Pets in Wellness

ASK BARNEY

The Benefits We Experience When Pets (Animals) Are Beside Us

Pet Therapy works by providing proximity to animals to those who can benefit by it. What are the benefits we accrue when animals are brought near us? Delta Society suggests the following benefits of having pets beside us or living with pets.

We Develop More Empathy

Studies report that children who live in homes in which a pet is considered a member of the family are more empathetic than children in homes without pets.
This could be due to a variety of reasons:
Children see animals as peers. They can identify better with animals than human beings. Animal psychology is very simple. With animals, what you see is what you get. Humans are not as direct. We need to develop talent to read and interpret “body language.” Children can read an animal's body language.
As children get older, their ability to empathize with animals will carry over into their experiences with people.

We Develop An Outward Focus

Individuals who have mental illness or low self-esteem focus on themselves. Animals can help them focus on their environment. Rather than thinking and talking about themselves and their problems, they watch and talk to and about the animals.

Nurturing

Nurturing skills are learned. Most of learn this from our parents. Those who do not learn these skills from their parents can learn by taking care of their pets. By being taught to take care of an animal, the children can develop these skills. Psychologically, when a person nurtures, his/her need to be nurtured is being fulfilled.

Rapport

Animals can open a channel of emotionally safe, non-threatening communication between client and therapist.
In therapy settings, animals help present an air of emotional safety. If a therapist has an animal in his/her office, s/he "can't be all bad." The animal's presence may open a path through the person's initial resistance. Children are especially likely to project their feelings and experiences onto an animal.

Acceptance

Animals have a way of accepting without qualification. They don't care how a person looks or what they say. (Have you ever heard of your dog deciding to go to your neighbors because he or she feels it is better out there?) An animal's acceptance is nonjudgmental, forgiving, and uncomplicated by the psychological games people often play. They accept you the way you are.

Entertainment

The presence of an animal provides a much needed entertainment to those watching it. Even people who don't like animals often enjoy watching their antics and reactions. Especially in long-term care facilities, it seems everyone is entertained by animal visits in some way.

Socialization

Studies have shown that when dogs and cats come to visit a care facility, there is more laughter and interaction among residents than during any other "therapy" or entertainment time. In an inpatient setting, the presence of animals encourages socialization.