Research

The mission of Next-To-Kinsm is to extend and enhance companion animals' (dogs and cats)
quality of life (healthy longevity) through the prevention of unnecessary death, illness and suffering due to lagging legal and legislative practices, exclusion, and cost (economic euthanasia).

Next-To-Kin's mission does not embrace particular health research, spay/neutering or placement programs, as these activities are addressed by a number of other foundations and agencies. Rather, Next-To-Kin seeks to encourage education, research and advocacy on subjects and issues such as:

Cost benefit studies - of companion animals, including:
• At-work-effects on absenteeism, turnover and productivity; and the costs of implementing companion
animal-at-work programs,
• At-home effects on health, illness recovery, safety and social well-being.

Knowing "when" - to let go of a companion animal is one of the toughest decisions a guardian must make. Criteria need to be established to enable a guardian to deal with this ultimate issue; guidelines that factor in the companion animal's perceivable acute or chronic pain, mobility, eating, mind and dignity.

Home Hospice Curricula- would provide a guardian with the opportunity to share more in the companion animal's final days and make those days as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

Education and advocacy regarding "informed consent" and to help establish laws that recognizes companion animals as having worth "beyond mere property." Such laws would recognize companion animals (dogs and cats) as "Next-To-Kin" by allowing compensation for the loss of companionship and punitive damages for cruelty, malfeasance and malpractice as a deterrent.

Guardians (humans) advocacy - programs that provide education, research, and resource material to enable guardians to become (a) advocates for their companion - animal's health and well-being and (b) informed consumers of companion animals' health services and products, and food products.