Pets can help us live happier and healthier lives

by Dr. Andrew Moss, Doctor of Clinical Psychology & HSHPE Volunteer

Pets provide companionship, joy, and unconditional love. They get us up and moving when we need motivation. Caring for animals builds meaning, routine, and purpose. The more engaged we are in life, the more resilient we are against physical and psychological challenges.

Research shows clear connections between positive physical and mental health and caring for or being around animals. Read on to learn more about the power of pets.

The Science

Child Development and Learning

A recent review of a number of high-quality studies have shown clear benefits, especially for emotional well-being and child development.

A study in 2015 found that brief unstructured interaction with a dog reduced acute distress and anxiety among students waiting for an exam.

Strong evidence has been found that reading assistance dog programs improve child reading performance and motivation. Animals provide the presence of a non-judgmental listener.

Physical and Mental Health

Animals increase our attachment to others by providing unconditional acceptance and affection. This is fundamental to our physical and mental health. It has also been found that animals make other therapies more effective!

“Time spent with cats is never wasted”– Sigmund Freud.

Improvements in a range of medical conditions has been found when people spend time with animals. This includes improved immune functioning, as well as creating lower levels of loneliness, depression and anxiety.

For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

When using specially trained service dogs for PTSD, participants reported that dogs improved their symptoms, social functioning and quality of life.

For People with Dementia

When using animals during therapy, it was found to significantly improve behavioural symptoms, mood, and social interaction in dementia patients.

Great ways to benefit from animal interactions:

1. Adopt or Foster

Adopt or foster a pet like a dog, cat, or rabbit to care for at home. Make sure you can commit to the long term.

2. Pay a Visit

Visit a friend or neighbour’s pet for some cuddle time.

3. Volunteer

Volunteer at an animal shelter to walk, play with, and care for the animals. This can really lift your spirits!

4. Support Animals

Consider getting a prescription for an emotional support animal if you have a mental health condition.

References

Crossman, M.K., Kazdin, A.E., & Knudson, K. (2015). Brief unstructured interaction with a dog reduces distress. Anthrozoös, 28(4), pp.649-659.

Hall, S.S., Gee, N.R., Mills D.S., & Pavlova, M.A. (2016). Children reading to dogs: A systematic review of the literature. PloS One, 11(2), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149759

McNicholas, J., & Collis, G. M. (2006). Animals as social supports: Insights for understanding animal-assisted therapy. In A.H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (2nd ed., pp. 49–71). Academic Press.

Myers, O.E., & Lester, J.N. (2019). The Palgrave handbook of adult mental health. Palgrave MacMillian UK.

O’Haire, M. (2010). Companion animals and human health: Benefits, challenges, and the road ahead. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 5(5), 226-234.

Wisdom, J. P., Saedi, G. A., & Green, C. A. (2009). Another breed of service animals: STARS study findings. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 79(3), 422.

Yakimicki, M.L., Edwards, N.E., & Richards, A. (2019). Animal-assisted intervention and dementia: A systematic review. Clinical Nursing Research, 28(1), pp.9-29.