Animal-Assisted Interventions: Making Better Use of the Human-Animal Bond

In this article promoting the One Health program, authors Daniel Mills and Sophie Hall offer a fairly comprehensive literature review outlining how companion animals are positive contributors to human health outcomes. One Health is described as “the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines — working locally, nationally, and globally — to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment.” The authors chose to focus primarily on how companion animals can help humans, especially in relation to older people and children. They urge the larger medical community to see companion animals and therapy animals as not simply “novel” and “cost-effective” ways of improving human health, but as potentially serving a more serious role as “valuable contributors to human health and wellbeing and, as a result, society and the broader economy.”

For anyone who has lived with and cared for companion animals, their uncanny ability to reduce stress and contribute to overall well-being is not a secret. Many medical disciplines, however, are still in the process of discovering the value of companion animals, and the positive contributions they make to human health. Indeed, there is a growing body of literature that describes just how animals assist human health. The examples are numerous: for older patients in long term care, it is said that “along with reducing overt emotional responses such as anxiety, there is evidence to suggest that animal companionship can be highly influential in reducing a sense of isolation,” the authors note. “The routine of animal care can provide daily stability and feelings of worth (direct effects) as well as providing a distraction from negative events (indirect effects).” When it comes to children, the authors note that “it is increasingly important to consider the protective role that companion animals can play in reducing the negative effects associated with instabilities [of modern life]. For instance, companion animals can provide consistency and support throughout transitions [such as moving], which may diminish the negative impacts that these events have.” For both older people and children, the evidence is mounting that companion animals help in a variety of important ways.

Although there is a growing recognition of the impact of these animals, the authors note that “despite the importance of animal companionship in reducing negative human emotions and increasing positive emotions, we still do not have a good understanding of the processes underlying these effects.” Companion animals are theorized by some as being “social lubricants” that help to shape our social interactions with other humans. Elsewhere they have been said to be part of a broader biological process of “biophilia,” which is “predicated on the assumption that people have adapted to attend to and have empathy with human and non-human life in their environment.” This theory of biophilic empathy in particular has led to some interest in researching how companion animals can help with a range of developmental disorders, such as autism. As diagnoses of autism appear to be rising, it is easy to see why these studies are increasingly important for humans.

Though the authors of this particular paper do not consider how the human-animal interactions might benefit (or act as a detriment to) non-humans, it seems to assume that the animals would benefit in some way. Ultimately, the authors appear to be most interested in promoting a basic interest of the subject, and note that “although positive effects of animal companionship are well-documented, such reports often lack vigorous scientific support; however, we should not confuse a lack of evidence with evidence of absence. Rather we should be curious about all the ways companion animals can potentially help us and embrace the opportunities provided by a greater appreciation of the impact of companion animals on our lives.” If we assume that there is a benefit for the non-human animals in this equation as well, the promotion of this type of research could be a very good thing for both human and non-human animals.

Original Abstract:
In the third of Veterinary Record’s series of articles promoting One Health, Daniel Mills and Sophie Hall discuss the therapeutic effects of companion animals, the influence of pets on childhood development and how researchers are elucidating the true value of animal companionship.