Pet Ownership And Perceived Well Being

“In the early nineteen-seventies, for instance, the biologist Erika Friedmann, of Brooklyn College, studied how heart-attack patients respond to social support. Patients who had a dog or cat, she found, were more than four times as likely to survive a year after a heart attack than those who didn’t have a pet” (Bilger, part 3, paragraph 21). If the research is done, it is easy to see that humans generally live longer if they own a pet. Caring for a pet can be emotional also. Sharing a living space with another living being will allow you to get attached to them and build relationships you probably had never thought you’d have before. In the article, The Last Meow, it explains how Karen had suffered injuries in an accident and found later that she could not get pregnant. Knowing that she could not start a family and living in pain everyday was taking a toll on her mentally and emotionally. However, when they had started caring for their cats, she found a way to fill her depression. “Karen had studied enough psychology to suspect that her feelings for Lady were party misplaced mothering instincts, but she also knew that relationships like theirs could have a particular intensity” (Bilger, part 3, paragraph 21). Owning the cats made her happy. It is obvious why she would go through debt just to save the

The research question states ‘To what extent is owning a dog beneficial for a person’s physical and psychological health?’ The investigation is aimed to determine the extent of the benefits of owning a dog for a person’s physical and psychological health. The main focus will be on exercising, developing one’s responsibility and companionship. The findings from this research target on people those involved or interested in owning a dog, such as dog owners, animal lovers, children and the elderly. The investigation will address three key benefits of owning a dog in terms of maintaining one’s physical and psychological health, which include exercise, taking responsibility and companionship.

Pets provide a sense of comfort and purpose in their owner’s life (Bennett). Humans have the basic need to touch, thus, when a person strokes an animal, blood pressure lowers and leaves that person feeling more calmed and less stressed (Robinson and Segal), though researchers believe that cats have a more calming effect on people than other animals do (WebMD). Giving a child a pet is very effective in helping them develop basic motor and social skills, a sense of responsibility, compassion, empathy, stimulate imagination, creativity, curiosity, and even make them feel better about themselves. Furthermore, both children and adults alike become more active when having a pet for a companion (Robinson and Segal). “Horseback riding gives stretching exercise, and helps at regaining balance and building core strength” (WebMD). While multiple studies have shown that walking one’s dog, grooming, and even petting boosts fitness, also counting as weight-loss, strengthens the heart, muscles, immune system, and bones, while improving blood circulation, boosting energy, and slowing the loss of bone tissue (WebMD; Robinson and Segal; Humane Society of the United States) “People who have pets tend to have better levels of cholesterol, cortisol, and triglyceride” (WebMD), moreover, “playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax” (Robinson and Segal). “In 2001, a study

Have you ever noticed that dog owners are happier and healthier than non dog owners?Dogs have been used for centuries and we still love them as our trusting companions. There are many reasons that dogs are called a “mans’ best friend”. Having a dog can have many benefits including lower risk of cardiovascular complications, they can improve your mood, and they can help with many physical and mental disabilities in the form of service dogs or mobility support dogs.

Scientists have shown that pet ownership can have demonstrably positive effects on human health. "A 10-month prospective study was carried out which examined changes in behaviour and health status in 71 adult subjects following the acquisition of a new pet (either dogs or cats). A group of 26 subjects without pets served as a comparison over the same period. Both pet-owning groups reported a highly significant reduction in minor health problems during the first month following pet acquisition, and this effect was sustained in dog owners through to 10 months" (Serpell 1991). Dog owners in particular benefited from

The survey will help me reach the goal of reducing the feelings of depression, loneliness, low self-steam and autonomy that older adults face when they live alone. With the survey I will get information about which areas the participant improved after spending time with their dog or cat, and what areas need improvement. The animals should provide love to the elders, and companionship. I will also be able to see the benefits that dogs bring to the health of the elders, like normal blood pressure and higher immune

We all know that owning pets make us happy. But research is suggesting that pets can also make us healthy, or healthier. That explain the increasing use of animal therapy, dogs and cats mostly, but people also use birds, fish and even horses, they are being used in hospitals, nursing homes to schools, jails and mental institutions. They are being use for

Owning and caring for pets is an extremely normal thing for people throughout the world. The love that millions of communities have for animals is huge and it brings a multitude of people together because of their common bond. Many studies have indicated that owning a pet can better the owner’s health, and even lengthen his/her life. Pets can be incredibly helpful for a variety of reasons making people agree that pets bring more enjoyment than dissatisfaction. Owning pets has become a very popular trend for a number of reasons, such as service, protection, and companionship.

pets can make you happy when you are sad or be with you in the worst times.

