The Benefits of the Companionship of Pets
May 18, 2010
Dr. Platzhund
All people in rural areas and mostly those in peri-urban areas are raised in an environment with animal contact and understanding. The high density dwellings where body corporates, in their constitutions, and property developers, in the title deeds, have placed a NO PETS policy are denying companionship for the lonely people in an isolated society, are causing pets to be relocated or euthanased, and creating a society of youngsters who have not had the privilege of growing up and owning a pet. Children deprived of this human-animal interaction have been proven scientifically to most likely become dysfunctional parents.
The benefit of pets is a thesis on its own. The unconditional love and attention derived from a doting, obedient dog can never be emulated by friends or family. A compatible animal in any home environment is a cost-effect therapist and stress modulator. It has been scientifically proven that patting a cat on one’s lap causes the releases of chemicals (e.g. phenylalanine) in the brain that helps to reduce human blood pressure, causing relaxation.
What you see in an animal is what you get. They do not have hidden agendas. Want an honest relationship? Get a pet! Pets are non-judgemental! One can be old, ugly, disabled or poor and the animal just accepts you as the best thing since bones fell off the truck.
A dog can be a most effective 24-hour alarm protection that does not fail due to a flat battery or electricity outages. The small breeds are highly vocal as a vigilant warning system, feared mostly by potential intruders, whereas the medium to large breeds are formidable in size and strength and only the foolhardy would dare enter their turf unescorted.
A pet offers loyalty, genuine interaction and a bond of inter-dependence. Pets convert a house into a home. People derive a feeling of being needed and a belonging. Pets help formalize family structures. A dog and cat are good listeners and when people who need to talk, or like to talk, have got such a receptive audience all personal secrets can be revealed with the guarantee of confidentiality.
Owning a pet has no stigma attached to it. Once a suitable pet is chosen one can enjoy an uncomplicated and forgiving relationship.
How many people that own pets look for the first opportunity to tell others about the activities, idiosyncrasies and entertainment they derive from their beloved companions? Pets are a stimulant for laughter and an effective conversation catalyst not only amongst family and friends but on a walk in the park with strangers. Pet-owning people are perceived as more socially acceptable therefore companion animals positively influence one’s image.
A socially acceptable pet relieves depression and gives many people a multitude of
reasons to live:
• Forced physiological exercise e.g. walking, spend more time outdoors, breathing in fresh
air
• A personal interest in a “family member” that needs to be needed
• Alleviates boredom
• Mental stimulation and emotional fulfillment
• More sociable and more ambitious
• Increases person’s self-esteem and psychological well-being
• Helps perceives stressful events as surmountable challenges rather than threatening
impossibilities
• Instills friendship values
• Gives humans a reason to wake up in the morning, etc.
• Decreases people’s feeling of isolation, especially the elderly, the infirmed and those
without family or friends
Dogs, cats and horses can teach children:
• the cycle of nature: birth, growth, illness, recovery, pleasure, ageing, death
• safe physical contact i.e. to touch, hold, hug, kiss
• responsibility and commitment for health care, feeding, recreation, grooming
• the meaning of unconditional love and vigilant attention. Children growing up with a
positive association with animals are far better, kinder and understanding parents.
• Nurturing skills
The elderly receive more family visits. Old people live longer and healthier lives, with pets. In this modern age elderly people are sent off to retirement villages and old aged homes where families hardly ever visit. The therapeutic benefit of pets can mostly alleviate the loneliness of senior citizens, who can competently look after themselves.
Pets are more tolerant and sensitive towards people who suffer from problems e.g. autism and depression
In institutions or hospitals pets can take off a large percentage of pressure from professional staff supervising patients with disabilities and ill-health
People who own pets have empathy for those without.
If you do not own a pet there may not be anything wrong with you, but certainly there is something wrong with your life.
