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Eden L. Reed

Professor Reynolds

ENG 1201

1 May 2022

In what ways does owning a pet improve an individual’s quality of life?

According to the National Library of Medicine at PubMed Central, approximately 67%

of households in the United States have at least one pet (Scoresby). In films and books and other

media, we often see families who own pets, which oftentimes are treated as members of the

family. The familial relationship often provides increased quality of life via relationships

nurtured between pet and family members. In these relationships pet owners often encounter

nurturing companionship, physical activity, and of all things, dopamine (a chemical in the brain

that causes a sense of peacefulness) production which has a tendency to decrease episodes of

depression and anxiety. The effect of having a pet therefore often presents an opportunity for

positive life enrichment.

According to Britannica, quality of life can be defined as “the degree to which an

individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy life”, and is something that

human beings strive for every day. Emotional health, physical health and mental health all play a

role in quality of life. While some people recognize the benefit of having a pet, many do not

realize the multitude of ways that owning a pet can increase an individual’s quality of life.

Owning a pet can provide social support, decrease depression, and in general create a happier

environment.
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In the past, humans have been impacted by the animals in their lives. Ancient Egyptians

worshipped Bastet, the god of protection and cats. Bastet was “…commonly identified as the

protector of children, being associated with female fertility, sexuality, and the protection of

infants and pregnant women” (“Reading Museum”). Because of this, cats were revered by

ancient Egyptians, and treated with an incredible amount of respect. Anubis, the god of the dead,

represented by a seated jackal was another highly worshipped and praised Egyptian god. Canine

deities often represented the afterlife, which for Egyptians was just another steppingstone into

another phase of life. Anubis was greatly respected and pictured all over tombs and temples.

Egyptians valued these gods, and as a result valued the physical animals as well. These deities

gave hope and purpose to ancient Egyptians.

In more recent history, animals have played the part of protector, placing a value on

human life, and one could argue placing a value on the quality of that life. Humans have

partnered with animals and worked as a team to protect each other for many decades. Coal

miners used canaries to help them guide their way safely through coal mines, by following the

sound of their chirps. There are police officers who partner with canines to keep their

communities safe. Police dogs have training to sniff out drugs, effectively search out and capture

a criminal, as well as protect their owner at all costs. We even train dogs to fight in battle in

order for humans to be able to enjoy life. Bomb-sniffing dogs are becoming more and more

prevalent under the current circumstances of the world. Of course, we all know the story of

Balto, the Siberian Husky who alongside his musher Leonhard Seppala, delivered food and

medicine during the Serum Run of 1925 to children and their families in Nome, Alaska. For

decades, animals have been showing that they have the capability to increase quality of human

life by serving as partner and protector.

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Even children can experience an improved quality of life by owning a pet. Many families

who own a pet and have young children teach those children responsibility through pet

ownership. Children are encouraged to perform daily activities in order to care for the family pet.

These daily responsibilities could include, feeding, bathing, exercising, and cleaning up after the

pet. All of these things need to be done for the health of the pet, but will also have an effect on

the child, ingraining healthy habits at an early age, and playing a significant role in child

development. “Research shows having the opportunity to care for a dependent fulfils the child’s

need to feel important and needed, and to have a purpose,” (“Quality of Life”). Physical,

emotional, social and cognitive development all benefit from the responsibility of caring for a pet

at a young age. Pets are nonjudgmental creatures and can encourage emotional expression and

control in children.

Adults can receive social, emotional, physical, and mental benefits from pets as well.

There are many adults that struggle with social situations and avoid talking to other people

because it makes them uncomfortable. Owing a pet, for example a dog gives you an opportunity

to talk about your dog with other people. “You talk about your dog experience, and it’s a real ice

breaker for someone who may not be as adept at social interactions,” (Schoenberg, and Barton).

Pet ownership opens a door into a world where an individual does not have to be the first to

strike up a conversation, and that for many adults is helpful in navigating social confrontations.

There is a large amount of research

showing that there can be physical health

benefits to owning a pet such as lower blood

pressure, and even increased survival rates

following
Figure a B.
1 Gerald heart attack
Schreiber Pet (Scheer).
Therapy Physical
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health plays an important part in an individual’s quality of life. Feeling good physically can

increase dopamine production which results in happiness. While there are many different

components that play into quality of life, humans have really come a long way in finding ways to

improve our given circumstances. Acceptance is a huge factor in life quality, because there are

some things that are just out of our control. Physical diseases, and impairments can make certain

aspects of life difficult. However, there are pets that have been trained to assist people with

specific issues. There are pets who are trained to go from hospitals to nursing homes, and just lay

with patients who may be very ill or dying. These animals are called therapy animals. They

provide comfort and joy to individuals who might be going through a very dark time physically

and mentally and cannot do that in their own homes.

