The Power of Pets- Can They Really Make You Happier & Healthier?

Half of Britons own pets- there are 7.3 million dogs and 7.2 million cats in Britain and the increasing popularity of pets has caused their population from 4 million to 71 million in just a decade. So there must be benefits to having pets. Studies have shown they can help children develop into sociable adults, help boost your health and help you feel connected with the world. “The general belief is that there are health benefits to owning pets, both in terms of psychological growth and development, as well as physical health benefits.” said Dr. James Griffin, a scientist at NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Healthier & Happier

There is in-depth evidence that suggests owning a pet can have a positive effect on your general health and well-being. Pet owners are (on average) healthier and happier people! Scientists such as Marc Bekoff,  Stanley Coren  and Allen McConnell  have promoted the health benefits of owning a pet in their Psychology Today blogs. The field of Anthropology started with Erika Friedmann's groundbreaking study, which illustrated that the one-year death rate of heart attack victims who were pet owners, was one fourth that of people who did not live with companion animals. Friedmann’s study lasted over 30 years and unveiled that low blood pressure, increased self-esteem, decreased loneliness and depression levels and higher levels of physical activity were all benefits of possessing a pet.

There are also numerous other benefits to having a fluffy friend about the place, including improving your relationships and interactions with your fellow human beings and can make you feel younger. According to Froma Walsh of the Chicago Centre for Family Health and Professor Emerita at the University of Chicago, pets “...bring laughter and humour into our stressful lives and encourage us in playful ways.”Other studies have shown that dog owners may get more exercise and other health benefits than the rest of us.

One investigation looked at more than 2,000 adults and found that dog owners or dog walkers were more physically active and less likely to be obese than those who didn’t own or walk a dog. Another study followed more than 2,500 older adults, ages 71-82, for 3 years. Those who regularly walked their dogs walked faster and for longer time periods each week than others who didn’t walk regularly. Some studies have also revealed that walking with a dog leads to more conversations and helps you stay socially connected- people who have more social relationships tend to live longer and are less likely to show mental and physical declines as they grow older.

Dogs over Depression

Fredrick D. Joe split up with his wife of 35 years and decided to adopt a cat called Cozy. Fredrick stated that Cozy helped him through dark times in his life, especially because he suffers with bipolar disorder. “I was by myself and I say the cat got me through my divorce...it was great to have a companion.” Yet some may argue having an animal about the place may just be a distraction from the fact that some people do not have enough human company to keep their spirits up and keep them sociable. However many people who encounter mental illness feel detached from the rest of the world and having a pet can help you converse with other pet owners and get you out of your home environment, even if you are reluctant to do so.  Pets also give people a sense of self-worth and purpose.

Fredrick & Valor

Clever Canines

Half Golden Retriever Half Great Dane, Valor is Sgt. Charles Hernandez’s four-legged friend and goes everywhere with him. Hernandez suffers with seizures and Valor learnt to nibble the side of his master’s leg before any human realised what was going on. The dog also pulls the Sergeant away from conflicts and jumps on him during anxiety or panic attacks to help calm him. Along with the medication he takes daily, Hernandez says Valor has assisted him with his post-traumatic stress disorder more than he could have ever hoped.

 The 49-year-old said “What keeps me going is my dog...I’m alive again!” He received his service dog back in 2010 through HEAL, which trains and breeds service dogs. The charity partners ex-veterans with appropriate service dogs. Hernandez still volunteers for HEAL.

Psychiatric service dogs have become increasingly popular in the States and intend to make their owners feel more secure and self-sufficient by taking attention away from their own fears and anxieties. Instead, they can focus on making sure their dog is happy and prove to themselves that they are capable of taking care of a living creature, and can therefore, look after themselves as well.

According to the RNIB, some 2 million people severely suffer with their site, which means that 1 in every 30 people suffers with sight loss. Thousands of guide dogs are trained every year to help the booming demand and start training when they are just 6 weeks old but normally retire when they’re 6 years old. They’re taught to walk in a straight line unless there is an object or obstacle blocking their path, to deal with traffic and to deal with height and width to protect their eventual owner.

Other research suggests that pet ownership may hold special benefits during childhood. “When children are asked who they talk to when they get upset, a lot of times their first answer is their pet,” says Griffin, an expert in child development and behaviour. “This points to the importance of pets as a source of comfort and developing empathy. In fact, therapists and researchers have reported that children with autism are sometimes better able to interact with pets, and this may help in their interactions with people.”

Robot-Pets and Rehab

A number of groundbreaking studies have depicted that robot pets which look, feel and act similar to the real thing, can help to rehabilitate victims of health deterioration, those with mental health problems or even natural disaster victims. One YouTube video showed elderly Tsunami victims being physically and mental assisted by robotic seals. Satsuko Yatsuzaka, an 87-year-old stated that taking care of the seal made her feel safe. Yet in 2011, The Simpsons lampooned this idea by having similar seals reprogrammed as viscous killers. Episode 5 of Season 23 of the show ‘Replaceable You’ saw Bart’s science fair project become a mechanical baby seal that outshines his sister’s entry.

 There are countless benefits to owning a pet- not only can they boost you life expectancy, improve your health and mood and social skills but can also rehabilitate those with both mental and physical complaints. Aside from that, many perceive their pet as part of the family and appreciate their companionship, loyalty and love.