Psychosocial Benefits of Animal Companionship

Companion animals offer one of the most accessible enhancements to a person's quality of life. They are themselves an unconditional support system that can be drawn on at any time of day or night, when family members or friends may be busy with other things or unreachable. Having warm and accepting companionship near at hand provides essential comfort that is available whenever it is especially needed. A source of relaxation and entertainment is always close by. The increased quality of life afforded people by their animals has relatively low cost, in comparison with the efforts involved with human companions. The animal's demands are simple and uncomplicated, and, because the animal does not talk, the conflicts are few as long as the person avoids most behavior problems with the animal through careful selection and management. Substantial evidence in the research literature on human social support points to the central role of relationshipsmor the lack of them--as being either stress producing or health promoting. Social networks and support were