1. Human-Animal Bonding
Who benefits?

2. Remember-for most people their pet is like a child to them

3. Why do we keep pets? Companionship Assistance Ornament Status symbol
Hobby

4. Children and pets
Childhood experiences determine whether pets are kept when children become adults
Families with pets show greater cohesion
Children with pets have lower asthma rates
First experience of bereavement for children

5. Health research on pet owners
Survival rate in the year following a heart attack is 94% for pet owners and 72% for non-pet owners
Stroking a pet reduces your blood pressure
Over a period of a year, pet owners visited their doctors less than non-pet owners

6. Advantages of owning a pet
Physical
Psychological
-elderly women who felt attached to their pets were significantly happier than those who did not
-pets allow us the experience of parenting
-pets are dependable and love us unconditionally

7. Animals as therapists
Auckland’s North Shore Hospital have a budgie named Ed. He calms and distracts children
Severely withdrawn children will often relate to pets rather than people
Rest homes in the bay of plenty are visited by a Shetland pony called Lace

8. Animals as helpers Guide dogs Hearing dogs Epilepsy dogs
People with other disabilities

9. Why dogs and cats?
Dogs have similar social structure to humans (hierarchical) so fit into families well
Cats never totally gave in to the idea of being owned but their expression of aloof contentedness appeals to owners
Both provide companionship because their behaviours mirror human companion behaviour

10. Strong bonding situations: extra care required
Sick pets requiring daily care eg diabetic
Childless couples
Bereaved owners where the pet belonged to the person they have lost

11. Negative aspects of human-animal interaction
Animal abuse
- strong evidence that abuse of animals often preceeds violence to people
-often the humans are victims of abuse themselves
-important to report animal abuse especially if family at risk too

12. Health issues for pet owners
Toxoxcariasis
Toxoplasmosis
Psittacosis
Dog bites

13. Human exploitation of pets
Abandonment
Burnout in pets used for therapy
Declawing and devoicing
Piercing?
Cosmetic surgery

15. “You can take a horse to water..