Is It Beneficial For Human Beings To Have Pets?

Hypothesis: Is it beneficial for human beings to have pets?

Generally people have pets to enjoy their company and affection. Pets have been and will be a great ally of humans in everyday life. Some have been used for work. Therefore, man has been domesticating different animals transforming them into pets. One of the most emblematic is the dog. They have for centuries been faithful helpers of man in their tasks, being mainly used for hunting other animals. This piece of work aims to show the influence and the effects that the presence of pets in the life of human beings has.

There are numerous studies that have shown that pets have a positive influence on health and human well-being. These effects will be classified and analyzed according to four specific areas: therapeutic, physiological, psychological and psychosocial.

Therapeutic area

Animals as a therapeutic resource can be included in treatment as a motivational assisted therapy or physical therapy. The first aims to introduce an animal permanently with a specific regularity in the environment of a person, in order to allow the establishment of an affective link. This methodology has been used in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Alzheimer's disease (see ANEX 1) and various psychological disorders; it was established in homes for elderly people, prisons, hospitals and psychiatric institutions. This type of therapy has enhanced the rehabilitation of cardiac patients and has increased the survival rate of coronary disease. Recently, there is great interest in understanding the effects of the presence of animals as part of work environments.

Thinking about people who have recovered and who still have the ability to live independently, some institutions have designed special programs. One program is the ongoing assistance of volunteers to meet the physical needs of pets. Benefactors have also been linked so that the economic factor is not a difficulty. Another type of program is to give adult pets in a "loan" as a constant companion during the time the person is autonomous. In circumstances of temporary illness, pets are cared for by volunteers, and in the case of permanent disability or death these pets are placed in other homes. A volunteer organization widely recognized in the United States is "Pets Are Wonderful Support to" (PAWS) (see ANEX 2), where pets assist people with AIDS. This organization in its 10 years of operation has about 500 clients and collaborates on all the necessities needed for the owners to continue with their pets despite the advance of the disease.

Physical therapy is another way to obtain therapeutic effects through the animals. The best known is the equine therapy (see ANEX 3), which began in Europe about 50 years ago and has been spreading rapidly in many countries. This therapy has become a tool to increase physical abilities based on the multidimensional movement of the horse. It improves motor function, muscle tone, posture, balance, coordination and sensorimotor location. It has been used in patients with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, developmental delay and cerebral trauma.

Physiological area

Keeping pets is a protective factor for cardiovascular disease (see ANEX 4); it can modify several risk factors: decreased blood pressure, heart rate, anxiety and stress caused by loneliness are reduced and endorphins are released when patting pets. Dog owners have increased their physical activity compared to those who do not possess pets, and consequently the first generally have better health, reflected in fewer doctor visits. In a study by Lynch with cardiac patients who were discharged from the intensive care unit, it was determined that the most influential factor in the survival and recovery of these patients was the severity of damage in the myocardium, followed by the tenancy of a pet. Mortality in the first year of recovery was four times higher in patients who had no pets.

In Australia, obesity is a public health concern. One way to promote exercise has been through the ownership of a dog. In this country it has been estimated to have a potential of 175 million dollars in services in the area of health savings if all dog owners walked daily for 30 minutes with their pet. Recently, studies have been conducted to determine if the ownership of cats and dogs can influence the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic and allergic rhinitis. The Meer et al and authors Hesselmar et al concluded that having a dog or cat as a pet in the first years of life is a protective factor against allergic diseases mentioned above. These authors propose a hypothesis for these results: microbial exposure early in life may protect against allergic diseases by a possible variation of the immune response of lymphocytes to the non-allergenic type. An exposure in early life is up to 6 years, and acquired protection lasts throughout adulthood, independent from the presence of a dog or a cat at this stage of life.

Psychological area

The bond between people and animals has been the subject of numerous studies which have evaluated the attributes of this relationship on mental health (see ANEX 6). Pets help reduce psychological distress, reduce loneliness and increase the sense of privacy, leading to the search for the preservation of life in sick people. In states of depression, stress, bereavement and social isolation, pets become unconditional support, increasing self-esteem and sense of responsibility that necessarily create better integration with society . Pets allow children to develop the feeling of attachment. In a research by Wood et al, the authors found that pet owners rarely or never felt alone, they could easily make new friends and had a greater number of people to turn to in times of trouble or crisis, compared to people without pets.

Psychosocial area

Such is the influence of pets in community life, that it has been described as an antidote for human anonymity in public places of today's society, thereby promoting interaction between strangers (see ANEX 5). A study by Wood et al demonstrated that animal owners have greater ease of socialization, to establish the bond of trust in interpersonal relationships and be more involved in community events and appropriation of parks and other recreational areas with their pet. Neighbors often ask each other favors which involve the pet, creating a link of high trust, solidarity and gratitude among them. This makes it transcend beyond the owner-pet relationship. The sense of reciprocity is one of the fundamental pillars of a community and pets are a catalyst which routs owners and other members towards it.

Conclusion

There are many reasons to assert that it is beneficial for human beings to have pets. The positive influence of pets on health and well-being of human beings is well recognized and includes psychological, physiological, therapeutic and psychosocial aspects. Their role as facilitators in motivational and physical therapy of numerous diseases, has allowed the beneficial effects of the keeping of animals to be used in the therapeutic setting. Additionally, pet company has been recognized as a protective factor against cardiovascular diseases and reducing the stress of their owners. Pets are a psychological support; they reduce the feeling of loneliness and allow interaction between their owners and the social environment that surrounds them.

Currently, public health priority in developing countries is to control physical inactivity, obesity and mental health of its people and that is where pets have great potential as healers, as their presence implies the activity of their owners, providing them with emotional balance through the unconditional love they give. You only need to provide pets affection and care for their needs with love in return for memorable moments filled with laughter and joy. It is amazing how these things can help maintain physical and mental health, so it is important to thank for their company with every act of life.

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