While quality of life is important to everyday humans, it is even more so important for

individuals in Hospice care. When a person enters into Hospice care, it means they are terminally

ill and will be passing away in a very short period of time. Many hospices use therapy pets as a

source of companionship and ease the loneliness that can be caused by terminal illness. Even

patients who are ill but not yet in Hospice care can benefit from owning a pet. “Pets can inspire

joy and a sense of purpose for those patients who are able to still care for themselves and a pet,”

(Reed). A sense of purpose is often joy giving in itself for patients who are chronically or

terminally ill. Caring for a dependent pet can help an ill individual set and meet goals, as well as

encourage the bond of companionship between pet and owner. That bond can also act as a

motivator.

For people with physical disabilities or impairments, assistance animals have provided a

sense of independence and freedom. Assistance animals have become so prevalent in today’s

world from seeing eye dogs to emotional support parrots. Assistance animals are specially
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trained animals that assist their owners in maneuvering throughout daily life with more

independence than may have been possible on their own (Rodriguez, Kerri, et al.). Individuals

with disabilities can benefit greatly from an assistance animal. The article written by Rodriguez,

Greer, Yatcilla, Beck, O’Haire, and Santana focuses strictly on assistance dogs and identifies

three types; “guide dogs that assist individuals with vision impairments, hearing dogs who assist

individuals with hearing impairments, and service dogs who assist individuals with disabilities

other than blindness or deafness,” (Rodriguez, Kerri, et al.).

In addition to guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs identified in the article, there

are even more ways that service pets are being trained to assist their humans that have medically

diagnosed problems. There are dogs who have been trained to identify early warning signs of

seizure activity and warn their owners, or the owner’s caregivers, who can administer the

appropriate course of action. There are even dogs who have been trained to identify when a

diabetic individual’s blood sugar level is dropping, before that person succumbs to the side

effects of low blood sugar. By having an alert ahead of time, a diabetic individual can administer

the proper dosage of insulin and avoid the negative reaction, which could include a hospital trip.

Mental health has become a huge topic of discussion in the last two years, as the COVID

19 pandemic shut down the country. Lockdowns showed just how important mental health

awareness is and how important it is for an individual to dedicate time to care for themselves and

do things that bring them joy. There are many people who claim that pet ownership has

improved their mental health. Many books have been written on the topic, such as “Dog

Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me From Myself” by Julie Barton. Throughout the book Barton

discusses the effect that her dog Bunker had on her mental health, and the improvements she

noticed after he was introduced to her life. Her chronic depression is managed by medication that
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works for her, as well as the support offered to her from her family and her dog. Emotional

support is a huge component in quality of life. Pets can have a great impact on the emotions of

their owners and can help control emotional overload by dopamine production. Nonjudgmental

animals that are part of daily life and are there as a living being to hug and to play with can

improve an emotionally charged situation, and help the owner keep in touch with reality.

Reviews of Barton’s book fall on two different ends of the spectrum. There are those

individuals who share her experience and offer up their own stories of ‘emotional-healing’ from

animals. However, there are also studies on the benefits of animals for mental health that are

labeled as preliminary. “’Poor methodological quality’ of pet therapy studies… pointed to issues

such as small sample sizes, and lack of adequate controls and comparison groups”, (Schoenberg).

Due to lack of scientific study, the benefit to mental and emotional health that many individuals

have experienced through pet ownership has never been factually proven. Personal testimonies

and experiences, however, do seem to be enough for many individuals to seek out pet therapy or

companionship.

Over the years, through movies, books, and other media, the perspective that pets are

good for people has grown and become a common assumption. While there is a large amount of

qualitative research that indicates pet ownership can increase quality of life in humans, that

research is based on preliminary studies. It is important to keep in mind that alongside the

positive preliminary evidence, there is also evidence that human-animal relationships can be

complex and sometimes negative “The importance of animals in our lives is founded the human-

animal bond concept, which is the ‘mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship that exists

between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health

and well-being of both” (Scoresby) There are times when a human’s situation needs to be taken
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into account when considering a pet, whether for emotional or physical support, or even just as a

companion pet. In situations where a person is in assisted living, some animals may not be

appropriate, or even allowed per care facility policy. Inserting a pet who does not match its

surrounding environment can have a negative effect on both the human’s quality of life and the

pet’s (Kirkham). Many hospitals and assisted living homes that prohibit pets do participate in a

pet therapy program where trained animals can be brought into the facility to visit and bring the

patients and residents joy and brighten their day. Even an individual who lives in their own home

but is severely struggling with a mental disorder needs to consider the reason that they are

bringing a pet into their home. If that reason is solely to provide comfort and happiness, too

much pressure could be placed on the relationship with the pet, and the outcome will be an

unhealthy relationship that does not increase quality of life for human, or pet.

