Have you ever met one of those crazy cat ladies that have 10 cats and you think to yourself, ‘how sad is that?’ Or maybe you’ve seen a “dog mom” on Instagram talking about how much she loves her pup and the struggles of “parenthood?” Sometimes we think these people are crazy because they have this special bond with their animals.
Taking a look at what companion animals are and how they are beneficial to us will help you understand why attachment is of crucial importance to people. As a dog owner myself, and someone who has taken a companion animal class, I have personally seen how this is true.
What is a companion animal?
Companion animals are species that have a special association with people, and interact with their owners. Some examples of companion animals would be dogs, cats, horses, and even fish if you interact with them, but you wouldn’t consider cattle and livestock to be companion animals.
Nearly 2/3 of American families have at least one companion animal. According to a 2018 study done by American Pet Products, over 60 million homes in the US own at least one dog. With over half of the households in our country owning a pet, it makes me wonder why so many people get them.
Why do people get pets?
An article published by Harold Herzog at Western Carolina University states, “when asked what they specifically get from their relationships with pets, people typically mention companionship, having a play partner, and the need to love and care for another creature.”
I would agree that these three reasons are true, but people also get pets for protection, handicapped reasons, such as being visually impaired, and some people seek animals for sporting purposes, such as hunting.
No matter what the reasoning for obtaining a pet, the relationship built with that animal has shown to have beneficial health effects.
How do we benefit from the human-animal bond?
Pets have shown to improve human health and happiness by reducing stress and relieving depression.
An article published in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, by Erika Friedmann, states, “pet ownership, or just being in the presence of companion animal, is associated with health benefits, including improvements in mental, social, and physiological health status.”
Animals have also been shown to teach caring behavior and responsibility to children, as well as increase their levels of self-esteem.
Lastly, that feeling of attachment and being bonded so something else gives you the sensation of being needed.
Review (if you're still not sure you should get a pet):
I hope you now understand what a companion animal is and how being attached to one can greatly impact the quality of your state of life.
Whether you’re a cat person, a dog person, a horse person, or you’re even into exotic companion animals, such as snakes and ferrets, there is scientific evidence to suggest our overall state as people is improved by having that companionship in our lives.
If you don’t have a pet, I want to encourage you all to do your own research and find out what companion animal you would be most compatible with. If you do have a pet, go home and play with them, love on them, and be appreciative for all the benefits they bring to your life just by being there.
References
Friedmann, E., & Son, H. (2009). The Human–Companion Animal Bond: How Humans Benefit. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 39(2), 293-326. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2008.10.015
Herzog, H. (2011). The Impact of Pets on Human Health and Psychological Well-Being. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 20(4), 236-239. doi:10.1177/0963721411415220
Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp
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