WHY YOUR PET SHOULD BE YOUR VALENTINE
The Benefits of Pet Ownership
Health Benefits of Pets
Reprinted from National Institutes of Health OMAR Workshop (and comments)
http://odp.od.nih.gov/consensus/ta/003/003_statement.htm#0_Overview

More than half of all U.S. households have a companion animal. Pets are more common in households with children, yet there are more pets than children in American households. There are more than 51 million dogs, 56 million cats, 45 million birds, 75 million small mammals and reptiles, and uncounted millions of aquarium fish.

What might be possible benefits of pets beyond mere enjoyment and affection? Research indicates the following possibilites:

Relaxation, meditation, and stress management have become recognized therapies for attempting to reduce blood pressure before pharmacological methods are prescribed. It therefore seems reasonable that pets, who provide faithful companionship to many people, also might promote greater psychosocial stability for their owners, and thus a measure of protection from heart disease. People, in general, walk more with dogs than even with babies. And there are therapeutic effects for the animals too: stroking dogs and horses is found to reduce their pulse

There are also widespread considerations of the benefits of companion animals for older persons and children. The assumption of a salutary effect of pet ownership on the health of older persons is based on a growing body of literature suggesting the importance of social ties and relationships for persons experiencing life changes affecting health or social situations. Since the heart attack survival study, other therapeutic effects of interaction with pets have been discovered, most prominently a reduction in blood pressure. Isolated data have shown autistic people able to communicate with and remember dogs. Because of the therapeutic effect on their residents, many nursing homes have instituted animal visitation programs

Some studies also suggest that children's relationships with familiar animals, especially pets, are unique and different from their relationships with others in their social world. The relationship with pets typically is complementary to these other relationships rather than a substitute for any one type of human relationship. Several other activities have been found to be beneficial to health: reducing loneliness, stimulating talk, encouraging touch and care, being the object of attention, stimulating exercise, and encouraging laughter and social contact. Pet animals can do all these. Interacting with animals appears to be the only "approved" caring activity for boys.

Future Research Directions

Studies on human-animal relationships originated with a focus on the beneficial aspects of pets. In time, four general research areas developed, including:

1. historical descriptions of human-animal interactions,
2. demographics and explanations of pet ownership,
3. physiological and psychological responses of people interacting with animals, and
4. animals as facilitators of psychological or physical therapy.

1. For whom is animal interaction most beneficial?
2. For whom and where is animal interaction problematic?
3. How is contact with animals beneficial? and
4. Are different species of animals, and even plants, important to human health?

An animal's healing non-judgemental love can add that special warmth to any household. Whether our lives are busy or quiet, our animal companions enrich our days. Pets give us a sense of optimism, safeguard us from depression and loneliness and break down the barriers that isolate us from one another. When you share life with a special pet, there's always a built-in motivation to get out and exercise or just to get up in the morning. Researchers found also found that the pet owners reported fewer headaches, fewer bouts of indigestion and less difficulty sleeping.

Of course, pets must suit an owners needs and be welcomed in to the family. Under such circumstances "science" has only scratched the surface in defining to immense benefit of having a pet companion.