Pets are known to have a positive effect on the emotional and mental well-being of humans. Besides companionship and opportunities for outdoor exercise, owning a pet can also offer a sense of purpose and structure to those who care for them.
Because of this, animals are frequently used to help support those experiencing mental and emotional distress. Examples of this can range from service animals trained in assisting people with disabilities and sensory impairments, to visiting therapy animals in places such as hospitals.
Emotional Support Animals
While service animals are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act)and may be taken to any number of locations, therapy animals are not. The same applies to animals like the ones at Wellness Wag, a company offering emotional support animal services to those struggling with their emotional and mental health.
Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals are not trained, however they are there to provide comfort and support. For a new (or existing) pet to qualify as an ESA, the owner must first have a legally-enforced letter from their doctor who should also decide whether or not an emotional support animal is the best way forward.
Placing Welfare First
A key factor in this concerns not only the well-being of the patient, but also the pet. As part of the assessment, your doctor may ask whether it is realistic for you to meet an animal’s daily basic needs such as exercise, grooming and a regular sleep schedule while keeping them safe, warm and properly fed.
If you experience chronic illness with periods of low energy (for example), it may be possible to occasionally outsource your pet care duties to a trusted person, but remember: if you are not well enough to take on pet ownership, it is still possible to find “creature comforts” through activities such as volunteering.
Pets Have Feelings Too
While the health benefits of humans being around animals is well-documented, arguably less is said about the overall effect on the animals in question: besides the possibility of becoming too attached or over-reliant on a pet (which in some cases can become unhealthy), there is also a risk of disregarding the emotional sensitivity of animals.
Rather than anthropomorphize animals, it’s important to acknowledge that they feel emotions in a different way that humans do: while dogs (and other animals such as cats) are lauded for their sweet and sensitive dispositions, these very same characteristics can lead to them taking on an emotional burden they don’t understand and may have difficulty coping with.
Caring for Emotional Support Animals
It’s important to acknowledge that, unlike other tools or accommodations used to support mental and emotional health, animals are living beings deserving of respect and care. Besides meeting their basic welfare needs as part of a structured daily routine (especially when it comes to sleep and feeding), there are other ways to care for your pet.
One of these involves learning to understand certain physical “cues” (since animals cannot talk, they tend to express emotions such as stress using body language). Training and play time offers mental stimulation and a chance for you both to bond, but ultimately the key ingredients for pet well-being are proper care, structure and routine. Incidentally, these are also key elements that can aid in supporting your own health and well-being.
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