I am debating between two different research questions. The first one is, “Are there health benefits from owning a pet?” and the second one is “ How are pets being used for therapeutic needs and is this reliable?” I have always been interested in animals since I was a little girl. Besides my love for dance, my affinity for animals is just as great. My ultimate goal is to go to vet school, hopefully at The University of Florida, and then eventually own my own general practice clinic. My family has always had some sort of pet in the household as my brother and I were growing up. The pets include: a Bichon, German Shepard, and a Yorkshire Terrier. Throughout my years of having a pet it has become apparent to me that I am a much calmer and happier

Many pet owners perceive to say that having a pet is the best thing in the whole world. In the United States, about 63% of households have a furry friend to call their own. They come in many different colors and sizes that make them unique and fun to play with. However, owning a pet anywhere can be very controversial. Some people think that owning a pet can throw away most their money that they earn on a day to day basis. Even if that might be true, pets can also benefit people in many ways that is worth spending a little extra money. In my opinion, I think that everyone should have a pet of their own because they can improve health, can provide entertainment, and create a special friendship or companionship with its owner. (6)

Pet adoption brings myriad health benefits. One of these benefits is the loyal companionship of shelter animals. GAWS shelter’s acting chief executive, Mia Shaw states, “There are big positives for a person’s mental and physical wellbeing in adopting a pet – there are so many benefits to adopting a dog or cat, including companionship and friendship” (qtd. in Sum 19). These animals help human beings physically and mentally by providing another incentive to exercise, and by providing a steady companionship. These benefits could potentially save the lives of depressed people and improve the lives of incapacitated people. Inclusively, shelter animals reduce stress and other health-related issues. Rescue cat owner, Lisa Barley notes, “Not only will you benefit from the joys of a furry friend’s unconditional love, but a pet can have a positive impact on your health, from helping you stay physically active to reducing stress and lowering blood pressure” (48). Adopting a pet is much like obtaining a best friend, who will provide unconditional love and support when the person needs it the most. Furthermore, most of the shelter animals are caged for days or even months, resulting in being restricted from social environments. Consequently, these animals end up being friendlier when they are adopted and placed in a steady home, unlike the ones obtained

Identity can be expressed in different types of possessions. Except money, house, collections, and other products which have been purchased and kept by consumers, Belk (1988) claims that pets can be one part of the possession categories and act as extensions of the consumer’s self. Furthermore, Holbrook and Zwick (2006) hold the similar ideas that consumers who are pet fancy that would like to use pets as possessions to build self-identity, and especially dogs, are raised by their owners with human qualities (Elizabeth 2013). There is a research did by Franklin (1999), who state that pets have become one of the most important elements that can be used to identify certain groups, such as wealthier people and poor people. There is another “pet-related consumption” research did by Datamonitor and Euromonitor (2005), which shows that the amount of money that consumers spend on pets has experienced a significantly increase, to be specific, American spend $34 billion in 2004 and European spend $21 billion in the same year. Those two researches all imply a fact

“I think I could turn and live with the animals. They are so placid and self-contained,'; writes American poet Walt Whitman (Schellenberg 1). Yes, pets have been part of human culture throughout history, and in American households, they are more common than children. It is reported that 58% of U.S. households have at least one pet, whereas only 35% have children (Whitaker; Witherell 76). Owners spend billions of dollars each year on pet food, accessories, and veterinary care, but apparently pets give back, too (Schellenberg 1). Medical studies show that pet companionship offers concrete health benefits (Simross 14). While only in the past few decades have scientists become interested in the benefits of pets on human health

Pets can fill a void in an owner’s life, by allowing them to nurture something and receive a sense of satisfaction. Socially pets have become so much a part of our daily lives that they are often treated as if they were children, some lucky pets even attend daily play sessions, and are treated to extreme indulgence; all to make their owner feel as if they were an infant or a child. Blind owners rely on their seeing eye dogs to guide them around wherever they go; they are trained to guide them past and around obstacles. The National Institute of Health states, “More than half of all U.S. households have a companion animal. Pets are more common in households with children, yet there are more pets than children in American households. There are more than 51 million dogs, 56 million cats, 45 million birds, 75 million small mammals and reptiles, and uncounted millions of aquarium fish” (np). Many movie stars and rich and famous people have begun using pets as a status symbol. Millions of dollars are spent finding the perfect and most valuable pet even to the extent that the original breed of animal has become unrecognizable or even extinct. This need for high status and perfection has resulted in safety risks to both pets and the people they live with. Inbreeding and tampering with cross genes in animals often result in an animal of inferior security and emotional stability, thus resulting in an aggressive and violent temperament. In an attempt to