In addition to environmental and relationship roadblocks, there are physical roadblocks

that may occur as well, such as pet allergies. There are times when an individual may find out

that they are allergic to a potential pet. This can greatly increase the amount of stress involved in

finding that perfect family addition. Scientific research has provided positive feedback on the

development of allergies to pets. These studies are based on the hygiene hypothesis that states “a

lack of early childhood exposure to infectious agents, symbiotic microorganisms and parasites

increases susceptibility to allergic diseases by suppressing the natural development of the

immune system,” (“Quality of Life”). This hypothesis implies that prenatal and early childhood

exposure to animals have a lower risk of allergy than their peers. In the case that this early

exposure still does not ensure a strengthened immune system to pet dander, there are special

shampoos that target allergens and dander in the pet’s fur, as well as air purifiers that filter those
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allergens out of the air inside your home. While some of these air purifiers are more on the

expensive side, they are a viable option for keeping your pet in your home.

Another viable option is what scientists classify as a ‘hypoallergenic’ pet for your

household. Scientists have been working to breed animals in a way that reduces or eliminates the

amount of pet dander and allergens in a pets fur. To date, only cats have been bred that are

considered to be hypoallergenic. This is due to a “naturally occurring mutation of the protein Fel

d 1” (“A Hypoallergenic Dog – Really?”). This specific protein is normally found in cat saliva,

urine, and exudes from their skin. These cats have been genetically modified to not produce this

protein, therefore minimizing potential allergic reactions. Currently scientists have not been able

to breed a dog that does not possess a protein the induces an allergic reaction. However, not all

hope is lost. There are still specific dog breeds that have short hair, naturally shed less than other

dogs, and therefore are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction by leaving their pet dander

around the house that has Fel d 1 protein attached. Breeds like poodles, Maltese, and Bedlington

terriers all fall into the ‘hypoallergenic’ category and could be good additions to the family.

There are additional steps that you can take with your shorthaired puppy. Brushing often

can help to decrease the amount of stray dog hair that can float around your house. Bathing your

pet often can also reduce the amount of shedding, but keep in mind that bathing the animal too

much can be bad for their skin. Another way to reduce allergic reaction is to avoid having the

dog lick you. Hair and saliva are where Fel d 1 protein is found, so minimizing contact as much

as possible will ensure that you can interact with your pet and prevent an allergic reaction.

It is obvious to see that pets can have an important impact on quality of life; however it is

also important to acknowledge that there may be some roadblocks. Environment, health,

allergies, and finances can all be obstacles to overcome in the journey to pet ownership. Keep in
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mind as one is facing these roadblocks, that once a human and a pet find their bond, it can open a

new world for them both. We are entering a new era when it comes to pet ownership and are

‘really just beginning to scrape the surface of the benefit that some animals can have with

humans’ (Dogs).
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Works Cited

Dogs. Directed by Glen Zipper, Netflix, 2018.

“Quality of Life.” Human Animal Bond Research Institute, 06 March 2022. habri.org/research/mental-

health/quality-of-life

Kerri E. Rodriguez, et al. “The effects of assistance dogs on psychological health and wellbeing: A

systematic literature review.” PlosONE, vol. 16, no. 8, 2020,

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243302

Scoresby, Kristel J., et al. “Pet Ownership and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature.”

National Library of Medicine, vol. 8, no. 12, 2021,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8705563/

Kirkham, Alison C. “What is Human-Animal Interaction?.” Organization for Human-Animal

Interaction Research, n.d., http://vet.purdue.edu/chab/ohaire/HAI.php#:~:text=Human

%2DAnimal%20Interaction%20(HAI),Animal%20Interaction%20is%20relatively%20new.

“Sacred Animals of Ancient Egypt.” Reading Museum, 15 May 2020,

https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/sacred-animals-ancient-egypt

Reed, Randy. Face to face interview with the speaker. 2022.

Schoenberg, Nara. Pets as therapists: Exploring the emotional benefits of dogs and cats. Chicago

Tribune, 2015.
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Image Source: https://www.chop.edu/sites/default/files/styles/16_9_small/public/shreiber-pet-therapy-

canonical.jpg?itok=IQC_Yg0F

“A Hypoallergenic Dog – Really?.” College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, 09

March 2010, https:// aces.illinois.edu/news/hypoallergenic-dog-really