Man’s Best Friend
For Your Mental Wellbeing, For your Family
What would the world be without our furry friends and their unique and colourful personalities? Besides keeping us active and on our toes, pets can also be good for our mental health and general wellbeing.
According to the Pets as Therapy (PAT) organisation in South Africa, there is a wealth of scientific evidence that shows the interaction between people and pets is physically, emotionally, psychologically and socially therapeutic. No wonder dogs are known as man’s best friend!
From having a playful pet at home to exploring Animal Assisted Therapy, there are many ways to reap the benefits of interacting with pets. Some perks are obvious like the joy of petting a puppy, while others are more subtle.
Here are some of the ways in which pets can impact our wellbeing.
The tail that wagged the dog
While being around our pets are often a mood-booster, research has found our four-legged friends can even help us with deeper ailments like lowering our risk of cardiovascular disease and improving our mental health during stressful times.
The simple act of petting animals activates an automatic relaxation response by releasing serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin - all hormones that can play a part in elevating moods. This, according to studies by UCLA Health, means that interactions with pets can lower anxiety, provide comfort, reduce loneliness and increase mental stimulation.
Many people can find animals more approachable and less intimidating than humans. Through Animal Assisted Therapy or Pet Therapy, animals can act as catalysts in the therapy process by helping break the ice and reducing any initial resistance to therapy.
A brief history of Pet Therapy
As early as the Greek Empire, horses were used to improve the physical and mental health of patients. The earliest records of the therapeutic use of pets was in Belgium during the middle ages where pets and people were rehabilitated together. In the 1940s, the Red Cross used animals to assist in the recovery process of veterans of World War II. They relied on therapy dogs to help veterans recover physically, mentally and emotionally from the trauma of war.
Today, pet therapy or animal assisted therapy is a well-researched field that’s backed by science and supported by the World Health Organization. In South Africa, organisations like PAT orchestrate pet visits to people in hospitals, hospices, retirement homes, frail care facilities and special needs schools. According to PAT, people often talk to the visiting pets, sharing their thoughts, feelings and memories. Visits by pets can make people feel less lonely, less depressed and boost their memory.
Mom, Dad, can we get a dog?
Besides formal interventions like animal assisted therapy, people can reap the benefits of animals simply through their furry friends at home.
Studies show that growing up with pets can contribute significantly to early childhood development. From demonstrating better impulse control to reducing the likelihood of developing allergies, pets have numerous benefits to growing children.
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, some of the benefits to having a pet pal include:
- They can be safe recipients of thoughts as children often talk to their pets;
- They provide lessons about life, including reproduction, birth, illnesses, accidents, death, and bereavement;
- They can help develop responsible behaviour in the children who care for them;
- They provide a connection to nature;
- They can teach respect for other living things;
- They can promote physical activity through play and provide comfort contact.
We receive so many benefits from our pets that we might not recognise on a day-to-day basis. So, the next time your dog wags its tail or your cat nuzzles in for a cuddle, take a moment to appreciate the daily joys your pet provides.
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