Pet Therapy

Woof, Woof, Meow, Meow: Take one of these and call me in the morning.

It never fails. A wagging tail causes an almost knee-jerk response. Whose face isn’t softened by the sight of an overjoyed ball of fur? It’s no coincidence that our feline and canine friends are displayed on the covers of so many greeting cards today.

Pet therapy may not be a phrase you hear from your doctor when discussing medical treatment plans, but maybe it should be. While underestimated by the general public, the benefits of pet therapy are well known among the people who have experienced it firsthand.

Bringing animals into the picture for their positive effects on the ailing human being has been in practice since 1792.

According to an article on www.medicalcareersource.com, the term "pet therapy" was coined by child psychiatrist Boris Levinson in 1964 when he found that severely withdrawn children responded to his dog so much that he began using the dog regularly in sessions.

Interaction with animals during recovery from illness, surgery or even when battling an ongoing disease can do things like decrease recovery time, lower blood pressure, and promote physical and emotional well-being. That last part about promoting overall better health is something more of us should consider.

If pets can bring about speedier recovery from an illness, imagine what they can do for daily stress levels? Ask any pet owner and they can tell you right away – a few pats on the head and stress starts to evaporate. Staring into a pair of saucer cup eyes starts to put things into perspective…are things really that bad?

An article titled, “The Healthy Pleasure of Their Company: Companion Animals and Human Health” by Karen Allen, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo gives some scientific support to the calming effects. “Based on clinical observations and data from existing studies, researchers have suggested that repeated interaction with a companion animal could have beneficial long-term effects, especially for people experiencing acute or chronic stress (Baun, Oetting, & Bergstrom, 1991).”

Here are some interesting statistics from www.fitstuff.com, which has gathered information from studies over the past 20 years:

• Older people with pets were more active and less likely to be depressed than their peers without pets.

• Pet owners with AIDS were less likely to be depressed than those without pets.

• Stockbrokers with high blood pressure who adopted a pet were better able to control their high blood pressure than stockbrokers without pets.

• People with pets have been shown to have lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease.

• Businesses that allow pets in the workplace found that employees believe that the animals reduce stress and improve their mental and physical health.

• Pet owners see doctors less often than those who don't own a pet.

Is this worth considering? Is owning a pet is out of the question for you? Don’t have much time? That’s OK – You don’t have to own a pet to benefit from a four-legged friend. Here are a few tips to consider and get you started:

• Consider the time factor. If you’re already stressed about how little time you have, taking care of your own pet will only set the stage for disappointment. Think of an alternative.

• A great idea is to check out your local animal shelter for volunteer opportunities - places like these are always looking for a few extra caring hands.

• Or maybe you know a neighbor who has a friendly pooch? See if you can organize a time once a week or more often when you can take him or her out for a walk and some playtime.

• To keep both yourself and the pet safe and happy, realize that not all pets are friendly and outgoing right away, just like people. Some animals require more of a “getting-to-know-you” phase. Be sure to ask the owner of handler if you may approach or touch the animal and ask permission before giving treats.

Milly is author of Beyond Words: A Guide to Drawing Out Ideas. She is co-author with Thomas Sechehaye of just-released Design Yourself and SOS: Stress Options and Solutions available at http://www.better-stress-advice.com

Milly and Thomas translate field-tested methods, from 17 years at Hands•On Graphics corporate trainings, to practical tools to help you reduce stress today!

Discover the newest visual and holistic approaches to manage stress and reduce information overload.

http://www.better-stress-advice.com