Article courtesy of Dr. Platzhund
PetSure's Medical Advisor
All people in rural areas and mostly those in peri-urban areas are raised in an environment with animal contact and understanding. The high density dwellings where body corporates, in their constitutions, and property developers, in the title deeds, have placed a NO PETS policy are denying companionship for the lonely people in an isolated society, are causing pets to be relocated or euthanased, and creating a society of youngsters who have not had the privilege of growing up and owning a pet. Children deprived of this human-animal interaction have been proven scientifically to most likely become dysfunctional parents.
The benefit of pets is a thesis on its own. The unconditional love and attention derived from a doting, obedient dog can never be emulated by friends or family. A compatible animal in any home environment is a cost-effect therapist and stress modulator. It has been scientifically proven that patting a cat on one’s lap causes the releases of chemicals (e.g. phenylalanine) in the brain that helps to reduce human blood pressure, causing relaxation.
What you see in an animal is what you get. They do not have hidden agendas. Want an honest relationship? Get a pet! Pets are non-judgemental! One can be old, ugly, disabled or poor and the animal just accepts you as the best thing since bones fell off the truck.
A dog can be a most effective 24-hour alarm protection that does not fail due to a flat battery or electricity outages. The small breeds are highly vocal as a vigilant warning system, feared mostly by potential intruders, whereas the medium to large breeds are formidable in size and strength and only the foolhardy would dare enter their turf unescorted.
A pet offers loyalty, genuine interaction and a bond of inter-dependence. Pets convert a house into a home. People derive a feeling of being needed and a belonging. Pets help formalize family structures. A dog and cat are good listeners and when people who need to talk, or like to talk, have got such a receptive audience all personal secrets can be revealed with the guarantee of confidentiality.
Owning a pet has no stigma attached to it. Once a suitable pet is chosen one can enjoy an uncomplicated and forgiving relationship.
How many people that own pets look for the first opportunity to tell others about the activities, idiosyncrasies and entertainment they derive from their beloved companions? Pets are a stimulant for laughter and an effective conversation catalyst not only amongst family and friends but on a walk in the park with strangers. Pet-owning people are perceived as more socially acceptable therefore companion animals positively influence one’s image.
A socially acceptable pet relieves depression and gives many people a multitude of
reasons to live:
• Forced physiological exercise e.g. walking, spend more time outdoors, breathing in fresh
air
• A personal interest in a “family member” that needs to be needed
• Alleviates boredom
• Mental stimulation and emotional fulfillment
• More sociable and more ambitious
• Increases person’s self-esteem and psychological well-being
• Helps perceives stressful events as surmountable challenges rather than threatening
impossibilities
• Instills friendship values
• Gives humans a reason to wake up in the morning, etc.
• Decreases people’s feeling of isolation, especially the elderly, the infirmed and those
without family or friends
Dogs, cats and horses can teach children:
• the cycle of nature: birth, growth, illness, recovery, pleasure, ageing, death
• safe physical contact i.e. to touch, hold, hug, kiss
• responsibility and commitment for health care, feeding, recreation, grooming
• the meaning of unconditional love and vigilant attention. Children growing up with a
positive association with animals are far better, kinder and understanding parents.
• Nurturing skills
The elderly receive more family visits. Old people live longer and healthier lives, with pets. In this modern age elderly people are sent off to retirement villages and old aged homes where families hardly ever visit. The therapeutic benefit of pets can mostly alleviate the loneliness of senior citizens, who can competently look after themselves.
Pets are more tolerant and sensitive towards people who suffer from problems e.g. autism and depression
In institutions or hospitals pets can take off a large percentage of pressure from professional staff supervising patients with disabilities and ill-health
People who own pets have empathy for those without.
If you do not own a pet there may not be anything wrong with you, but certainly there is something wrong with your life.
Article courtesy of Dr. Platzhund
PetSure's Medical Advisor
Posted by FE Ndhlovu.
Clive E Berman is the Managing Director of PetSure (Pty) Ltd (South Africa)
PetSure is a licensed Financial Services Provider FSP Number: 9846.
PetSure is underwritten by the Hollard Insurance Company (Pty) Ltd
(Reg. No. 1952/003004/06)
