The Phenomenal Importance of Pets
Pet owners already know the value of having a pet. The pet is part of the family, offers nonjudgmental, unconditional love, and keeps us on our toes in terms of responsibility. However, most people don’t really know just HOW good they are for us.
MEDICINE
There are hundreds of studies that validate the claim that pets are beneficial for human health and well-being. The following are just a few examples from universities and hospital research:
- A recent study at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical care for stress-induced illnesses.
- Another UCLA study says elderly pet owners made fewer trips to the doctor than elderly non-pet owners.
- Heart patients who own pets have a significantly higher survival rate than those patients who do not own a pet.
- Pet owners have lower blood pressure and lower levels of triglycerides than non-pet owners.
- Just 10 minutes in the company of an animal significantly reduces your blood pressure rate.
- Pet owners have less depression and reduced stress compared to non-pet owners.
- Pets increase our perception of our ability to cope with trauma and/or illness.
- Some doctors are actually “prescribing” pets for their patients, ranging from cardiologists to oncologists who recommend acquiring a pet to help patients cope better and recover quicker.
PSYCHOLOGY
Whether cat, dog, bird, rabbit or hamster, pets make us feel better! Pets dramatically help alleviate loneliness, which is one of the most damaging risk factors for people recovering from heart disease and other ailments. This may be the reason why pet owners who suffer from heart attacks are likely to have five times the survival rate of patients who do not own pets.
Difficult periods in life, including the loss of a loved one, are easier to deal with if you have pets because they act as emotional lifesavers in helping us adapt and adjust. BMC Psychiatry reports:
- Pets add a sense of security and safety for many people.
- Pets in nursing homes increase social and verbal interaction.
- Pets are preventative measures against bipolar and major depressive episodes.
- Pets help with recovery from addictions; pet-owning addicts are 4x less likely to relapse.
- Pets decrease symptoms of PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
- Pet owners report higher psychological well-being and confidence.
- Children exposed to humane education programs using pets display enhanced empathy for humans and animals compared to children not exposed to such programs.
- Contact with pets develops nurturing behavior in children who often grow to be more nurturing adults.
So as you can see, having a pet improves human life, and if we adopt a pet from a shelter, we are saving a pet’s life as well as our own. Now go get a pet!