Molly Sumridge

Ph.D. candidate - Anthrozoology
MS - Anthrozoology
CDBC, C-AAIS, CPDT-KSA, CBATI-KSA,

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Molly Sumridge is a Ph.D. candidate in Anthrozoology at the University of Exeter. Her professional interests focus on supporting the welfare needs of New Guinea singing dogs, primitive/ancient dogs, and behavior modification for dog sports and owner/pet behavioral conflicts. Her research focuses include human-animal relations and relationships specific to domestication, primitive/ancient dogs, cultural discourse, ideology studies, qualitative research methods, and how we communicate about our pets, non-traditional companion-animal relationships, and dog sports.

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Today she works as a Director of Research for a national non-profit animal welfare organization where she conducts research on increasing access to veterinary care. Molly was previously an Assistant Professor of Anthrozoology at Carroll College where she lead the canine program in their Anthrozoology department. Her courses focused on research, training, canine behavior, canine ecology, cross-cultural human-canine relationships and conflicts, working dogs, and critical analysis of human-animal interactions and relationships.

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These days she is up to her eyeballs in research working on a Ph.D. in Anthrozoology, focused on the human-canine relationship of owners of New Guinea singing dogs in North America. Her data collection and analysis is complete and she is hopeful to finish her dissertation in early 2024.

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While the intersection of all things human and non-human animal is her love and her life, Molly grounds herself through her loving husband, calamitous cat, patient parrot, spicy snakes, a flock of charming chickens, and a cast of colorful canine characters.

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Selected Publications:

Molly H. Sumridge, Malini Suchak & Christy L. Hoffman (2021) Owner-Reported Attachment and Behavior Characteristics of New Guinea Singing Dogs Living as Companion Animals, Anthrozoös, 34:3, 375-392, DOI: 10.1080/08927936.2021.1898218

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Forthcoming:

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Dissertation: Betwixt and between: A qualitative study of New Guinea singing dogs living as companion animals in North America