Thank you for considering participating in this research study entitled, "Man's best friend: Pet Companions, Attachment, and loss." The results of this study will be used to better understand the important connection between men and women and their pet companions. It will also be used to help pet owners deal with the eventual loss of their pets.

Information from this study may become the basis for journal articles and possibly a self-help book by Dr. Blazina, a licensed psychologist and associate professor of psychology at Tennessee State University. Dr. Blazina has extensively published in the area of psychology of men and masculinity including a new book entitled, "The secret lives of men: What men want you to know about love, sex, and relationships" due in bookstores in October 2008. You may log onto this website to learn more about Dr. Blazina's work: www.the secretlivesofmen.com.

All information that you provide in this study will be confidential. If any direct quotes that you provide are used, they will be done so in an anonymous fashion. If you are interested in possibly participating in an in-person interview in the future about your answers given in this study there will an item to check at the end of the survey.

Also, all participants are entered into a raffle for a $100 dollar Target gift card. Leave your contact information at the end of the survey (i.e., email). No information will be provided to outside parties.

The study will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Participation in this study will require that you complete questionnaires. The questions you will be asked to answer relate to general demographics (age, major, etc.) as well as your feelings toward people and then pets.

There are no risks associated with participation in this study. However, answering the questionnaires may increase your thinking about your pets if they have passed away. Please do not participate if you think answering questions about these topics might cause you significant emotional distress. Participation is completely voluntary, and you may decide to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.

Please contact the primary researcher, Dr. Chris Blazina at christex01@msn.com if you have questions after completing the study. Thank you very much. By agreeing to being in this study you are assenting to the conditions above.