Benefits of Pets
The Dogs Trust, a UK animal welfare charity, introduced a new slogan during the Coronavirus pandemic. Their original slogan ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ was widely recognisable in the UK but they made a small change to it to ‘a dog is for life, not just for lockdown’. Although it seemed like a lot of people were looking to spin bikes, yoga videos or recipe boxes to improve their wellbeing, it’s not until you look at the numbers that you realise more people were using the time to adopt pets to keep them company through the pandemic than ever before.
An article published by the Statista Research Department back in August 2021 showed that the number of household’s in the UK that owned a pet rose to an unprecedented high of 59% in 2020/2021. This is a substantial increase compared to the stable percentage from 2011 to 2018 of 47 – 45%. The article on Statista.com highlights that, as of 2019, the UK was the second highest-ranking European country in terms of its dog population, beaten only by Germany. Global pet ownership draws in some staggering numbers. One pet insurance company has stated that New Zealand has the highest percentage of households owning a pet than any other country in the world. Brazil seems to be barmy about birds and the USA? Crazy about fish.
But why is it that that so many households own a pet and what are their benefits?
The secret to happiness is giving and the act of giving is the number one rule to pet ownership, so is this why pet owners are happy?
Pet owners need to give time to loving, training and playing, and give money to pet stores, veterinary bills and suitable living accommodation, ranging from beds to cages. However, pets give back to their owners in abundance.
Pets that spend time outdoors give owners space outside in the fresh air. Studies show that spending time outside is mood boosting, because levels of anxiety and stress reduce by raising oxygen levels in the brain, increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is the chemical that the body produces that can stabilise our mood and it has been linked to living longer, happier lives.
A pet that needs walking provides the owner with exercise as well and we all know the extensive health benefits of getting moving for humans. Exercising can help control weight, promotes better sleep and can make your heart stronger. Exercise also increases dopamine levels naturally. Like serotonin, dopamine is a chemical found in the body and is sometimes called the ‘happy hormone’ as it results in feelings of joy and reward.
Having a pet can also improve mental health. Humans can identify a pet as another being that is important and significant to them. This process, known as ‘Social Recognition’, can improve our self-worth -- being connected to something and having a strong bond can ease stress and bring joy. Owning a pet can also help owners form a new social circle or network through training classes, a shared interest or, online appreciation groups. Not just adults benefit from pets, pets can help children learn about responsibility and empathy from a young age, and some studies show that pets can help children create secure attachment styles.
If pets can make us spend more time outside, be more active, happier and more social, then it is no surprise why many households around the world choose to have one. Ask not what you can do for your pet but what your pet can do for you.