Western Washington University

   Is it possible that pets can improve our physical and psychological well-being, as well as being our faithful companions? The answer to this question appears, according to researchers, to be yes. Since the beginning of time, animals have played a major role in the lives of countless people, whether it be as a family pet or even for transportation. We love them and take care of them as if they were children. We spend our free time caring for and playing with them when we could be doing a number of other things. The important fact of the matter is that we choose to spend this time bonding with our pets on our own free will. Our pets can actually be our best friends. The elderly depend on their pets as sources of comfort when their families have disappeared from their lives.(Maffitt, 1995). Pets are children's allies in a world full of uncertainty.(Maffitt, 1995).

    The Baker Medical Research Institute did a study of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in pet owners and non-owners in order to see if there is a correlation between pets and physical well-being.(Anderson, 1992). This study found that pet owners had significantly lower systolic blood pressure and plasma than non-owners. (Anderson, 1992). Men who owned pets had significantly lower systolic (but not diastolic) blood pressure than the men who were not pet owners, and they also had significantly lower plasma triglyceride levels and plasma cholestrol levels. (Anderson, 1992). With the women over 40 years old, the systolic blood pressure (but not diastolic) was significantly lower, and again, the plasma triglycerides tended to be lower. (Anderson, 1992). These pet owners reported that they got more exercise than the non-owners. (Anderson, 1992). The researchers came to the conclusion that the pet owners in their study had "lower levels of accepted risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and this was not explicable on the basis of smoking, diet, body mass index, or socioeconomic profile." (Anderson, 1992). As you can see, pets are not only beneficial to our psychological well-being, but also to our physical health. Anderson also found that dog or cat owners, in general, had fewer heart problems, and that they also made fewer visits to the doctor. (no author, no date).

    Research done in Australia by Morgan Research had some interesting findings concerning the estimates of health savings for pet owners.(Humphries, 1994). Dog and cat owners paid 4.41 visits to the doctor per year, whereas all others went 5 times. (Humphries, 1994). Therefore, the savings were $790 million on health expenditure annually after the figures were completed.(Humphries, 1994). The savings from GP visits was $44.754 million annually, pharmaceuticals was $31.430 million, and hospitalization was $186.3 million. (Humphries, 1994). The grand total that the researchers came up with was $262.484 million!!(Humphries, 1994).

    Owning a pet can give us a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment. As the above research has proven, pets are important for health. Having pets is even more beneficial for people with AIDS or HIV.(PAWS, no date). Having a dog around constantly nuzzling and seeking affection can be a major high point in the life of someone who has AIDS or HIV and people are afraid to touch him or her.(PAWS, no date). This best friend will not abandon him when times are tough and nobody seems to care. His pet will give him companionship and joy that is difficult to find when he is infected with this deadly disease. (PAWS, no date). "People are more likely to smile or say something nice to you when you are walking a dog than when you are walking alone." (PAWS, no date). This can help to ease the problem of changes in social interaction as a result of the infection or disease. (PAWS, no date). Pets are also helpful in reducing stress and overall well-being.(PAWS, no date).

    Animals can also be used for other methods of improving health. Horse riding is a beneficial method of therapy. It promotes a general sense of well-being, away from hospitals, out in the fresh air.(Special Equestrian Riding Therapy, no date). Another benefit of horse riding is that it promotes improved self-confidence, because this activity is normally done by able-bodied people.(S.E.R.T., no date). It also makes exercise interesting, and the rider's world grows from being confined and dependent to a brand new world in the great outdoors. (S.E.R.T., no date). Riding can also stimulate the person to communicate more about his or her new activity. (S.E.R.T., no date). Fears can be mastered by the rider, because it is not an easy task staying on the horse and learning a new skill. (S.E.R.T., no date). It also takes a great deal of patience learning to train on the horse, so the rider learns that self-control is the key to handling a situation. (S.E.R.T., no date). Finally, learning to ride a horse can give the handicapped person a sense that he has control of his life again. (S.E.R.T., no date).

    However, there is one downside to owning a pet. Obviously, a pet is not immortal, so it is a disturbing fact that the time will come when we have to face the harsh reality of our pet's death. However, pet owners are not given much sympathy for their loss from society, which can be difficult to cope with.(Scannell, 1996). Hurtful comments such as "It's only a dog. You can always get another," may be said to the grieving owner, which is not the proper thing to say in a time of mourning.(Scannell, 1996). It is hard to imagine this being said following the death of a family member, which a pet is usually considered. Strong support is needed from friends and relatives to help the grieving person through his or her difficult time.(Scannell, 1996).

    What adds another complication to the death of a pet is that there is no social ritual to formalize the grief, whereas a funeral would be given for a human.(Scannell, 1996). Having such a ceremony might seem eccentric, but the loss of a pet can be very traumatizing.(Scannell, 1996).

    As with the loss of a family member, there are several stages that people can go through following the loss of an animal.(Scannell, 1996). The first stage is denial, which is the way that our minds deal with a sudden emotional trauma.(Scannell, 1996).

    The second stage is bargaining, which is the offering of a sacrifice in an attempt to spare the pet's life.(Scannell, 1996). This stage is less of a factor when dealing with a pet's death, but it is still present.(Scannell, 1996). An example could be, "If Doggie recovers, I promise to always walk him twice a day."

    The third stage is anger.(Scannell, 1996). Dealing with the anger is much more difficult than recognizing it, and it can be in the form of aggression, or even guilt.(Scannell, 1996). The immediate frustrations can be relieved by making statements such as "if you hadn't let him run free, he wouldn't have gotten hit by that car," but this accomplishes nothing more than making someone else feel guilty. (Scannell, 1996). Thinking that you could have prevented the death will not make the anger disappear.(Scannell, 1996).

    The fourth stage is grief, which is the stage of immense sadness.(Scannell, 1996). The only thing that remains after the anger and guilt subside is a terrible emptiness that requires support from loved ones .(Scannell, 1996). Without this support, the stage can be prolonged until the sadness is finally resolved, whether it is by seeking professional help or by simply talking with someone who cares and listens to your feelings.(Scannell, 1996). The termination of the grief stage can be expedited by having a proper good-bye for your pet.(Scannell, 1996). This can be in the form of a cremation or a burial.(Scannell, 1996). This is the first part of the process, the second being the acceptance of the pet's death.(Scannell, 1996). The length of this stage can vary from person to person, but showing a final gesture of love(such as a memorial) is an effective part of the healing.(Scannell, 1996). The most important part of this final stage is to allow time to cope and heal.(Scannell, 1996). Some helpful hints to help ease the sadness are to look at old photos, and also to re-establish daily routines to get back into the swing of things.(Maffitt, 1995).

    Children can have a difficult time with the death of a family pet. This could be their first experience with any type of death, and they could have the fear that other loved ones are going to abandon them in the same way. (Maffitt, 1995). A key to help prevent this is not to lie and say that the pet "ran away."(Maffitt, 1995). It should also be stated that it is perfectly normal to experience grief, and other members of the family showing their own sadness can make it easier for the children to show theirs.(Maffitt, 1995).

    Pets play a very instrumental part of many people's lives. They can effect us not only psychologically, but also physically. For the most part, animals can bring us only joy and happiness which cannot be exchanged for any amount of money.

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