The Healing Power of Pets

by Maida W Genser

appeared in the June 2006 issue of Natural Awakenings magazine

How does the person with the most stressful job in the country relieve the pressure? President George W. Bush does it by playing with his dog. Stroking a pet, holding a purring cat, hearing a bird sing and chirp, and even watching a fish swim in a tank can have a calming effect. Playing with pets or even watching their antics can be endlessly amusing and rewarding.

One writer has said that pets are the furry form of valium. An extensive body of clinical research indicates that animal companionship helps with anxiety and depression, and even lowers blood pressure. In this high-anxiety, post 9/11 world, going back to nature with animal companionship, is just what the doctor ordered.

The mental health profession has long recognized the health benefits of having companion animals. Psychiatrists have added pet therapy to their treatment repertoire. Therapy pets are used in schools, mental institutions, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and children’s hospitals. The Humane Society of Broward County has a Pet Facilitated Therapy program. One of the placements for animals who have gone through this program is the Wags & Tales program at Broward County libraries, where children read to pets in a relaxed, non-threatening setting. Elsewhere in Florida there are trained Delta Society evaluators who assess people and their animals for therapy work; not just dogs but all kinds of animals.

Seniors are a target group which can greatly benefit from more opportunities to be around animals. People are retiring earlier and living longer. More and more people are able to continue to responsibly care for pets, making it a win-win situation for the animals and the people who care for them. One local group, The Pet Project, steps in to help people who are seriously ill or disabled with caring for their pets at a time when they need them the most. Other groups, like Responsible Dog Owners of Miami Beach and the Florida Pet Network, help educate the public good owner behavior. When people cooperate by taking proper care and responsibility for their pets, there are fewer objections to having pets around.

For our health and for the homeless animals, we need to have a pets-allowed environment in South Florida.

Maida W Genser is the head of Citizens for Pets in Condos. The group’s web page, www.petsincondos.org, has a lot more information on the health benefits of animal companionship, stories and letters, legal information on the right to have an emotional support animal, a petition to “Allow Pets in Privately Owned Dwellings” and more.