Submitted by Tracie Horton, CEO / Executive Director The Adanta Group
Pets and Our Health
Wet noses, wagging tails and calming purrs are just a few of the enjoyable things we encounter when we have a pet in our home. After a long and stressful day, nothing is as welcoming as going home to a pet that acts as if you are the only person in the world. It might even be likely that no one else in your home will be as excited at your arrival as your pet or as sad to see you go. Although the relationship between animals and humans’ dates back centuries, time has transformed this relationship from one being based on utility to one based on love and family. Now more than ever, pets have become beloved members of the family and in short, play an active role in helping us to live healthier lives.
Animals Helping People.
An estimated 86.9 million homes in the U. S. have a pet. The most common pets in the U. S. are dogs and cats, but there’ s a lot of love for all types of animals and / or species. Millions of households include fish, birds, and small animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs or rabbits. Those with more space also identify horses, pigs and chickens as pets. Pets can play an important role in both our physical and mental health in a number of ways including:
• Increasing our physical activity. Dogs get you moving. Dog owners are likely to take their pets for a walk daily. Increased physical activity improves blood pressure, reduces joint stiffness and can be an important part of weight control. Light to moderate exercise can also help you achieve deeper, more restful sleep.
• Providing companionship. Pets can give you a sense of security and serve as a“ someone” to share your days; caring for them can help you feel wanted and needed. This can be especially helpful for people who live alone. This can be especially
helpful for older adults.
• Reducing anxiety. The companionship of a pet can help to ease your anxiety.
• Boosting self-confidence. Pets can be great listeners, offer unconditional love and won’ t criticize you. This can help especially if you feel isolated or misunderstood.
• Reducing symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. A 2018 study found that service dogs can help alleviate the symptoms of PTSD in veterans by lowering their depression, improving their resilience, reducing loneliness and improving their overall psychological well-being.
• Helping you meet new people. Dog owners often stop and chat with each other on walks. Cute puppies, kittens, birds, pigs, horses and llamas, just to name a few, are some of the images getting tons of feedback on social media.
Adding structure to your day. Feeding, exercising and caring for a pet can help you keep to a daily routine, which can help you feel more grounded and focused. It can give you purpose and a sense of achievement.
What Research Suggests. As it turns out, the warm fuzzy feeling we get from having a pet isn’ t just because they are cute; scientific research also supports the positive effects of the human-animal bond in our daily lives. According to the American Heart Association’ s Healthy Bond for Life survey highlighting the mental and physical benefits of pet companionship:
• 95 % of pet parents rely on their pet for stress relief.
• Nearly 7 in 10( 69 %) survey responders say they take better care of their pet than themselves.
• 70 % report they would rather spend time with their pet than watch television to de-stress.
• Nearly half report
26 • SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life april 2025