Pet Therapy
Pets - a domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship and pleasure
People who have pets must surely recognise the benefits of having our furry friends close by, yet more recently studies have made it evident that pets make a powerful difference to our health and wellbeing.
Being present and being connected to your pets is better than any medicine! The pawing and purring of your cat, the adoring look of your dog as he rests a paw on you is a reminder of the pace at which we could all slow down to, and which, in fact, many of us do only at the end of the day.
Milan Kundera was right when he wrote that animals are our link to paradise. And why? Because they provide us with a sense of peace and even make us laugh with their little shenanigans. They are also in many ways our connection to the natural world - especially for city dwellers with not much access to greenery.
Even simply stroking your pet makes the day seem and feel much better, let alone starting the day with a lick on the cheek or a cheeky nip to wake you up. I can really only speak from experience about cats and dogs, but I would have to guess that whatever pet you have, you chose (or they chose you) because you enjoy their company and find them adorable and beautiful...so please don’t take offense that I only reference these cuties, cause they’re really all I know, you can simply substitute with your own preferred pet, I’m sure the feelings are ultimately the same!
There is a sense of gratitude that embraces you in the look of a well loved pet, and I think all pets should be well loved and appreciated. They give us by far more than we could ever give them. There’s nothing to decode with pets and animals in general, you can understand their interactions and intentions. They let us know what they want, or need, and then they nuzzle their thanks into our palms. What do we get from this love? Lower blood pressure, decreasing cortisol levels, seriously reduced risk of heart attacks, companionship, as well as unconditional love. And if that wasn’t enough, pets are also a safeguard from depression and prevent loneliness too. It has been found that dog owners require less medical care for stress related issues, than non-dog owners. In the days before such evidence, Florence Nightingale would take companion animals into her hospitals because she found that they intuitively knew when someone was in need of affection, and this would improve a patient’s psychological and physical health. Nowadays Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is rapidly growing and with good reason.
Pets can also teach us positive qualities by association - a cat will make you more nurturing and homely; a dog will make you more active and companionable. I also find pets to be therapeutic because they are there to listen. When there is no one to talk to, you can always indulge in confiding your worries and concerns with them, and when they feel it’s quite serious they make it a point to stay close. They do this even when you’re unwell of course. Perhaps the best thing is that they listen without answering. Or rather, they answer in the gentlest of ways, they don’t judge yet are affectionate, they let us answer our own questions and queries. This might sound strange to someone who does not have pets or who does not talk to themselves, but it works wonders in calming me down and making me look at things with perspective. Although, I have to say that I don’t like to take advantage of my pets because they have the ability to take on so much for us, and then they also want to save us the burden of knowing they are in pain. So I would say burden them with caution, be calm and happy around them as much as you can, because let’s face it, it’s pretty easy to be! I think it’s all about balance, as with all relationships.
Love your pets for being in your life.
Love your pets because they make your life sooo much better.
Appreciate them everyday.
Appreciate them every chance you get.
P.S. If you cannot afford to have a pet right now, because of time, space and/or money constraints then why not try volunteering at a sanctuary nearby? From taking care of cats, walking dogs a few times a week, or even looking into your nearest equine centre for a little something different, I’m sure you’ll love it!