ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meg Daley Olmert has written and produced documentary programs for The Discovery Channel, PBS, and National Geographic Television. While developing a series on the history of humans and animals, Meg made the key insight into the role of oxytocin in the formation of the human-animal bond and the therapeutic effects of engaging with animals that have been reported since the beginning of the historical record. Years of continued research into this new scientific field, resulted in her internationally acclaimed book, Made For Each Other, The Biology of the Human-Animal Bond. This ground-breaking book, published in 2009, is the first to explore the science of social attraction and attachment that flows through--and between--all mammals to create powerful emotional bonds that contribute to our physical and mental well being.

Meg went on to become scientific advisor to Warrior Canine Connection, the first animal assisted trauma program to enlist combat veterans in the training of service dogs as an adjunct therapy for PTSD. She helped design a randomized, controlled study of this program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and co-authored its findings in a recent paper that established the effectiveness of this program in the reduction of symptoms of combat PTSD. (1)