More Than Just Good Company Visiting Pets Enhance Well-Being Coming home to a gleeful pup or having a purring feline warm your lap are some of the simplest pleasures know to us human creatures. The uncomplicated affection pets provide brings many benefits to our lives; and now, through "visiting dogs" programs, the same benefits are brought to the lives of hospital patients, the disabled, the elderly, prisoners, and those living in supervised residential settings. Many people in hospitals and group homes have had to give up their pets and miss them dearly.
A number of researchers have documented the positive physiological effects pets can have on humans, including lower blood pressure, increased physical exertion, and even longer life spans. Most studies cite the well-known fact that one of the most primary needs we have is to be touched. Physicality requires a level of trust that can quickly achieved with a tail-thumping pooch. Sometimes human interaction can be too complicated, but a pet pays little attention to age or physical ability and simply accepts people as they are. This casual acceptance is priceless �?and a lesson we could all learn from.
Other benefits of making friends with animals include:
* Giving us a point of focus outside ourselves
* Breaking down barriers and increasing interaction between other humans (we've all heard about the "bachelor with a puppy" trick)
* Offering a non-judgmental ear to bend. People often share their thoughts and feelings with pets that they wouldn't share with others
* Satisfying the need to feel needed
* Bringing joy and laughter to daily life
Through a number of programs across the country, pet owners can spread the joy by volunteering to make pet visits. Many institutions are on a wait-list basis because there aren't enough volunteers to go around. Even just one day a month can bring much happiness and a welcome distraction from the dreary routines at hospitals and retirement homes. You can rejoice in watching patients become animated and responsive during the visits. For more information visit Caringcanines.org |