological reactions such as increased heart rate and changes in blood flow to support the most vital organs. Chronic stress sufferers have an increased chance of heart disease, heart attack, and a variety of other problems due to the negative consequences of chronic stress such as high blood pressure. The high negative impact chronic stress and excessive amounts of acute stress can have leads to the conclusion that stress needs to be regulated and limited. Prioritizing health by getting sufficient sleep, taking time to exercise, and practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation can all help to minimize stress levels and the dangerous potential consequences of excess stress.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has current guidelines in place for product labeling of commercial pet food products. Unfortunately, the guidelines prove to be rather lenient in terms of ingredient transparency. In turn, this leniency allows pet food and treat conglomerates to label products with marketing buzzwords like "Natural" and "Organic" without any merit or certification. The disconnect lies within the consumer's perspective of what is considered a "Natural" product and what the AAFCO requires for a product to be labeled as such. My creative project focused on surveying current dog owners about their purchasing behaviors of commercial dog treats and gaining insight to what influences their decision to buy a certain type or brand of dog treat for their pet. I analyzed the results of the survey and examined the ingredients of the most popular brands of treats for nutritional benefit. My focus on this analysis was to find discrepancies between the product label, the perception of the consumer purchasing the products, and the ingredients listed on the back of the package. The next part of my project was to create a dog treat recipe using only ingredients that provided a nutritional benefit. The recipes I crafted excluded artificial preservatives, fillers, coloring, etc. The last part of my creative project was to package and label the finished dog treat in accordance to AAFCO guidelines, complete with labeling requirements and guaranteed analysis. My product labeling provides transparency in the ingredients used and omits marketing slogans that are misleading. The goal of my thesis was to create a dog treat that was not only palatable to our canine companions, but, also preserved a nutritional benefit to them. Keywords: dog treats, animal nutrition, product labeling