Since I was a small child I always begged my parents to buy me a dog. They never wanted the responsibility of one but I pleaded up until sixth grade when they finally gave in. Owning a dog has been the best thing in my life. Caring for something so special is truly amazing and makes me so genuinely happy. Coming home everyday from school and seeing my dog’s excitement would always fill me with joy. Transitioning into college without my dog has been a struggle and I have found myself to be more stressed out than ever and at times very homesick. Whenever I was upset at home playing with my dog or just petting him would always make me happier no matter the how bad the situation was. Though many owners of pets are clear about the instant pleasures that come along with sharing their lives with loving pets, several individuals are oblivious to both the mental and physical advantages that come along with owning a loving companion. Only recently have studies began to scientifically delve into the benefits of the bond between animals and humans. Studies show that people who own pets are less likely to suffer from depression because playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax. One of the reasons for these therapeutic effects is that most pets fulfill the basic human need to touch. Even criminals have shown long-term changes in their behavior after interacting with pets, many of them experience mutual affection for the first time with these animals. Stroking, holding, or cuddling a loving animal can completely calm us down when we’re stressed. The companionship of a pet can also ease loneliness, and some pets are a great stimulus for healthy exercise, which can alter and boost ones mood. Caring for a living animal can help make you feel needed and in turn can take the focus away from your problems.
http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/7-reasons-pets-make-us-happy-and-healthy
http://thenationshealth.aphapublications.org/content/40/10/32.full
Honestly, this is the perfect post for me to comment on. My dog is probably 3/4ths of my entire world. I love him so much and just think he is the cutest thing ever. My friends, on the other hand, don’t even think he’s cute in the slightest. This makes more sense now because they do not take care of him nor do they play with him like I do. I never considered that interacting with animals could chemically affect us and leave us calmer and happier but now that you have pointed it out it is clear why people love animals so much. I guess that’s why cats are able to take the place of human companionship for many unmarried individuals.
I definitely agree that owning a pet has therapeutic advantages. I also miss my pets now that I am in college and it’s hard not to have them there to comfort me. There is actually an organization that brings dogs onto college campuses to give students the chance to relax and play with them. At Kent State University, there is a program that is designed for people who miss their dogs. http://dogsoncampus.org/
I loved your article and became interested as soon as i saw the title. I am obsessed with my pets and i was so interested to find out that pets are actually used as a tool to stimulate people’s thoughts and help a lot with different aspects of therapy. After reading this article i did a little research of my own and here is an article about pets and their healing process with children.
click here