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 Seniors who own dogs go to the doctor less than those who do
not. In a study of 100 Medicare patients, even the most highly stressed dog owners
in the study had 21 percent fewer physician contacts than non-dog owners. (Siegel,
1990).
- Activities of daily living level (ADL) of seniors who did not
currently own pets deteriorated more on average than that of respondents who
currently owned pets. (Raina, 1999).
- Pet owners have lower blood pressure. (Friedmann, 1983; Anderson, 1992).
- Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than
non-owners (Anderson, 1992).
- Companionship of pets (particularly dogs) helps children in
families adjust better to the serious illness and health of a parent (Raveis,
1993).
- Pet owners feel less afraid of being a victim of crime when
walking with a dog or sharing a residence with a dog. (Sepel, 1990).
- Contact with pets develops nurturing behavior in children who
may grow to be more nurturing adults (Melson, 1990).
- Dogs are preventive and therapeutic measures against everyday
stress (Allen, 1991).
- Pets decrease feeling of loneliness and isolation (Kidde, 1994).
- The presence of a dog during a child's physical examination
decreases their stress. (Nadgengast, 1997, Baun, 1998).
- Pets fulfill many of the same support functions as humans for
adults and children. (Melson, 1998)
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