The ‘Pet Effect’: Advantages of Pet Ownership

Mintel.com conducted a 2017 Pet Owner survey and 66% reported their pet made them happy, 55% loved them, 54% relaxed them and 51% felt comforted by them – evidently we love having pets around! People own various species for different reasons but often keep pets as hobbies or pastimes for themselves rather than benefitting their physical or mental wellbeing.

“we can ditch the white-coated professionals and prescribe an all-encompassing pet remedy instead.”

While many may view a career in healthcare as the ultimate goal, other individuals prefer something else entirely – they seek adventure! At first, pets were just companions and surrogate children for us; providing companionship, confidanteship and security in our lives. But as of late they have also become miracle workers or Messiahs with fur, feather and scaled coats; being capable of curing us and our ailments simply by being present – often to such an extent that professionals no longer feel needed if you prescribe one as your solution! Psychologists have long recognized the therapeutic power of pets, coined by psychologists as the ‘pet effect’. This effect has been widely publicized through media coverage, scientific treatises, doctors’ advice and even animal experts as well as biased sources like the pet industry itself. Most health websites and lifestyle journals regularly cover this topic while Emma Clifford of Mintel advises the pet industry to promote it as such in its advertising.

“Pet ownership can bring with it an undeniable feel-good factor that can be leveraged through highly engaging marketing messages. Ads that focus on rewarding pets for the emotional benefits they bring their owners are likely to resonate, while there may also be opportunities for products or services with specific emotional benefits for animals,” according to Emma Clifford, Associate Director of Food & Drink at Mintel.
Pet ownership and caregiving for dogs specifically has been touted for possessing powerful health advantages:

Reduce blood pressure and pain from migraines and arthritis by decreasing anxiety, depression and loneliness; improve cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol; decreasing your risk of heart attack by 30% and stroke by 40%; encourage exercise and playfulness and promote physical well-being; as well as providing more opportunities to participate in physical activities and make friends.
Animals bring great pleasure into our lives, lifting spirits and providing companionship while socialising, as well as alerting diabetics that their blood sugar level has decreased through changes in behavior of dogs, cats, birds or rabbits.
Research shows that instead of increasing allergies in children, which is a frequent reason to discard pets, they actually help build immunity, while holding and petting them can soothe those living with autism and ADHD. A consensus exists regarding their significant contribution to children’s social and emotional development if access isn’t granted early enough; pets reportedly act as role models, friendship, responsibility promotion tools and promote respect for rights – while keeping children entertained!

Paul Sheehan of the Sydney Morning Herald illustrates this phenomenon of exaggerated pet effects:

“Animal companions – most notably dogs and cats – provide tremendous value to human health systems. People living with animals at home typically visit doctors less frequently, take less medication, have lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, recover quickly after surgery and show reduced heart disease risk factors. Elderly people especially benefit from companionship provided by pets; companionship reduces loneliness for this group of individuals; if dogs and cats become less popular as household residents – which appears likely given recent numbers – then that would represent a net cultural loss.”
Unfortunately, in our exuberance we often fail to consider the interests and wellbeing of animals providing lifesaving service, further reinforcing that our relationship with animals is entirely one-sided – their perceived benefit to us being solely considered when making decisions on their welfare.

Unfortunately, science has yet to demonstrate that pet keepers are healthier, happier or longer-lived than those without pets; in fact, studies contradicting such claims have just as many supporters as detractors. Dr Harold Herzog, an accomplished and highly regarded psychologist states this point well:

Dr Harold Herzog states: ‘Despite growing research on the bonds between humans and pets, their effects on human health and happiness remains an open hypothesis that requires confirmation rather than being an established fact’.

So who should we believe – media, pet industry marketing people or science? No matter who is right, adopting animals in hopes they’ll solve all our physical and psychological ailments may not be wise.