Classwork Format

Introduction

Roommate Story

Pets & Happiness

Lady at Dog Park

Pet Therapy Explanation

Pet Therapy Nursing Home

Pets and Physical Health

...

Classwork Introduction

On average 74.8 million dogs and 88.3 million cats are owned in the United States. Pet owners generally spend anywhere from 175 dollars to 219 dollars annually on those furry friends. Along with dogs and cats people own a wide variety of other pets such as goldfish, iguanas, hamsters, rabbits, goats, horses, ferrets, canaries, the list is practically endless. So why, one might ask, do people so often open their homes, their hearts and their wallets to all of these different creatures? The truth of the matter is that just as much as pets need people, people need pets. Animals can affect the emotional, psychological and even physical well being of the people in their lives.

Statistics from the Humane Society of the United States

Five

For part of my research I headed to the dog park. (In reality I headed to the dog park to allow my roommates dog to run around but it just so happened to be a perfect place for research.) I had sat next to a lady I had met previously at the park. After she retired she said she did not know what to do with her time so she decided to volunteer at the dog shelter walking the dogs a couple times a week. She said it was a good use of her time and she became so attached to the animals eventually making the walks a daily thing. One day she went to walk a new dog in the shelter, she was warned she had a temper and had previously been abused, but the lady took her chances. She said she was not ever planning on adopting a pet, but the dog chose her. As soon as they went on their walk something changed in the dogs temperament, she was wagging her tailing and following her around everywhere. The lady said she visited her especially everyday she went to the shelter and that after a week of walks she could not help but take her home. I do not think either of them could have been happier. The dog, Sally, was rather aggressive with other dogs, and scared of men in the dog park, but as soon as the lady saw Sally getting rough or scared she would call her and Sally would sprint over and jump on her lap and everything was alright.
Whether she planned on getting a pet or not the lady said she couldn't imagine life without her.

Four

Through CUJO I found an article about the a study conducted looking at correlations between interactions with pets and their affects on happiness. Participants were asked many questions about the interactions they had with animals and the regularity of those interactions and their overall happiness. The findings of the study were that there is a correlation between human-animal interaction and happiness. People who had more interaction with pets overall were the people who were happier with their lives. Pets influencing someones happiness means they can also influence their health and their psychological well being. Pets can reduce blood pressure, improve heart attack victim's likelihood of future survival and reduce factors of general health. Happiness in children can increase their self-esteem. Pets also appear to help children with anger and stress management.

Community of Undergraduate Journals Online- The Effects of Regular Interaction with Pets and General Happiness- Clemson University-psychology Alicia Stribling

Class work

The article that I found is very different then the direction of my paper, it is difficult to find opposing views to the idea that pets have an affect the emotional and psychological wellbeing of their owners, so this is simply where my search lead me.
The author lived in Westchester with her husband and their labrador retriever. Everyone in the neighborhood had dogs, trained perfectly it appeared, except for this lab. He was terrible at walking, never came when called except when bribed (and even then he would only come, steal the treat, and run away), would obnoxiously sniff people who were getting thier morning papers, he made all the other dog owners nervous, pretty much he was just a free spirit and did as he pleased. The owner even tried a dog trainer who was able to get him to heel but only in the hallway and sit but only in the kitchen and he forgot everything if another person or dog came around. This troubled dog wrenched his owners, cost a lot of money, and left the neighbors openly displeased with him being around. Despite all of that the the tone of the article left me feeling the connection between the two. It was never openly stated, but the humor the author used when describing the dog and situations left a feeling more of this strange bond that the two had, that the dog was simply one of those pets that only the owner could love, and she did.

WESTCHESTER OPINION; Disobedient Labrador Retriever Noble Only in Spirit

Three

I find pet therapy to be an amazing idea. Even when you are having a rough day an animal can generally put a smile on your face, so why not utilize that gift. I find myself walking home after a long day or a rough class and the silly way the squirrels will act as I pass them can make me laugh. After a little searching I found an article in Prevention magazine about volunteer pets (which appropriately enough is the title).
Pets have the ability to help lower high blood pressure, regain emotional balance and relieve stress. A mere 5 minutes of petting an animal causes the release of feel-good hormones, lowers blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and simply spending time with a pet helps to relieve pain and reduce anxiety. Mary Becket, the author of The Healing Power of Pets explained, "They offer unconditional love, which people often can't give each other."
Animals must go through a certification process before being eligible to enter establishments as volunteers. If you are considering using your pet for pet therapy do not let the certification deter you, the requirements are very standard. They simply ensure that the pets being brought into the different environments are obedient, loving animals that follow basic commands such as "sit" and "down" and remain groomed. There is also a yearly due of $30 dollars to remain certified. It may seem strange to have to pay to do volunteer work, but the dues provide liability insurance, dog training programs and networking opportunities. There are several organizations to choose from that offer certification such as Delta Society, Therapy Dogs Inc., and the Foundation for Pet-Provided Therapy.
Certification opens the door for volunteer opportunities in many different atmosphere that can be selected based on your pets person traits or preferences. Animals that respond better to laid-back environments and the elderly would work well in nursing homes or with hospice. Active energetic dogs would thrive in environments such as a rehabilitation center for children.
This type of volunteer work benefits not only the recipients of the therapy but the pets and their owners as well. The smiles and improved moods can be contagious and also instill a feeling of pride in your pet and in your ownership skills. The love and attention is undeniably wonderful for the animals too.

Two

The first source that I found relating to this idea was called Pet Therapy & Institutionalized Elderly. In this article a study was conducted with 144 cognitively unimpaired elderly individuals who happened to live in nursing homes. The subjects were split into 3 groups: 1 that was to receive a plant, 1 group that got a canary and the last group that was given nothing. Initially all the participants completed a series of tests looking into their mental state, gauging their perception of their quality of life, and self evaluating their psychopathological symptoms. After the participants spent 3 months living with their new plants, pets, or nothing, they were readministered the same series of tests. The results showed that while caring for a plant impacted the elderly to some degree, it was those participants who received a canary who benefited the most. They had decreased depression symptoms and an increased perception of their current quality of life as well as an overall improved psychological well being.

One

I have always felt that pets have a special way of impacting an individual's life. Growing up I cannot even begin to explain how much I wanted a dog. What do you know, the year I go away to college my parents decide it is finally time to get one. Oh well. Some day I will be able to have one of my own. Regardless of the fact that I have never owned a dog I have had hamsters and fish and hermit crabs and as silly as it sounds I always enjoy simply having them around. I feel that the company of another living being has the ability to lift your spirit and put a smile on your face when you are having a bad day. Pets rely on their owners for all of their basic life necessities and I think that sense of being needed can be pretty powerful in someone's life. Also, pets provide a lot of love and affection and teach people responsibility and can be exactly what people need to help them get their life on track. I believe that the experience of owning a pet can better someones life and teach people a lot about themselves and a lot about life so I plan to research and look into how pets affect the emotional and psychological well being of their owners.