Healthy Pets Make Healthy People

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Pets make great companions but recent studies show they're also beneficial to our health. 

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) released an article earlier this month citing studies showing pets help to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, prevent heart disease, fight depression and as a result, lower health care costs.

Similar studies done in Germany show parallel results. A survey conducted by the German GFK Panel shows that owners of companion animals believe their pets are beneficial for their own health. A third of all surveyed said they've felt healthier since owning a pet. Ten per cent said a relative they are taking care of felt healthier, eight per cent even bought a pet after a severe illness.  

Ultimately, the evidence gathered from studies such as these can go a long way towards abating the gap between pets and pet families, a imperative  conversation generated at Summit 2012.  

When we consider these studies as a means to benefit the industry, several factors come to mind. In fact, all four sectors of the companion animal industry can make use of this evidence to promote and enhance their own quarter of animal welfare. 

For example, "Healthy Pets Make Healthy People" might be a successful adoption campaign in the Animal Humane & Rescue sector. Animal Health & Wellness and Animal Services & Retail agents would see the promise of such a campaign to encourage pet families to keep their companions in better health. And the Animal Care & Control sector could use these studies to encourage permanent licensing of man's best friend. 

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