Ever been stressed out, upset, or in a funk and found an interaction with an animal provided relief? That is not a coincidence. There is a lot of research and reason behind how human’s bonds with animals influence our lives and how it could lead to massive savings in healthcare costs. This issue is not only about educating the public about how animals can improve their lives, but advocating for policies that help them. Two companies have been working tirelessly to advance this movement, the Human Bond Animal Research Institute (HABRI) and the Animal Policy Group.
Background on “Human-Animal Bonds”
The term “human-animal bond” describes the mutually beneficial relationship between pets and people. There is strong science that increasingly documents how powerful this relationship can be. In fact, the vision for HABRI is for the human-animal bond to be universally embraced as an essential element of human wellness.
Ask any pet owner and they’ll agree, pets are family. In fact, that is true for 98% of pet owners according to HABRI’s 2016 survey of pet owners. According to the World Animal Foundation, 86.9 million American households have at least one pet – that’s 66% of the U.S. population. HABRI’s survey of pet owners also found that 75% of pet owners reported mental health improvements from pet ownership and 75% reported a friend’s or family member’s mental health has improved from pet ownership.
More and more millennials are getting pets, and they have recently surpassed baby boomers as the largest cohort of pet-owning Americans. There are even articles detailing how “Millennials Are Buying Homes Because of Their Dogs – Not Their Children or Marriages”. These numbers will continue to trend upwards; the rise in pet ownership will continue.
Last year, HABRI co-funded a study led by Purdue Veterinary Medicine Assistant Professor of Human-Animal Interaction, Maggie O’Haire, documenting the nature of the effect of service dogs on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study was published in the February 2018 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, the study found that service dogs are associated with lower PTSD symptoms among war veterans. This study is a credible resource pointing to the positive benefits of service dogs for veterans with PTSD, which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) currently does not provide. HABRI is a supporter of the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members (PAWS) Act, HR2327, which calls on the VA to provide service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD.
What Are the Issues Within This Movement?
The biggest issue HABRI faces is that the human-animal bond is not yet culturally integrated into our society, hindering the beneficial presence of animals in our lives. To address this, HABRI funds scientific research and uses that knowledge to inspire action that improves the lives of pets, people, and communities.
The challenge HABRI faces is convincing the non-pet owning population and people outside of the pet care and animal welfare communities that The Pet Effect is real. That is why HABRI is partnering with other like-minded organizations, including the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Guard Your Health, Mental Health America, and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to spread knowledge of the scientific research that demonstrates the health benefits of pets to new audiences.
Regarding the importance of veterinarians, HABRI’s survey demonstrated that virtually all pet owners (97%) have a favorable view of their veterinarian. The survey also showed that knowledge of the scientific research that demonstrates the health benefits of pets motivates pet owners to maintain their pet’s health, including regular visits to the veterinarian. Additionally, pet owners, especially millennial pet owners, would be more likely to visit their veterinarian if they discussed the human-animal bond with them.
What Type of Research Has Been Preformed Regarding the “Pet Effect”?
HABRI is constantly looking into new projects to fund and research, including a recently announced grant to Texas Tech University, which will study the impact of Animal-Assisted Therapy on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or an Intellectual Disability.
While more research is needed, studies have shown that animal-assisted interventions, including animal-assisted therapy (AAT), are beneficial as supplemental treatments for substance abuse.
Animals have been found to help create an accepting environment and often put people at ease, helping them to reveal what’s on their minds. This has been beneficial for all kinds of mental health conditions and for people of many ages, conditions, and backgrounds, not just those suffering from addiction.
Additionally, “the Pet Effect” has been scientifically documented to improve mental health and wellness. Findings from a recently published study found that pets contributed, over time, to individuals developing routines that provided emotional and social support. The responsibilities associated with taking care of a pet provide the ability to gain a sense of control and provided a sense of security and routine which made subjects feel they could rely on their pets in time of need.
Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are companion animals that a medical professional has determined provides benefit for an individual with a disability. Dogs, cats or other animals may be used by people with a range of physical, psychiatric or intellectual disabilities. In order to receive protection under United States federal law, a person must meet the federal definition of disability and must have a note from a physician or other medical professional stating the person has a disability and an emotional support animal would benefit the individual. ESAs do not need specific training.
What are the Bills Relating to this?
The PAWS Act, mentioned earlier is incredibly important for our veterans.
HABRI is also a supporter of the Pet and Women Safety Act, HR909, which would expand federal law to include protections for pets of domestic violence victims and establish a federal grant program that will help ensure victims of domestic violence have access to safe shelters for their pets. This is significant because research shows that the majority of victims of domestic violence have pets in the household, and 68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. Very few domestic violence shelters currently allow pets, and many survivors have reported delaying leaving an abusive situation out of concern for their pets.
Here is a map of all of the current bills having to do with Emotional Support Animals.
Pet-friendly pieces of legislation, such as the PAWS Acts receive bi-partisan support.
What is the best way for people to help further this cause?
In order for HABRI’s vision to become a reality, we must further spread knowledge of the health benefits of the human-animal bond. Following and sharing HABRI and The Pet Effect on social media and calling on your Representative and Senators to support the pet-related legislation are great ways to both help spread the Pet Effect and create a more pet-friendly society. Another great way to stay up-to-date on the latest news and research is signing up for HABRI’s weekly newsletter, which features a weekly message from the Executive Director and current noteworthy articles.
Conclusion from Sarah Evelynn
I recently got a dog because my therapist thought it could help me with my chronic depression. I’ve had little Benni for four months now, and he has completely transformed my life. He makes sure I am getting out, socializing with people, living my life. It is so amazing and comforting to have a little buddy with me all the time and to feel the love, joy, and purpose that a dog gives you. I have noticed a huge change in my mood and mental state; he has been a true gift to my quality of life. I can attest that work organizations like HABRI and the Animal Policy Group do is truly important in influencing people’s lives for the better.
Plus, I already have him participating in our democracy, so that’s never a bad thing. 🙂
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