Companion animals

Anthrozoology ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 17-31
Author(s):  
James A. Serpell
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Positive Balance ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Damage Risk

Companion animals (or pets) form a distinctive category of domestic animals defined by their primary use as nonhuman social support providers. Companion animals have an ancient history that may precede and anticipate the original domestication of animals. Currently, more than 60% of European and American households keep pets, and their numbers are increasing rapidly in several emerging economies. The results of research over the past four decades suggest that relationships with companion animals may be beneficial to human health and well-being, though the extent of the benefits will likely depend on relationship quality. Exposure to positive relationships with pets in childhood may also predispose people to develop more empathic responses to animals later in life. In spite of these benefits, pet ownership also imposes costs, particularly in terms of environmental damage, risk to public health and threat to animal welfare. The future of these exceptional human–animal relationships will depend on striking a positive balance between the benefits and the costs.

Anthropomorphism and Anthropomorphic Selection—Beyond the "Cute Response"

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Serpell
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Selection Pressure ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Evolutionary Selection ◽  
Human Side ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Health And Well Being

AbstractThis article explores the origin and evolutionary implications of anthropomorphism in the context of our relationships with animal companions. On the human side, anthropomorphic thinking enables animal companions' social behavior to be construed in human terms, thereby allowing these nonhuman animals to function for their human owners or guardians as providers of nonhuman social support. Absence of social support is known to be detrimental to human health and well being. Therefore, anthropomorphism and its corollary, pet keeping, have obvious biological fitness implications. On the animal side, anthropomorphism constitutes a unique evolutionary selection pressure, analogous to sexual selection, which has molded the appearance, anatomy, and behavior of companion animal species so as to adapt them to their unusual ecological niche as social support providers. Although such species undoubtedly have benefited numerically from the effects of this process, the consequences of anthropomorphism are less benign when viewed from the perspective of individual animals. Indeed, anthropomorphic selection probably is responsible for some of the more severe welfare problems currently found in companion animals.

Anthropomorphism and Anthropomorphic Selection—Beyond the "Cute Response"

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Serpell
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Selection Pressure ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Evolutionary Selection ◽  
Human Side ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Health And Well Being

AbstractThis article explores the origin and evolutionary implications of anthropomorphism in the context of our relationships with animal companions. On the human side, anthropomorphic thinking enables animal companions' social behavior to be construed in human terms, thereby allowing these nonhuman animals to function for their human owners or guardians as providers of nonhuman social support. Absence of social support is known to be detrimental to human health and well being. Therefore, anthropomorphism and its corollary, pet keeping, have obvious biological fitness implications. On the animal side, anthropomorphism constitutes a unique evolutionary selection pressure, analogous to sexual selection, which has molded the appearance, anatomy, and behavior of companion animal species so as to adapt them to their unusual ecological niche as social support providers. Although such species undoubtedly have benefited numerically from the effects of this process, the consequences of anthropomorphism are less benign when viewed from the perspective of individual animals. Indeed, anthropomorphic selection probably is responsible for some of the more severe welfare problems currently found in companion animals.

scholarly journals Why Companion Animals Are Beneficial During COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-432
Author(s):  
Unnati G Hunjan ◽  
Jayasankara Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
The Status ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health And Well Being

Companion animals and pets can be helpful during the novel coronavirus-19 pandemic. Interactions with them and positive physical contact lead to a variety of physiological and psychological benefits. It also releases biochemicals which can further boost the immune system and enhance health and well-being. This perspective discusses the benefits of these interactions, the modes of interactions and the activities that can be used. It also highlights the individuals that should avoid this approach and the status of the animal’s health before engaging with them.

scholarly journals Human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic: booming dog adoption during social isolation

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Morgan ◽  
Alexandra Protopopova ◽  
Rune Isak Dupont Birkler ◽  
Beata Itin-Shwartz ◽  
Gila Abells Sutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Dog Owners ◽  
The One

