Park Hill Vet: An Ode To Pethood
The Human-Animal Bond Is Profound
By Margot K. Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ
For the GPHN
Some of my favorite pandemic pet memes have been about their therapeutic impact for us during these trying times. All pets have become unofficial, but much-needed emotional support animals.
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) partnered with the Zoetis corporation to conduct a global study during 2021 that received survey results from 16,000 dog and cat owners and 1,200 small animal veterinarians in eight countries (United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Japan and Spain). Their goal was to “gain a deeper understanding of how the human-animal bond is perceived and impacts behavior among pet owners and veterinarians worldwide.”
Overall the research, not unexpectedly, shows that pets positively impact their owners’ health due to the strong bond. They also showed that stronger bonds between pets and owners leads to improved veterinary care.
A few of the key findings:
• 95 percent of pet owners globally consider their pet a part of their family and 90 percent have a close relationship with their pet.
• 92 percent say “there’s no reason they would ever be convinced to give up their pet.”
• 86 percent would pay whatever it takes if their pet needed extensive veterinary care, while 77 percent would make major life changes for their pet if needed.
Pets’ impact on human healthy, both mental and physical, was also highlighted. Ninety-eight percent of pet owners globally noted at least one benefit on their health from their pets. A majority said their pet makes them feel happy and offers comfort when they feel sad. Nearly half felt that their pet helped them to be calm when stressed and less lonely. Thirty-four percent said their pet helped to make them more physically active.
The study also included a new scale developed by HABRI called the Human Animal Bond Scale (HABSCORE) that expanded prior scientifically validated scales. In examining four distinct dimensions of the human animal bond – attachment, humanization, commitment, and integration – the study found no cultural differences in how the bond is experienced and expressed. Globally the average HABSCORE was high at 58/70.
On the veterinary side, the study found:
• 89 percent of veterinarians across the globe believe that a strong human-animal bond increases pet welfare.
• Not unexpectedly, 95 percent of veterinarians entered the veterinary profession due to the human-animal.
• 81 percent of veterinary globally are aware of the scientific evidence that shows human health benefits from pet ownership.
And, a few of those scientific findings from earlier research studies:
• A human’s blood pressure can lower 10 percent with just 15 minutes of petting a dog per a 2013 study published in the human medical journal Circulation. Living with a dog lowered baseline blood pressure and resting heart rates. A similar study in 2009 in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology also showed similar positive cardiovascular effects for cat owners.
• Researchers in the psychology department at Miami University documented happier people who had dogs due to increased physical activity and potential social interactions.
• A 2009 retrospective study through the National Institutes of Health even documented that the purring of a cat between 25 and 140 Hz has been shown to aid in the healing of broken bones, joint and tendon repair and wound healing.
Our pets are amazing creatures and, with or without a prescription, they deliver some wonderful positives to our lives – that human-animal bond is absolutely profound for us humans.
If you want to know more, visit zoetispetcare.com/the-pet-effect for some marvelous videos and other information. The HABRI study can be found at habri.org/international-hab-survey/.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit parkhillvet.com