Natalia Ciecierska-Holmes

I completed my Doctoral studies, jointly awarded by the University of Adelaide and the University of Nottingham, in 2025. My thesis explores the underresearched topic of dogs as eaters through qualitative investigation of human-dog feeding relations. Focusing on vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian dog owners in the UK and Australia who feed their dogs raw meat-based diets (RMBDs), it uses interviews and visual diaries to examine themes of care, control, and food identities. The findings highlight common beliefs among participants in dogs’ need for meat, concerns about food system contamination, and their ethical framings of raw meat. The research offers insights relevant to veterinary professionals, animal welfare organisations, and pet food regulators, as well as animal and food studies scholars.