Companion animals and human health: Benefits, challenges, and the road ahead

Abstract

Fossil evidence indicates an association between human beings and animals dating back at least half a million years. Today, this relationship remains strong, as evidenced by millions of visits to zoos annually, high rates of pet ownership, and the economic prosperity of the pet industry. A review of the literature indicates that human-animal interactions can remarkably enhance human physical health and psychological well-being. Yet despite reported benefits and public enthusiasm for animal-related activities, human affiliation with animals and nature is rapidly on the decline largely owing to a shift toward industrialized city living. Future research should not only continue to examine the mental and physical health implications of companion animal ownership, but also the ways to most successfully incorporate them into modern lifestyles and communities.

Introduction

Human relationships with companion animals are not new. Fossil evidence from half a million years ago indicates an association between Homo erectus and a canine-like species (Messent and Serpell, 1981). Even before human beings settled into agricultural communities, they kept wild and tamed animals as companions (Savishinsky, 1983). More recently, scientists discovered a 12,000-year-old tomb in modern Israel, in which a person was buried with one arm around a puppy. The scientists who discovered the fossil claim that the arrangement of the burial proves that an affectionate, rather than gastronomic, relationship existed between the person and the animal (Davis and Valla, 1978).

Today, this relationship remains strong. Millions of people each year travel and pay money to spend the day viewing animals at the zoo. In the United States and Canada, more children and adults visit zoos than all major professional sporting events combined (Wilson, 1993). In Australia and the United States, approximately 63% of households own domesticated pets (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1995, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 2008). The pet care industry alone contributes an annual average of AU $4.62 billion to the Australian economy and US $43.4 billion to the US economy (Australian Companion Animal Council Inc, 2006, American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 2008).

Pet owners spend enormous amounts of money, time, and energy on creatures that seem to give nothing of utilitarian value in return. Owners allow companion animals to live in their homes for free, pay for their food and medical bills, and often purchase many toys and accessories for them. At first glance, the return for human beings seems nonexistent. Many pet owners, however, report that their companion animals give a great deal in return in the form of affectionate attachments known as the human-animal bond (Beck and Katcher, 1996). The perceived mutual affection between companion animals and their human counterparts is supported by the loving and pleasant feelings often experienced during interactions (Archer, 1997). These feelings have spurred a unique field of research called human-animal interactions. An emerging literature in the area has revealed that interacting with companion animals can remarkably enhance human health and well-being. Although exciting scientific advances have been made, the future of the field will require attention to the unique nature and challenges of human-animal interactions and their research.

In order to explore the benefits and challenges associated with human-animal interactions, in a future article we will begin by presenting the initial studies that garnered public interest, then explore two of the most commonly cited theoretical frameworks, highlight empirically supported applications among the general public and in therapeutic interventions, discuss the difficulties facing human-animal interactions and their study, and finally, present ideas for future research.