Mental Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

Our pets quickly become part of the family. Before we know it, we can’t remember what life was like without them. Pet ownership extends well beyond the joy they bring to our lives. Owning a pet has benefits on our physical, mental, and emotional health as well.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

The varied benefits of pet ownership

Most folks get a pet for companionship. While this is a top benefit, there are so many more! Having a pet has even been shown to decrease stress levels, lower anxiety, and help people with depression. Some doctors, counselors, therapists, and other practitioners are even “prescribing” pet ownership to folks.

In some cases, health insurance will even cover therapy dogs for people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. But there are benefits to pet ownership for all people, even if they are not specially trained therapy dogs.

Owning a dog has great benefits for our physical health. This is likely because we’re getting out to walk them regularly and getting more movement than we would have otherwise. However, pet owners often have more stable blood pressure and heart rates than non-pet owners.

Pets are also good for our stress levels. Physical contact lowers our cortisol levels. Cortisol is one of the primary stress hormones in the brain. Touch can be between person to person or person to animal. It signals to the brain that we are safe and calm which in turn lowers the cortisol.

A pet snuggling up on your lap while you read a book is the perfect way to get some positive physical contact. Those who have suffered abuse and physical harm often feel much safer with touch between a pet than they do with a person. Some trauma and abuse survivors use animals to recover and heal.

Added mental health benefits for having a pet have been found amongst those with PTSD, autism, bipolar, and other mental, emotional, or developmental struggles. This is likely due to all the reasons we’ll discuss in this article and more. Animals can often “bring people out of their shells” and some remarkable things have happened between animals and people with severe mental or developmental issues.

Having an animal around can force us to stop and pay attention to what is happening around us. A little critter asking to be pet brings us out of the world of screens and distractions and into the present moment. Going on a walk as a family with the dog (or cats who like to walk!) at night helps everyone to unplug and connect after a busy day.

Sitting down to be present with our pet invites us to be more present with ourselves and our world too. Some pet owners report feeling they learn more about themselves through having a pet. This quote captures that feeling- “Perhaps the greatest gift an animal has to offer is a permanent reminder of who we really are.” – Love Is the Best Medicine: What Two Dogs Taught One Veterinarian about Hope, Humility, and Everyday Miracles, Nick Trout.

Having a non-judgmental source of love and affection can be incredibly beneficial. Folks who struggle with low self-esteem, mental illness, and trauma often especially take to animals. They will offer people, unconditional love, regardless of their past or present.

Animals seem to have a sense about who needs them too. Often pets respond with more gentle love and care around people who need them. An animal can be a haven for someone recovering from a broken heart, a divorce, or grief too.

Pets also provide us with a much-needed sense of consistency. We live in a stressful, overwhelming, and unpredictable world. Sometimes we may forget to feed ourselves, but our pets won’t let us get out of our routine!

They will remind us of when they need to eat, walk, or be snuggled. Most animals do best with a consistent schedule with feedings around the same time every day. This can be incredibly grounding for the pet owner and help keep us on a good routine for ourselves as well!

Other benefits of pet ownership include:

• A sense of purpose
• Companionship
• More time in nature
• Something to look forward to
• Unconditional love

While these benefits are higher in pets such as cats and dogs, other animals provide benefits too. Even having a tank full of fish can supply stress relief, a sense of purpose, companionship, and a connection to nature. A cat or dog is not for everyone and that’s okay.

Pet benefits for children

Having a pet is an excellent opportunity for children. Pet ownership gives children a sense of independence and responsibility. There is nothing like having something dependent on you for food, love, and other basic needs to help a child feel grown-up.

When children are given the chance to be the primary caretaker for a pet, they can learn valuable skills for life. Kids also really love the greeting and sense of unconditional love they get from a pet when they come home and first thing in the morning.

Kids with pets learn about time management as they learn feeding and walking schedules. They learn about reading and interpreting cues in the animal’s behavior. If we give our children a budget for food, treats, toys, vet care, etc. they can also learn an incredible financial lesson. A pet is also great for children who have a natural desire to nurture something. Some studies even suggest that kids with a pet have higher self-esteem than those who don’t!

Children who have a pet that they feel safe around can also benefit academically. Some children, especially the learning disabled and special needs kids, thrive around an animal. Many schools are even starting to implement “reading dog” programs and encouraging kids to practice reading and public speaking with their pets.

They’re seeing impressive results with this type of work and kids who struggle with reading, for example, in front of others thrive when reading to an animal. Plus, kids also get the benefit of lower cortisol levels from pets so they’re calmer for learning.

Children with no siblings can especially benefit from owning a pet. These children can get lonesome and having a furry companion can be quite helpful. They will often form a strong bond and seem to read each other’s minds. Plus, it gives mom and dad a break because the pet provides the child with someone to play with and burn off some energy!

Other benefits for kids include:

• Easing separation anxiety
• Lower allergies
• Increased social skills
• Teaching empathy, compassion, and vulnerability

What if I can’t have, or don’t want, a pet?

For those who would like some of these benefits, but pet ownership is out of the question, there are options! Many of these benefits are found simply by being around animals. If you have a friend or relative with a pet, consider asking if you can spend more time with them.

The animal doesn’t have to live with you. Offer to be a dog walker or regular pet sitter for a neighbor or loved one, look for pet sitting jobs online, or volunteer at a local animal shelter.

There is also a plethora of programs that bring animals and people together. Equine therapy, dog therapy, and even goat yoga are options these days! Farms and ranches often have volunteer or paid opportunities to come to be around the animals too.

Getting outdoors regularly and spending time around animals in nature can calm our nerves, clear our minds, and help us thrive. God gave us so many creatures in the world and we can find different ways to enjoy their presence! As little as a couple of hours a week can make a difference.