Animals and humans share a primordial connection. They have been kept as companions since ancient times. The type of pet effect or keeping patterns has changed immensely over the last few decades. People initially kept cows, dogs, horses, goats, or chickens as pets, but now they also domesticated cats, reptiles, birds, or fishes. Pet ownership creates innumerable benefits for its owners and the people around it.
Pet Effect
According to Allen (2003), The Pet Effect is the idea that living with an animal can improve the psychological well-being, health and longevity of humans. Furthermore, people view it as a mutually beneficial relationship between them and their pets. The pet effect is real and influences individuals of all age groups. The human-pet dynamic is a life-changing experience since the animal is considered a family member and is embraced for all the positives it brings with it. Several psychologists have discussed the positive outcomes that animals have on the overall well-being of humans. Literature review shows that a pet aids physical health by reducing cholesterol, and triglycerides and increases the chances of surviving a heart attack.
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Benefits of Being a Pet Parent
1. Mental and Physical Health
For adults and the elderly, patting a dog or watching a fish swim peacefully in an aquarium has lowered blood pressure. It also significantly reduced stress levels among them. Pet owners exhibit improved recovery rates from illnesses or surgeries and are more physically active than non-pet owners. Another advantage of having pets and children in the same household is that it strengthens the immune systems of these children, reducing the likelihood of developing allergies.
A pet person experiences diverse advantages socially, mentally and emotionally as pets lessen depressive symptoms and psychological stress. Cuddling with a four-legged friend releases happy hormones i.e. serotonin and dopamine. Additionally, owning a pet minimizes feelings of loneliness because pets provide a sense of purpose through their loyal and unconditional behaviours. Pets act as a support system which is equivalent to human-human interaction.
2. Social Support and Stress Relief
Likewise, animals provide non-judgmental social support through their perceived unconditional love. Pets act as catalysts to meet new people and join animal clubs or societies. When a furry animal jumps for caressing at its caretaker, it brings them to the ‘here and now.’ Thereby promoting a sense of relief on long and tiring days. Hugging or stroking an animal helps to relieve anxiety and breaks the overthinking cycle. Beyond that, young children can develop higher emotional intelligence, if brought up with a pet at home since they understand empathy, sharing, compassion and responsibility better.
3. Teaching Values to Children
Several Indian parents are now adopting dogs and cats to teach their children the responsibility of feeding or walking their pet animals along with expanding their interactions. Emotionally supporting animals allows individuals to have a routine and balance in their life, through moderating, i.e. taking care of and enjoying with their lovable animals. Lastly, people gain a sense of achievement especially about their parenting styles when they observe their pet’s healthy growth.
Apart from this, animals have assisted the holistic development of children and adolescents with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, behavioural concerns and physical impairments. These service animals enable attention, socialisation, emotional regulation and assertive boundary formation. Moreover, pets support the elderly with Alzheimer’s, dementia, knee ailments, and other illnesses in going outside, socializing, and exercising. Whereas senior citizens who live alone with a pet assisting them, achieve a sense of belongingness and purpose, whilst opportunities to maintain a daily structure.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) in Psychotherapy
The field of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is slowly gaining popularity across India. This form of psychotherapy is believed to decrease depressive symptoms, together with improving self-image, socialisation, cognitive functioning and quality of life. Several researches regarding the benefits of pet therapy are focused on children and adolescents with special needs. Studies prove that the presence of a pet in the waiting area declines anxiety for dental or surgical procedures. In addition, this novel therapeutic intervention is fruitful to work with the geriatric population, adults with mental health concerns and people with different health conditions such as cancer or AIDS.
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These days, therapists are also using service dogs to work with clients of sexual or physical abuse. This is done to initiate healthy touching and hugging which was initially uncomfortable for the survivors. Clients widely prefer pet therapy to build rapport and increase motivation and communication, especially when dealing with those who are uncooperative and withdrawing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pet owners experienced a new set of difficulties with respect to access to vets, grooming, hygiene facilities and walking their pets.
However, we cannot ignore the emotional support provided by their animal companions during times of social isolation. Throughout lockdown, individuals living with companion animals were more grounded and physically active.
Conclusion
Having a pet brings countless positive impacts. However, being a pet owner can be associated with financial burdens and potential housing issues. The inevitable fact of our pets getting sick or passing away brings a huge emotional turmoil. Therefore, adopting a pet can be a transformative journey. One should be ready for the commitment and challenges that come along with being a pet parent. On the other hand, individuals need to be flexible about animal-assisted interventions to improve their overall well-being. After all, both humans and animals are interdependent and share a reciprocal bond.
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