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“My pets help me stay healthy, productive, and happy. And I hope I help them be happy and healthy too,” says Jacqueline Boyd, a senior lecturer in animal science at Nottingham Trent University in the UK.
She identified five ways that pets enhance their owners’ lives. Moreover, the bond between humans and animals is mutually beneficial when it comes to health and well-being.
Animals Help Us Reduce Stress and Relax
Research has shown that having a dog or cat in the home can lower blood pressure and heart rate in their owners. In this way, pets can be a vital source of comfort, security, and support. At the same time, our four-legged friends find similar support in humans: they enjoy affection and feel calm.
Some owners even share their beds with their pets. However, some experts advise against this, as sleeping next to an animal can have potential health consequences, such as sleep disturbances, risk of injury, and transmission of infections.
Nonetheless, many owners believe that the closeness of a furry friend actually contributes to better sleep quality, providing emotional warmth and a sense of security.
Animals Encourage Us to Build Partnerships
Building such relationships is essential for both the owner and their pet, primarily to maintain the well-being of both.
Positive relationships between humans and their pets are characterized by the owner’s responsibility for the pet’s welfare. Meanwhile, unhealthy relationships with animals can lead to mutual aggression.
Experts emphasize the importance of training our four-legged friends using methods that foster positive partnerships. By interacting with a friendly and well-behaved animal, owners tend to adopt a more optimistic outlook on life, as reported by Science Alert.
Animals Help Us Make Friends Among People
Pet owners are more likely to have many good acquaintances in their neighborhoods, says Jacqueline Boyd. Why is this the case? Studies have shown that pets act as a kind of “social lubricant”: they help establish connections with other animal lovers.
As a result, owners of furry companions experience less loneliness and social isolation compared to those who do not have pets.
Animals Encourage Us to Eat Healthily
Modern veterinarians agree that the average waistline of pets has widened. Isn’t the same happening in the human population? According to specialists, pet owners inadvertently harm their pets’ health due to their own bad habits.
Meanwhile, by observing their pets, owners are more likely to stick to a healthy diet and engage in physical activity. Perhaps they both will start practicing a healthier lifestyle.
Animals Instill in Us the Healthy Habit of Walking
Regular physical activity in people is often a result of having a pet in the home. Walking is an economical and accessible way for most dog owners to improve their physical health. At the same time, walking also enhances the well-being of pets.
People who regularly walk their dogs tend to have lower body weight and are more physically active than those without a dog. Researchers have also noted that walking with pets at least three times a week helps alleviate back pain.
Thus, the positive impact of a pet on our lives is invaluable. Jacqueline Boyd asserts that the relationship between humans and companion animals should be mutually beneficial, healthy, and happy.
