70% of households own some type of pet- which equals about 90.5 million families [6]. So, the question is why do so many people find themselves caring for a furry four-legged friend? Well to start, not all pets have to be four-legged or even furry to have health benefits! One study gave elderly individuals either a bird, plant, or nothing to care for during a 3-month period [2]. They also received instructions on how to care for their organism [2]. Compared to the other 2 groups, people who cared for the bird showed significantly better scores on their symptom surveys [2]. The elderly who participated in the bird study did not have cognitive impairments, but they did have conditions that resulted in them living in a nursing home [2].
Pets, especially dogs or cats, are not a rare site to see when visiting a nursing home or another type of assisted living facility [1]. Having an animal present in the community helps lower agitation, anxiety, and behavioral problems while increasing positive social behaviors like smiling or talking [1, 2]. Symptoms like agitation and depression are extremely common in individuals with dementia so having a pet may help soothe them [1]. Pets can also help to counter weight loss caused by dementia. When fish tanks were installed in common areas in a long-term care facility, residents with dementia gained an average of 1.65 pounds over the 4 months the tanks were present [2].
If having a pet can help improve the quality of life of someone showing dementia symptoms, you may wonder if they have any preventative benefits. The answer is yes! Taking care of a pet can have all sorts of health benefits that help prevent dementia [5]. Owning interactive pets like dogs and cats tend to produce the most benefits because they help us form a connection with another living thing, alleviating anxiety, loneliness, stress, and depression [5]. Dogs specifically can also help improve their owners’ physical activity levels because they have their own exercise requirements [5]. Dog owners are 57% more likely to reach the recommended minutes of exercise than those who do not own a dog [5]. While walking the dog may help increase your physical activity, it can also help improve your social life by helping you make new connections with neighbors or other dog walkers [7]. Pets make great icebreakers and offer a world of possibilities when it comes to getting to know the people around us.
Owning any pet takes a lot of time and resources. You have to consider the size of your living conditions, your work schedule, and whether you want the responsibility of a living animal [5]. If you think that owning a pet might be too much of a jump for you, there are a lot of local ways to get involved with animals! Being around animals regularly might be the next best thing compared to sitting at home alone. Take a look at the Emporia Animal Shelter and David Traylor Zoo for other opportunities to get acquainted with animals.
The Emporia Animal Shelter offers a lot of ways to get involved with dogs and cats without the commitment of adopting. They accept volunteers to be kennel assistants or socializers- which consists of walking and playing with a dog or cat [4]. They do try to keep the cleaning mostly as employee duties so volunteers can spend more time with the animals! You can choose whether you work with dogs or cats so if you are allergic to one species or maybe you just have a preference, you don’t have to worry. To be a volunteer you have to be 18 years old and make a commitment to a certain amount of time depending on the role you choose [4]. If you want to be a little more involved, fostering is a great way to find out if pet ownership is right for you. When you foster a dog or cat, the Humane Society of the Flint Hills should provide you with all the basic necessities to care for the animal: food, toys, crate, bed, and so on [4]. All you have to do is get to know your new furry friend so they can be cared for until they are ready to be matched to their forever home [4]. The amount of time you foster can vary depending on the animal’s situation, but it is a great way to decide if a pet fits into your lifestyle [4].
Of course, adopting a pet is always an option too! The Emporia Animal Shelter was kind enough to let me come in and meet some of their current animals and they did not disappoint. Even just hanging around in the kitty room for a while was lots of fun and you can see the cats’ different personalities come out. We also got to meet the very friendly Tina Turner, a large dog who was recently adopted, and Cookie, a new arrival who was a little timid but just as sweet. The staff was extremely helpful and emphasized making sure all the animals get to go to a great home. Just being there for a short time was very stress relieving!
If you want to find out more about the Emporia Animal Shelter, click here: https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/ks/emporia/emporia-kansas-animal-shelter-ks100/
To find out more about the Humane Society of the Flint Hills, click here:
If interacting directly with the animals is not something you are interested in, then visiting the David Traylor Zoo is a great alternative! Admission is free and they have some great animal exhibits [3]. It is a great way to get some physical activity in while also learning about the animals and different aspects of their lives with the interactive educational displays located around the zoo. Remember, learning new things is a great way to keep your brain working. The zoo offers a lot of different events ranging from kids camps to community events like Boo in the Zoo [3]. There are also ways to get involved such as being a Zoo Docent, which is a volunteer, educational role that helps with events and programs both at the zoo and at local schools, organizations, and care facilities [3].
The zoo is offers lots of shade and plenty of places to sit, making it accommodating for those who may have trouble getting around. There was a wide variety of animals to look at and educational plagues to read. To walk the entire zoo took about 40 minutes to go at a slow pace and stop to watch some of the animals. The lemurs and prairie dogs were some of my personal favorites!
If you want to find out more about the David Traylor Zoo and how you can get involved, click here: http://zoo.emporia-kansas.gov
There are so many different ways to get involved here in the Emporia community but also get connected with animals! Reflect on how the animals in your life make each day a little brighter and maybe toss an extra treat their way as a thank you from your brain!
*Notice: This author is not affiliated with the Emporia Animal Shelter, the Humane Society of the Flint Hills or David Traylor Zoo in any way.
Sources
[1]. Allen K. Alzheimer’s disease: The magic of pets. BrightFocus Foundation. July 9, 2021. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/alzheimers-disease-magic-pets
[2]. Cherniack E. The benefit of pets and animal-assisted therapy to the health of older individuals. Current Geron. And Geriatrics Research. 2014; Article ID 623203. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/cggr/2014/623203/
[3]. David Traylor Zoo of Emporia. Website. Updated 2022. Accessed July 25, 2022. http://zoo.emporia-kansas.gov
[4]. Humane Society of the Flint Hills. Website. Updated 2022. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://www.humanesocietyfh.org
[5]. Hussein SM, Soliman WS, Khalifa AA. Benefits of pets’ ownership, a review based on health perspectives. J Intern Med Emerg Res. 2021;2(1):1-9. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://doi.org/10.37191/Mapsci-2582-7367-2(1)-020
[6]. Insurance Information Institute. Facts and statistics: Pet ownership and insurance. 2022. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-pet-ownership-and-insurance
[7]. Skerrett P. Pets can help their humans create friendships, find social support. Harvard Health Publishing. May 6, 2015. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/pets-can-help-their-humans-create-friendships-find-social-support-201505067981