6.3: Reading- The Health Benefits of Pets
- Page ID
- 104429
Before You Read
Working with a partner or by yourself, answer the following questions.
1. How do you think pets may be helpful to the following groups in society? Predict what you might learn about the benefits of pets:
People suffering from depression
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The elderly
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Children with autism
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College students
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2. Do you know what pet therapy is? Can you guess?
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The Reading
Read the article below and answer the questions that follow.
1 For pet owners, their furry friends can sometimes seem like a burden. Feeding them, paying veterinarian bills and dealing with cleaning up after them are all part of the pet owner’s responsibilities. Any pet owner would say that, in return, they get the love of their pet. But it turns out that love is not the only thing pet owners get in return—they also receive substantial health benefits.
2 On a basic level, the health benefits of a pet such as a dog are clear. Walking your dog two or three times a day is a great way to get fresh air and exercise. Many dog owners might not otherwise get much exercise, but they are walking several kilometres a day just taking Fido or Rover through the neighbourhood. Even having pets such as cats, birds or fish can motivate sedentary people to get up, move, and look after their animals. Feeding, cleaning, and caring for pets is a good contributor to cardiovascular health.
3 In addition to the physical benefits of having a pet, more and more research indicates that the most apparent benefits of pet ownership are actually in the area of mental health. Scientific research shows that the levels of stress-producing hormones in our bodies can actually be reduced by interacting with pets. Holding pets, stroking them, and talking to them, as many pet owners do, can have a substantial impact on mental wellbeing. The presence of a pet in the house is a source of comfort to many, reducing anxiety and even having a positive impact on depression. Numerous studies also indicate that having a pet has a measurable impact on social isolation, as pet owners meet others when they are out with their pets. Even exchanging advice and stories on internet pet forums is beneficial for people who would otherwise feel isolated and lonely. For many elderly people, having a pet is also a way of “staying young,” as pets give them something to focus on beyond their own concerns.
4 In many ways, it’s actually children who may benefit most from having a pet. For parents increasingly concerned about the amount of screen time their children have, a pet is a perfect way to get kids off their phones and focused on a real living thing. Children can learn about responsibility and caring for others by having a pet in the house. Instead of staring at a screen, they can interact with a dog, cat, guinea pig, or other creature. This is, of course, also a health benefit for kids, as the increasing influence of computers and phones has led to historic levels of obesity in children. In fact, research shows that children with pets in the house have fewer doctor visits than children who have no pets.
5 But there are also many other health benefits for children in addition to exercise and combating social isolation. Research has shown that children growing up in a house with a dog or cat are exposed to pet allergens early, thus providing the resistance they need to help avoid asthma and common allergies later in life. Also, the psychological impact of caring for a family pet has been proven to be beneficial. Children who are also pet owners exhibit improved social skills, impulse control, and self-esteem. Children on the autism spectrum have also been proven to respond positively to caring for an animal, in terms of their anxiety and socializing skills, while those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have shown an increased ability to focus when taking care of a pet.
6 The health benefits of pets are so well established that pet therapy is now a regular feature of extended care homes and hospitals. Trained therapy animals—usually dogs, but sometimes cats, rabbits, and even horses—visit residents and patients. These patients could be sick children, cancer patients, residents of seniors’ homes, or those who have suffered traumatic experiences. Typically, during a visit, a patient will spend time petting or playing with a dog; this leads to a sense of relaxation and a distraction from physical pain. Patients may find their blood pressure is reduced, or the presence of the animal produces endorphins, hormones that make them feel calmer. In some cases, patients who require physical therapy, such as those who have broken bones, find that playing with an animal helps them on the road to recovery. Often, patients who have experienced pet therapy require less medication than before. Pet therapy has also been used with prisoners and those in addiction treatment centres, with encouraging results. Some colleges have even started to introduce pet therapy at exam time; spending time with a pet has been shown to help students to overcome stress and anxiety, and to perform better on their exams.
7 Beyond all the scientifically proven benefits, however, there remains one simple factor that motivates many, if not most, pet owners to add a pet to their family: love. Whether dog, cat, hamster, fish or other animal, pet owners love their pets. And it’s these positive emotions that are the key to understanding pet ownership. Pet owners want to have a bird or animal or fish that they can care for and look after, feelings which transcend mere ownership. For most pet owners, their pet or pets are an extension of their own family. Research shows more than half of family pets receive birthday or holiday-season gifts, just as people do. There’s no doubt that the capacity for love is what really prompts many people to bring a pet to a loving home.
Questions
A. Check Your Understanding
Answer the following questions.
1. What is the main idea of this reading? Choose one.
a) Owning a pet can be a burden, especially as pets require frequent walks.
b) Pets require a lot of attention from their owners.
c) Pets can reduce the need for medication.
d) Pets can help people with physical and mental ailments.
2. Give two reasons why having a pet is beneficial for children who watch a lot of TV.
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3. What is the connection between pet ownership and asthma or allergies?
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4. Describe what happens during a typical pet therapy session. What are some of the results?
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5. Look back at the question you answered in Before You Read. Were your predictions correct? How is pet ownership helpful to these groups?
People suffering from depression
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The elderly
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Children with autism
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College students
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6. Find two other groups of people in society who may be helped by animals.
a) ______________________________________________________________________
b) ______________________________________________________________________
B. Develop Your Vocabulary
Find each of the following in the reading. Read the sentence carefully. Choose the correct definition for the underlined word.
- Even having pets such as cats, birds or fish can motivate sedentary people to get up, move, and look after their animals.
a) people whose lifestyles mean they spend a lot of time sitting down
b) people who are too lazy to get up and move around
- In addition to the physical benefits of having a pet, more and more research indicates that the most apparent benefits of pet ownership are actually in the area of mental health.
a) obvious
b) important
- Numerous studies also indicate that having a pet has a measurable impact on social isolation …
a) feeling of being well connected to the people around you
b) feeling of being alone and not connected to others
- Research has shown that children growing up in a house with a dog or cat are exposed to pet allergens early …
a) something that causes a bad physical reaction in a person
b) something that changes a person’s behaviour
- Children who are also pet owners exhibit improved social skills, impulse control, and self-esteem.
a) the need to control other people all the time
b) the ability to resist acting in an inappropriate way
- These patients could be sick children, cancer patients, residents of seniors’ homes, or those who have suffered traumatic experiences.
a) causing mental suffering
b) causing physical illness
- Pet owners want to have a bird or animal or fish that they can care for and look after, feelings which transcend mere ownership.
a) form a part of
b) go beyond
- There’s no doubt that the capacity for love is what really prompts many people to bring a pet to a loving home.
a) need
b) ability
C. Think about It
Read the article again. Can you make connections between the information in the article and things you have experienced yourself, or things you have read or heard about?
Connections to yourself
Find two places in the reading where you thought, “Yes, I agree with that” or “Yes, that happened in my life.”
a) ________________________________________________________________________
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b) ________________________________________________________________________
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Connections to other things you have read
Find two places in the reading where you thought, “Yes, I’ve read something about that.”
a) ________________________________________________________________________
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b) ________________________________________________________________________
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Connections to the world
Find two places in the reading where you thought, “Yes, I’ve heard about that” or “Yes, I know someone that happened to.”
a) ________________________________________________________________________
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b) ________________________________________________________________________
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Go Further
Do some internet research into the use of animals in EITHER prisons OR addiction treatment centres. Make notes below on what you find.