AbstractThe recent COVID-19 pandemic led to uncertainty and severe health and economic concerns. Previous studies indicated that owning a companion animal, such as a dog or a cat, has benefits for good mental health. Interactions with animals may help with depression and anxiety, particularly under stress-prone conditions. Human–animal interactions may even improve peer-to-peer social relationships, as well as enhance feelings of respect, trust, and empathy between people. Interestingly, it has also been shown that stress and poor well-being of dog owners negatively affect the well-being of their companion animals. However, a dramatic increase in dog abandonment could potentially occur due to COVID-19 related health, economic and social stresses, as well as due to the inconclusive reports of companion animals being potential COVID-19 carriers. Such a scenario may lead to high costs and considerable public health risks. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the related social isolation, might lead to dramatic changes in human–dog bidirectional relationships. Using unique prospective and retrospective datasets, our objectives were to investigate how people perceived and acted during the COVID-19 pandemic social isolation, in regards to dog adoption and abandonment; and to examine the bidirectional relationship between the well-being of dog owners and that of their dogs. Overall, according to our analysis, as the social isolation became more stringent during the pandemic, the interest in dog adoption and the adoption rate increased significantly, while abandonment did not change. Moreover, there was a clear association between an individual’s impaired quality of life and their perceptions of a parallel deterioration in the quality of life of their dogs and reports of new behavioral problems. As humans and dogs are both social animals, these findings suggest potential benefits of the human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with the One Welfare approach that implies that there is a bidirectional connection between the welfare and health of humans and non-human animals. As our climate continues to change, more disasters including pandemics will likely occur, highlighting the importance of research into crisis-driven changes in human–animal relationships.

Pets, animal-assisted therapy and social inclusion

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-71
Author(s):  
Sue Holttum
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Animal Assisted Therapy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health And Development ◽  
Human Animal

Purpose Humans have close relationships with animals for companionship and in working roles. The purpose of this paper is to discuss recent papers on pets and dog-assisted interventions, and relates their findings to social inclusion. Design/methodology/approach A search was carried out for recent papers on pets, animal-assisted therapy and social inclusion/exclusion. Findings One paper discusses theories (often lacking in studies of animal-assisted therapy) of why animals may be good for human health and development. A recent review shows evidence that family pet ownership may aid children’s well-being, learning and social development, but too few studies have followed children over time in pet and non-pet households. Studies of dog-assisted interventions show stress-reduction, which in turn may explain why therapy for mental health in young people and adults was more effective with a dog than without. Social inclusion is hinted at but not measured directly, yet dog-assisted therapy might be helpful in this regard. Originality/value All the papers discussed in detail here represent up-to-date understanding in this area of knowledge. Benefits of human-animal bonds, especially with dogs, appear to be well-supported by biological as well as observational and self-report evidence. More research is needed on how much these attachments may assist social relating and relationships with other people, and social inclusion.

scholarly journals Love in the Time of Covid: Perceived Partner Responsiveness Buffers People from Lower Relationship Quality Associated with Covid-Related Stressors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda Nicole Balzarini ◽  
Amy Muise ◽  
Giulia Zoppolat ◽  
Alyssa Di Bartolomeo ◽  
David L. Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Perceived Partner Responsiveness ◽  
Partner Responsiveness ◽  
Health And Well Being

Maintaining a satisfying romantic relationship is vital to overall health and well-being, yet relationship quality might be hampered by stressors brought on by the recent Covid-19 pandemic. In the Love in the Time of Covid study, we examine whether Covid-related stressors (i.e., social isolation, financial strain, and stress) are associated with lower relationship quality and greater conflict in relationships, and test whether perceived partner responsiveness—the extent to which people believe their partner understands, validates, and cares for them—buffers these effects. In the current study (N = 3,593 participants from 57 countries), when people reported more Covid-related stressors, they also reported poorer relationship quality and more conflict with their partner. However, these associations were mitigated when people perceived their partner as more responsive to their needs.

scholarly journals Animal-Assisted Play: A Strategy for Promoting Children’s Physical Activity Play

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Boisvert ◽  
W. Andrew Harrell
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Agency Risk ◽  
Health And Well Being

This article explores how animal-assisted play might be used as a strategy in playwork to support children’s right to play, enrich their play experiences, encourage their physical activity play and better their health and life quality. Children’s interactions with pets or companion animals in free play or animal-assisted activities (AAA) can yield therapeutic benefits by increasing physical and mental health and well-being and also offer possibilities for more outdoor play, agency, risk-taking, fun and enjoyment, as well as high-quality play experiences. We invite playwork practitioners to consider the important role of animals in children’s lives and the potential value of animal-assisted play in creating opportunities for enriching children’s play and life quality.

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