The positive impact of the human-animal bond is real - and is backed by scientific data, case studies and hard research that validate the therapeutic effects of human-animal relationships. These benefits can be emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual - and are created when an animal's antics cause us to laugh, a beloved pet welcomes us home, or an animal aids us in therapy.
Human-Animal Bond Facts:
Pet owners have lower blood pressure.
Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than non-owners.
Companionship of pets (particularly dogs) helps children in families adjust better to the serious illness and death of a parent.
Pet owners feel less afraid of being a victim of crime when walking with a dog or sharing a residence with a dog.
Pet owners have fewer minor health problems.
Pet owners have better psychological well-being.
Having a pet may decrease heart attack mortality by 3%. This translates into 30,000 lives saved annually.
Pets decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Dogs are preventative and therapeutic measures against everyday stress.
Children exposed to pets during the first year of life have a lower frequency of allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Children who own pets score significantly higher on empathy and prosocial orientation scales than non-owners.
Pet owners have better physical health due to exercise with their pets.
Contact with pets develops nurturing behavior in children who may grow to be more nurturing adults.
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This information happily gathered at http://www.pawsitiveinteraction.org/index.html
