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THE BENEFITS OF OWNING A PET
LESS MEDICAL PROBLEMS A study of 1,000 Medicare patients conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles found that those who owned pets had fewer medical care visits than those who did not own pets.
STRESS REDUCTION Karen Allen, Ph.D., of the State University of
New York at Buffalo researched the stress-reduction potential of pets. According to her
results, presented to the American Psychosomatic Society in 2001, people undergoing stressful
tasks had reduced heart rates and BP rates when accompanied by their dogs. The numbers
went up when both spouse and dog were around, and were highest with spouse present and
dog gone.
LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE Researchers have found that petting a dog
can actually lower blood pressure. A project at Australia's Baker Medical Research Institute evaluated 5,741 men and women for heart disease risk factors. Researchers found that the 784 pet owners had lower blood pressure and lower levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides in comparison to the non pet owners.
IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH Pet owners in our clinic population
had lower levels of accepted risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and this was not
explicable on the basis of cigarette smoking, diet, body mass index or socioeconomic profile.
The possibility that pet ownership reduces cardiovascular risk factors should therefore
be investigated. (Medical Journal Australia 1992; 157: 298-301)
PROVIDES EMOTIONAL THERAPY Close to half of the psychiatrists,
psychologists, and family practice physicians responding to a survey conducted by Kal Kan pet
foods reported that they have prescribed pets for their patients to combat loneliness,
depression, and other emotional problems including inactivity and stress. In a random
sampling, 57% of psychiatrists, 48% of psychologists, and 40% of family practice
physicians reported recommending animals for companionship, to provide
unconditional affection and warmth, to provide a focus or perspective,
amusement, and a feeling of being needed.
ANIMALS CAN BE TRAINED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Work at the State University of New York in Buffalo found that disabled people in wheelchairs who had service dogs were less depressed, less dependent on caregivers, and more active outside their homes than those without service dogs. "Each of these service dogs saved as much as $60,000 in patient-care costs over their eight-year working life span, as compared to the approximately $10,000 it costs to train a service dog," notes Roberts.
CHILDREN CAN BENEFIT FROM OWNING A PET Pets can play a very important role in children's social and educational development and have a positive impact on their health.
It is well known that children are fascinated by animals. This interest can help facilitate learning and have a positive effect on child development. Many diverse findings have been recorded, both for mainstream children and those with special needs. Lots of school communities have introduced pets in a number of imaginative and practical ways. Pet clubs, pet assemblies or pet days can help nurture a sense of reverence for life, give children a sense of responsibility and provide a fun route into many curriculum areas.
PETS CAN HELP PEOPLE RECOVER FROM ILLNESSES A study of 92 patients hospitalized for heart attacks
of angina discovered that pet owners were more likely to be alive a year later than those who
did not. The study found that only 6% of patients with pets died within one year compared
with 28% who did not own pets.
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