Dogs and other animals can help children cope with a
variety of ailments -- depression, emotional disorders,
and even poor immune function.
Pets are also good preventive medicine for healthy
children to help them avoid developing allergies,
increasing weight, or becoming social outcasts. Pets can also teach children
empathy and compassion.
"Children in dog-owning families have more
traditional values, better academic achievement, and
greater respect for their parents," said Elizabeth
Omerod, companion animal veterinary surgeon, and member
of the Pet Health Council in London. "I often witness
positive attitudinal changes in young people following
the introduction of animals to their lives."
Medical advantages
This isn't just anecdotal hearsay; it's the subject
of numerous medical studies conducted around the world,
many of which are found at the Delta Society.
- A Swedish study found that pet exposure during the
first year of life was associated with a lower
prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma in children
ages 7 to 13 years old.
- A large-scale survey of 11,000 Australians,
Chinese, and Germans found that pet owners made up to
20 percent fewer annual visits to the doctor than
non-pet owners.
- A study of 256 children, ages 5 to 11 years, in
three schools in England and Scotland found that kids
with pets had fewer sick days.
- A study of 100 children younger than 13 years who
owned cats found that more than 80 percent said they
got along better with family and friends.
- Studies have linked family ownership of a pet with
high self-esteem in young children and greater cognitive development.
- Children with pets at home score significantly
higher on empathy and pro-social scales than non-pet
owners.
Stress busters on a leash
What is it about animals that makes them so special
around children? Experts overwhelmingly zone in on their
ability to decrease stress because they offer love and
affection unconditionally.
In one survey, 70 percent of families reported an
increase in family happiness and fun after they acquired
a pet. Also, the presence of a dog during a child's
physical examination or dental treatment has been
found to decrease the child's stress and anxiety.
"When under stress, our chemical make-up changes, and
a multitude of stress hormones are introduced in the
body," said Caryn Sabes Hacker, a psychotherapist with
more than 25 years of experience with children, and
author of "A Bully Grows Up: Erik Meets the Wizard."
"Ultimately, these hormones cause inflammation in our
cells. Petting an animal, hearing its soft breathing,
feeling its heart beat, looking into its sweet eyes,
knowing that the pet needs us and that we need the pet,
creates feelings of love and a corresponding influx of
chemicals from the brain that are calming and comforting
and create a sense of well-being and happiness," she
said.
Families across the world have harnessed one of the
most powerful medicines of all -- unconditional love
from a furry, four-legged healthcare worker who is
on-call 24 hours a day and doesn't require a paycheck.
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