Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes the feelings are too big, or complex, or contradictory to share with another person. Sometimes all you want is to be with another creature who doesn’t care what you look like, how much money you make, or what anyone else thinks of you. Sometimes the only thing that can make you feel better is the love of an animal.
The Human Bond Research Institute
As a school social worker, therapist, and pet owner myself I have anecdotally seen for decades the power that animals have in helping people to be the best versions of themselves, but does the research actually back that up? HABRI (the Human Animal Bond Research Institute) https://habri.org/ is an organization that collects the studies that are being done around the world to find out what the numbers say about the impact of animals on the lives of people. In the realms of child health and development, allergies and immunity, supporting people with autism spectrum disorders, mental health, healthy aging, cancer, cardiovascular health, mental health, quality of life, social isolation and loneliness, and workplace wellness there is evidence of positive health benefits.
How Animals Impact Us
How do animals impact all these seemingly unrelated aspects of people’s lives? There is no single explanation but we know that we are facing an epidemic of loneliness in our nation and sharing your dwelling with an animal has an obvious and direct impact on that. Animals are non-judgemental, they do not care how many social media followers you have, how wealthy you are, or about the pimple on the end of your nose. They form a symbiotic partnership with us where both of us benefit. Even the work of caring for your, dog, cat, fish, snake, tarantula, etc…can have a tremendous positive benefit. I cannot tell you how many clients have told me that the thing that gets them out of bed in the morning on those really hard bad days, is knowing that their pet is counting on them for food and care. This helps people to transform their view of themselves from being a burden and always the receiver of support to the giver of care. It allows them to feel needed and important because to that animal companion, they truly are.
Research
Research shows that stroking a furred animal and seeing and feeling their response lowers the stress hormone cortisol and making eye contact with an animal we are bonded with can stimulate production of oxytocin the “love” hormone, which makes us feel connected and comfortable. We are not certain that this is the reason why pet owners have lower levels of hypertension, diabetes, and other negative health outcomes but the correlation is undeniable. According to the research by Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach and her team at the University of Toledo, Cats are actually more impactful than dogs in reducing feelings of depression.
Emotional Support Animal
An emotional support animal (ESA) is a companion/pet which, being in the presence of, reduces the frequency, intensity, and/or duration of symptoms of an emotional health disability. That being said a person does not need to have a disability to have their world improved by sharing their life with an animal.
Daniel Maigler, Licensed Clinical Social Worker