In recent times, much attention has been devoted to the belief that keeping a dog, a cat, a parrot can benefit the owner’s health in multiple ways. It reduces the risk of heart disease, reducing loneliness, dementia and depression. About half of the households in Britain alone include some kind of pet; roughly 10m of those are dogs while cats make up another 10m. Pets cost time and money and nowadays bring little in the way of material benefits. But during the 2008 financial crisis, spending on pets remained almost unaffected, which suggests that for most owners’ pets are not a luxury but an integral and deeply loved part of the family.
Recent research supports the idea that animals are conscious beings. And some of them such as dogs, dolphins, monkeys, and elephants can experience a range of emotions typically associated with humans, such as fear, compassion, happiness, respect, or joy, and display empathy towards humans and other animals. They can also sense the differences in behaviour both physically and psychologically due to an illness. It’s been known that both dogs and cats have saved many lives by recognizing and identifying the scent of human illness through the scent of chemical changes.
Sharing your life with a loyal companion animal brings a lot of joy. Their love is unconditional, and they do more than just keep you company. So, what are the benefits of the human-animal bond? Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings and emotions of others and be compassionate toward them. Humans have empathy toward other humans and animals. And animals are more empathetic and loving towards humans. They are selfless and affectionate than humans.
In comparison among animals, dogs are known to be protective and attentive to their owners, and this can include guarding them when they are unwell, often seen as a natural extension of their mentality and desire to protect vulnerable members. I was unwell for six months and had to take rest the whole day. My pet, Momo used to not even get up, he used to sit near my bed. Through his eyes and expressions, he used to assure me that I would get well soon, if I would get up to use the washroom, he would follow me and sit outside the washroom. He was a huge German shepherd. After a while he used to sleep at my feet, rubbing my feet with his face, which used to give me a sense of warmth, and a sense of security. I have experienced that German Shepherds are generally friendly and loving with their families, but their protective nature can make them reserved or watchful of strangers. He used to communicate with me through a combination of barks, body language, and facial expressions, especially his eyes, to convey his emotions.
Research has shown that dogs can read the emotional state of their owners and respond to it in the same way as a human would. That means that your dog really cares when you are unhappy and wants to help, providing sympathy and comfort. Dogs are known to be highly adjusted to their owners’ health and can sense changes in their well-being, including illness, through subtle cues like changes in scent and behaviour.
Some people aren’t pet friendly. Why is this the case? It is highly probable that our desire for the company of animals goes back tens of thousands of years and has played an important part in our evolution. If so, then genetics might help explain why a love of animals is something some people just don’t get. No matter your mood, you must care for your pet. Pets motivate us to be active. Taking your dog for a walk or a run helps you increase physical activity and meet your daily exercise requirements.
Psychologists explain that our attitude towards animals is influenced by many possible contributing factors, such as socio-cultural norms, religious beliefs, personality traits, and early life experiences. Researchers also suggest that compassion for animals may be linked to genetic differences. A study revealed that people who love animals have a specific version of the gene that produces the love hormone oxytocin, which is important for empathy between humans and boosts social bonding. So, oxytocin helps people bond with animals too, and animal lovers are friendlier people and have more empathy. Pet-lovers teat their pets as their child. Pets are entirely dependent on people, so they trigger the same protective instincts as our own kids do. We love animals and want to protect them because we view them as innocent creatures that cannot help themselves when they are in trouble.
We love our pets deeply, and we really want them to be happy. Our love for pets is revolutionary because it represents our closest ties to another species. We do not care about things regarding the species that they belong to. At times we prioritize pets over people. Many people talk to their pets, and it’s natural. And in addition to being a conversational partner, pets can help you maintain your emotional stability. They fulfil the basic human need for touch and provide emotional comfort by reducing the effects of the things that stress you. I conclude my passage by stating that my German Shepard friend, Momo taught me to be mindful, he taught to live in the moment. I miss him every day and I honour his memory.
