|
Members of the Petland family believe strongly in the benefits
of unconditional love and the human-animal bond.
The Petland Mission statement says: "Our pet counselors
are dedicated to matching the right pet with the right customer
and meeting the needs of both. To our customers who already
own pets, we are dedicated to enhancing their knowledge and
enjoyment of the human-animal bond."
An article titled "A Friend Indeed" appeared in
the Harvard Health Letter, Volume 19, Number 2, December 1993.
In it, author Diana Schellenberg discusses health-related
scientific studies geared to the pros and cons of pet ownership.
She concludes:"
Responsible pet ownership entails a commitment to the animal
and a promise to train it properly and to provide it with
adequate care. The return on this investment can be considerable:
a loving companion, an antidote to stress, and perhaps a reason
for regular exercise, all wrapped up in fur or feathers."
We at Petland couldn't have said it better!
Petland also believes pets are just plain good for people.
Supporting that belief is the Delta Society, the leading international
resource for the human-animal bond. Through the years, the
Delta Society says it has been the force to validate the important
role of animals for people's health and well-being by promoting
the results of research to the media and health and human
services organizations.
Research through the Delta Society has shown:
- 70% of families surveyed reported an increase in family
happiness and fun subsequent to pet acquisition. (Cain,
1985).
- Pet owners have lower blood pressure. (Friedmann, 1983,
Anderson 1992).
- Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels
than non-owners. (Anderson, 1992).
- Dogs are preventive and therapeutic measures against everyday
stress. (Allen, 1991).
- Pet owners have better psychological well-being. (Serpel,
1990).
- Positive self-esteem of children is enhanced by owning
a pet. (Bergensen, 1989).
- Children exposed to pets during the first year of life
have a lower frequency of allergic rhintis and asthma. (Hesselmar,
1999).
- Children who own pets score significantly higher on empathy
and pro-social orientation scales than non-owners. (Vidovic,
1999).
- Children owning pets are more involved in activities such
as sports, hobbies, clubs or chores. (Melson, 1990).
- Children with autism have more pro-social behaviors less
autistic behaviors such as self-absorption. (Redefer, 1989).
- Pet owners feel less afraid of being a victim of crime
when walking with a dog or sharing a residence with a dog.
(Serpel, 1990).
- Pets in nursing homes increase social and verbal interactions
adjunct to other therapy. (Fick, 1992).
- Animal-assisted therapy can effectively reduce the loneliness
of residents in long-term care facilities. (Banks, 2002).
- Seniors who own dogs go to the doctor less than those
who do not. In a study of 100 Medicare patients, even the
most highly stressed dog owners in the study has 21 percent
fewer physician's contacts than non-dog owners. (Siegel,
1990).
From the Delta Society research, it appears pets are good
for us at all stages of our lives -- child, adult, and senior
citizen. The aforementioned human-animal bond studies are
but a few sponsored by the Delta Society. For more detailed
information on these and other studies, see the "Health
Benefits of Animals" section at www.deltasociety.org.
Return
to Pet Welfare Questions |
