Pet Love

Heartfelt Happiness: The Pet Connection That Ignites Joy

By Debbie

Posted on December 21, 2021

The Pet Connection.

This is my mom and Jack on the left. Jack died two days ago as I write this. He was 17 years old. My mom is 86 at the time of this writing, and for the love of pets, Jack brought her so much joy. He seemed to be failing in the preceding days, and I was pretty sure his life was coming to an end the day before.

It was time for the old guy to move on. Our family and friends will really miss him. Everyone loved a little dose of Jack, and since he was so little, he was easy to take along places. Jack was a little dog with a big personality. He would walk by the big dogs as if he was their pal, while they paid little attention to him.

Mr. Russell Bagussel

I lost my own dog, Russell, a little over three years ago. Russell was 15 when he died. He grew up with my son who was eight when we brought Russell home. When Russell died, it physically hurt. Of course the pain subsided over time, but my connection to Russell is forever. I still miss him so much. He was the biggest pain in the ass, yet an amazing sense of joy. The stories we could tell about Russell. He was a wild Jack Russell and an endless source of laughter.

I haven’t gotten another dog since Russell for the many obvious reasons of the commitment and responsibility that comes with owning animals. So I set out to explore the joy and happiness of pets in hopes that I could help answer the question, to pet or not to pet? When is it time to enjoy the pet connection?

10 Reasons the Pet Connection is Profound!

Unconditional Love: Pets provide a unique form of unconditional love and companionship, creating a deep emotional bond that brings joy to our lives.
Stress Reduction: Interacting with pets has been shown to lower stress levels and promote relaxation, contributing to overall mental well-being.
Physical Activity: Owning a pet often encourages physical activity, whether it’s playing fetch, going for walks, or engaging in other forms of exercise, promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Companionship: Pets are loyal companions, offering a constant source of comfort and support, especially during times of loneliness or stress.
Routine and Structure: Caring for a pet establishes a daily routine, bringing a sense of structure to life and providing a purpose that can contribute to happiness.
Emotional Support: Pets are attuned to their owners’ emotions and can provide emotional support, helping to alleviate feelings of sadness, anxiety, or loneliness.
Social Interaction: Pet ownership often facilitates social interactions, whether it’s meeting other pet owners during walks or engaging in activities that involve pets, fostering a sense of community.
Non-Judgmental Companions: Pets offer non-judgmental companionship, creating a safe and accepting environment where individuals can be themselves without fear of criticism.
Entertainment: Pets bring joy through their playful antics and unique personalities, providing entertainment and laughter that can uplift spirits.
Sense of Responsibility: Caring for a pet instills a sense of responsibility, offering a purposeful connection and the satisfaction of meeting the needs of another living being.

What the Experts Say About the Pet Connection

I think we intuitively know that the pet connection can improve our mood, improve wellness, and have a general positive impact on our wellbeing. On the website, “Frontiers in Psychology,” however, you’ll find scientific proof of this assumption. The research on the benefits of human-animal interaction (HAI) for humans is extensive, with human subjects showing improvements in many different areas including the effects on social behaviors and interactions such as trust, empathy, aggression, and a positive mood.

Can the pet connection help you live longer? Research says yes! A study in Uppsala, Sweden of more than 3.4 million over a 12-year period found that people who owned dogs were at a lower risk of disease and mortality than those who had no pet. Much like the information above, the study revealed that people respond favorably to dog ownership with increased physical activity and happiness and companionship. Medical News Today

In this issue of Science, Miho Nasagawa et al demonstrated that gaze bonding with our pet companions increases oxytocin, just as happens with human gazing. In humans, gaze is firmly related to social interaction, especially evidenced in mother-child bonding, as well as sexual partners. Petting dogs has also been shown to increase oxytocin in both the dog and the human, especially in females. Oxytocin-Gaze Positive Loop and the Coevolution of Human-Dog Bonds. More on the topic here on Science Direct.

In “Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,” Clive Wynne, PhD, once again sets out to prove scientifically that dogs love and the love you feel between you and your pet is real. It gets almost a five-star rating and is friendly reading about the science and positive experience of the pet connection with dogs.

On the Other Hand

The Institute for Family Studies and YouGov America offer another side of this narrative , with some interesting findings on pet ownership that could be telling us something important about how we as humans behave (or don’t) when it comes to our pets–and what they want from life in general: Do Pets Make People Happy?

These stats suggest those who want animals tend to have them regardless if happiness factor plays any part; these folks would likely feel less happy without their owns so-called “comrades.” The data suggests that happy people are happy, regardless of whether they have pets, they pet may add to their happiness. It also suggests that unhappy people may seek to find happiness in external things generally, even pets, but that if they are not internally happy, the pet will not improve their well being generally.

Conclusion

The decision to bring a pet into your home is one that should be made with careful consideration. Weigh the pros and cons, considering everything from time commitment to financial investment before you make the leap. If you’re still not sure if pet ownership will make you happy, take this online quiz here offered by The American Kennel Club.