Describe the Importance of the Small Animal Industry and Pets on Society Small Animal Management

Do you have a pet at home? How does your pet enrich your life? Have you thought about what life would be like without your pet? Today we are going to identify the influence of small animals on society, and describe the importance of the small animal industry.

Studies have found that… Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets. Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax. Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets. Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without. Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets. A pet doesn’t have to be a dog or a cat. Even watching fish in an aquarium can help reduce muscle tension and pulse rate. Taken From: http://www.helpguide.org/life/pets.htm

Small Animals Help make healthy lifestyle changes

Healthy lifestyle changes Increasing exercise Exercise doesn’t have to involve boring repetition at a gym. Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, or simply chasing a kitten around are fun ways to fit healthy daily exercise into your schedule.

Healthy lifestyle changes Providing companionship Isolation and loneliness can make disorders such as depression even worse. Caring for a living animal can help make you feel needed and wanted, and take the focus away from your problems. Most pet owners talk to their pets, some even use them to work through their troubles.

Healthy Lifestyle changes Helping meet new people Pets can be a great social lubricant for their owners. Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other on walks or in a dog park. Pet owners also meet new people in pet stores, clubs, and training classes.

Healthy Lifestyle Changes Reducing Anxiety The companionship of a pet can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world. Has your pet helped ease your anxiety? How?

Healthy Lifestyle Changes Adding Structure to your day Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—you’ll always have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for your pet.

Healthy Lifestyle changes Providing Sensory Stress Relief Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. This could involve petting a cat or taking a dog for a walk.

Activity Healthy Lifestyle Changes In pairs discuss pets you have had in the past. If you have never had a pet, think of a friend or family member with a pet. List the fun times you remember with your pet. From the healthy lifestyle changes list, what healthy lifestyle was most prevalent in the relationship with your pet? For each of the following types of pets, identify one benefit of ownership: dog, cat, reptile, fish

Importance of the small animal industry

Pets in America Three-fifths of American households have a pet, and nearly half own two or more. Americans keep nearly 17 million birds, 91 million cats, 74 million dogs, 139 million freshwater fish, 10 million saltwater fish, 11 million reptiles, and 18 million other small animals Taken From: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jsh/summary/v040/40.3mintz.html

Importance of Pets Economically Americans spend more than $34 billion annually on pet products and veterinary services, twice the amount in 1994. Sale of animals Pet food Equipment Animal Health Insurance Activities such as shows and competitions Veterinary services Taken From: http://www.fecava.org/sites/default/files/files/The%20economic%20importance%20of%20Companion%20animals%20report%202007.pdf

Activity Economic Importance Using the internet and other resources, determine the cost of owning a dog for one year. Be sure to include the following: Initial purchase price Pet food Equipment Animal Health Insurance Activities such as shows and competitions Veterinary services

Activity Economic Importance What is the overall cost of owning a dog over the lifetime of the pet (assume the pet lives 10 years)? Keep in mind that not all expenses will recur each year (such as purchasing the pet, spay/neuter, etc.). Does this cost outweigh the benefits associated with ownership?

Activity Economic Importance Estimates for owing pets http://www.petfinder.com/after-pet-adoption/estimated-yearly-costs- pet.html

Evaluation What are some of the healthy lifestyle changes pets can make in our lives? Exercise, companionship, etc. What are the positive benefits of owning a pet? Less trips to the doctor, less health problems, etc. What is the cost of owning a pet for one year?

Summary Today we learned the importance and benefits of small animals. For those of you with pets, you likely already know the intrinsic benefits of pet ownership. Hopefully you can now recognize the other benefits as well as the costs associate with owning a small animal.

References The Therapeutic Benefits of Pets: http://www.helpguide.org/life/pets.htm Beck, A.M. & Katcher, A.H. (1996). Between Pets and People: The importance of animal companionship. Purdue University Press. Google Ebook: http://books.google.com/books/about/Between_Pets_and_People.html?id=cod 2UA-W-rwC Mintz, S. (2007). Pets in America: A History. Journal of Social History. (40, 3, Spring 2007). http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jsh/summary/v040/40.3mintz.html The Economic Importance of Companion Animals (2007). The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations. http://www.fecava.org/sites/default/files/files/The%20economic%20importance %20of%20Companion%20animals%20report%202007.pdf Estimated costs of pet ownership: http://www.petfinder.com/after-pet- adoption/estimated-yearly-costs-pet.html

Texas College and Career Readiness Standards English Language Arts: V. Research, B, 1, a-b Mathematics: VI. C, 1, a-b; X, A, 2, a