Human Animal Bond

       I would like to address the benefits to humans that they get from pet ownership. When we own a pet, we can be so focused on caring for them. It can be nice to know how owning a pet can result in some important benefits. If you are reading this and do not have a pet, please consult with your doctor and one of us at Eastview Animal Hospital before getting a pet.
       There have been several studies done over the years that look at the benefits to people that comes from the bond between them and their pets. In the past, even just 20 years ago, there was not much time spent looking at this. But, overtime, as pets become more and more a part of our family, there is more emphasis placed on looking at advantages to both humans and animals. Research has shown that by owning or interacting with pets, there is a savings of more than 11 million dollars to the human healthcare industry. I got my information from the HABRI (Human Animal Bond Research Institute) website. I suggest if you want more information, visit there website, as it does have some really great information.
       First, I will bring light to the subject of human physical health. I think it is safe to say that people
who own dogs are active. Dogs need to be walked and played with. Along with being more
active, humans that own dogs weigh less than those who don't. Pet owners in general have
lower blood pressure than people who do not own pets. Overall humans that have pets to care
for have better heart health than those who do not. There is strong evidence that humans who
own pets visit the doctor's office less. It has also been shown that people with cancer and their
caregivers have a better quality of life during treatment if an animal is involved in their life.
       Animal assisted therapy provides much better outcomes to children with autism. Children who
grow up with pets have less allergies as adults overall. There are also animals trained to help
people with diseases such as diabetes or celiac disease. I have even heard of dogs being
trained to detect COVID-19.
       Second, I will write about the mental health benefits that pets can provide. In the age of
emotional support animals, we can certainly say that it is widely known that pets can provide
comfort to humans. When we look at details, there are several factors that have been identified.
Humans who suffer from PTSD and interact with an animal have less symptoms overall,
including crying less, having fewer suicidal thoughts, and being more interactive. Research
had shown that pets, even fish, help people feel more relaxed in general. Senior citizens with a
pet can feel more needed and often feel that when they have a pet to care for, they have more
sense of purpose. It is not uncommon today to see a cat living in a nursing home or a dog
visiting a school or hospital. This is because interaction with an animal can improve the quality
of life of individuals that are in those places.
       To wrap this up, owning a pet or even just interacting with animals provides great health
benefits, both physical and mental. If you are thinking of getting a pet, please consult with your
doctor and the staff at Eastview to make sure that you can get a pet that will be the best for you.
Thank you for reading!

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Article written by
​Dr. Lori Hickie