The Benefits of Pet Therapy

Widely considered enrichment to a person's life, pet ownership may also contribute therapeutic effects on physical health. Numerous studies attribute pet ownership to people living with less stress, more joy and greater longevity. This hypothesis is seldom disputed, as a general consensus of people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, ages and genders will attest.

Pets, ranging from dogs and cats to fish and birds, can provide the impetus ill individuals may need to direct their focus outside themselves. The soothing action of stroking a dog's fur, watching fish swim across an aquarium, or even listening to a cat's purr, can provide stress-reducing comfort not easily afforded by other means. The effect pets may have on reducing the stresses that go along with illness may actually stimulate a physiological response to reduce tension and stress, which in turn may reduce the physical problems. Pets often create a sense of purpose to continue living, to nurture and care for a beloved little "family member." By providing unconditional love and attachment, pets can increase a sense of self-worth and induce a survival mechanism of their owners.

According to Delta Society, a leading international resource for the human-animal bond, studies have clearly indicated that owning a pet has been demonstrated to:

• Lower blood pressure

• Lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels

• Decrease the incidence of minor health problems

• Reduce trips to the doctors by senior citizens

• Decrease heart attack morbidity rate by 3 percent

• Improve the pet owner's psychological well-being

Cancer survivors often state that having pets helped them get through their cancer experience. Three-time breast cancer survivor Leah Harlig, of Houston, Tex. , explains, "Even on the most difficult days of going through my breast cancer treatments, my dogs Rilke and Lovey filled my heart with joy. Often, they were the ones who nurtured me. Without exception, they were there for me and helped me get through it."

Resource:

Delta Society
875 124 th Ave NE, Suite 101
Bellevue , WA 98005
(425) 226-7357
www.deltasociety.org

This article was first printed in the winter 2006 issue of Lifeline.

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