PROFESSOR AND HER “EMOTIONAL SUPPORT CHICKEN” GO VIRAL

For Sonia Kong, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Northern British Columbia, research on pets is more than academic — it’s personal. Her 11-month-old chicken, Saturday, has become both a beloved companion and a source of inspiration for an international study on how pets influence teen development across cultures.

Described as shy, sensitive and surprisingly intelligent, Saturday often keeps Kong company while she works, even perching on her leg during long research sessions. Kong says the chicken provides emotional support and seems to sense when she’s feeling sad. She even crafted a custom diaper so Saturday can join her on errands around Prince George.

Kong and colleague Tracy Wong from the Chinese University of Hong Kong are studying how relationships with pets shape adolescents’ social and emotional well-being in different cultural contexts. While pets are cherished companions in many Western homes, other cultures may view animals more for practical purposes — a difference their research aims to better understand.

@cbcbritishcolumbia

Sonia Kong is an assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and Saturday is her pet chicken. Here’s what we learned from their story. #pet #teens #research #cbcnews #britishcolumbia

♬ original sound – CBC British Columbia – CBC British Columbia