Posted on 09/28/2009 5:10:44 PM PDT by decimon
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Lowers blood pressure, encourages exercise, improves psychological health— these may sound like the effects of a miracle drug, but they are actually among the benefits of owning a four-legged, furry pet. This fall, the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) will explore the many ways animals benefit people of all ages during the International Society for Anthrozoology and Human-Animal Interaction Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 20-25.
“Research in this field is providing new evidence on the positive impact pets have in our lives,” said Rebecca Johnson, associate professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, the College of Veterinary Medicine and director of ReCHAI. “This conference will provide a unique opportunity to connect international experts working in human-animal interaction research with those already working in the health and veterinary medicine fields. A wonderful array of presentations will show how beneficial animals can be in the lives of children, families and older adults.”
Earlier this year, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), co-hosted two workshops with The WALTHAM® Centre for Pet Nutrition, a division of Mars Incorporated, bringing together leading experts to discuss the benefits of human-animal interaction in childhood. With support from a grant from NICHD and sponsorship from WALTHAM®, the conference will continue this discussion.
Marty Becker, known as “America’s Veterinarian” and a veterinary contributor to ABC’s “Good Morning America” for more than 12 years, will give a special presentation at the conference called “The Power of Love: the science and the soul behind that affection-connection we call The Bond.”
Other conference discussions will include ways that human-animal interaction benefits humans and animals, new facets of human-animal interaction, and ways to apply new human-animal interaction knowledge to their fields. Some of the presentations will highlight the special role of companion animals in facilitating reading and physical activity in children and adults.
“Pets are of great importance to people, especially during hard economic times,” Johnson said. “Pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and may be part of answers to societal problems, such as inactivity and obesity.”
ReCHAI sponsors several projects that attempt to further the understanding and value of the relationship between humans and animals. In 2008, ReCHAI sponsored the “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound and Stay Fit for Seniors.” In the preliminary program, a group of older adults were matched with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults were partnered with a human walk buddy. For 12 weeks, participants were encouraged to walk on an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. At the end of the program, researchers measured how much the older adults’ activity levels improved.
“The older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by 28 percent,” Johnson said. “They had more confidence walking on the trail, and they increased their speed. The older people who walked with humans only had a 4 percent increase in their walking capabilities. The human walking buddies tended to discourage each other and used excuses such as the weather being too hot.”
NICHD is interested in building upon existing research and spurring more studies involving children and adolescents.
“The few studies that have been conducted suggest that pet ownership may have multiple health and emotional benefits for both children and adults,” said James Griffin, a scientist at NICHD. “But there has been relatively little rigorous research documenting these benefits and examining how and why they occur. By providing support for this conference and additional research studies, we hope to generate some answers.”
The Human-Animal Interaction Conference will bring together people around the world working on similar projects as ReCHAI, Johnson said. These people include nurses, physicians, veterinarians, social workers, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and activity directors.
“Today, pets are in more than 60 percent of American homes,” said Charlotte McKenney, assistant director of ReCHAI. “Research involving human-animal interaction can be extremely beneficial. More people are incorporating pets into their leisure time, such as making them part of their exercise routines, taking them to dog parks and bringing them to family events.”
For more information or to register for the conference, visit http://www.rechai.missouri.edu/isaz_hai09.htm.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Media should contact Kelsey Jackson at 573-882-8353 or JacksonKN@missouri.edu to obtain media credentials for the conference.
Walk your cat ping.
Unless walking your cat raises your blood pressure.
That’s true. My dog growls at doctors. ;)
No, no, those are letter carriers. Doctors don't make house calls anymore.
I'm inclined to think old folks could benefit in the same way.
Oh, come on. Did they really measure the differential benefits of owning a four-legged, furry pet vs. owning a four-legged, scaly pet?
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Looks like she’s alert. That’s good. The world needs more lerts.
Can't even take care of myself and you expect me to take care of a pet?
He’s a lert, the female is a minipotomus slug.
He’s a cutie!
How beautiful.
I stick with chihuahuas.
A handsome hound.
Nice Jack.
They steal your heart then they leave.
I got a Cock a Poo and her and the Neighbors Jack play nonstop.
My cat runs me. LOL. She is a chubby petite rescue calico and she lives and loves to be chased full speed up and down all of our hallways then hide under one of the beds for a few minutes while I go back from which I came. Then she reappears in front of me meows and I chase her full speed again wherever she leads if I can even find her. She is so fast I swear she’d be an Olympic medalist if kitties had an Olympics. LOL. I wonder if cats that like to be chased will be on the health benefits list. :-D.
Their owners might make a list. ;-)
I've read that the ones they call Desert Lynx are much dog-like.
It’s true. Haven’t had a dog in 27 years, until last fall. This last week I had to have my blood pressure medicine changed as my BP got too low.
I find it very humorous, calming, and therapeutic on many levels, myself. Dogs really do affect one's health in a positive way. 
I find that a few kitteh hairs do wonders for my wardrobe.
Little reminders that they love me lots.
She keeps me busy.
Crip, she/he is a beaut.
I find it very humorous, calming, and therapeutic on many levels, myself.
Yeah, yeah, watching some badger-mauling hound bite someone in the ass is one of my favorites, too.
Yeah. I got him from some people who kept him cooped up in the house all the time. He’s got runnin room now.
Another fine looking hound.
Haha, funny story. When my ex-gf and I broke up, she was in the process of moving out and had a load of clothes in the dryer. The clothes were dry and she had the dryer door open. My biggest boy (cat) jumped in the dryer and sprayed her clothes.
Eve?
Walking a cat is just trolling for Rottweillers. What do ya think kitty is gonna climb when a dog charges it?
It seems like a good dog will do things just to make you smile.
He is PRECIOUS, but I've never had a pet before so this is new territory for me.
LOL!
Yah...how does one walk parakeets???
I’m scratching the chin of my health care provider as I type this.
The thing to remember about dogs is that they thrive on praise, and punishment beyond a stern voice just doesn’t work.
Mine is on my lap.
He has two speeds. Full tilt, and lap.
Get on some old clothes and lay down in the floor with him. They love to lay in a pile with their people and other dogs in the “pack.” Poodles are highly intelligent, despite what people say. They don’t shed much if at all, either. Talk to him. Hopefully, there are some familiar words that you know, from your mother. He’s probably still grieving to some extent. Dogs ache to communicate, and love to have a task or two. They’re happiest when they’re occupied with something, and when they’re with their people, where ever that might be.
You'll upset the pets with that.
One of mine is like that. The other is built for comfort, not speed.
Well, here’s a question - do you walk your pet, or does your pet walk you? The cute and charming critters in my house like to lead.
While much of the above may be true, my wife and I have vowed never to own a pet. Owning a pet is exactly like having a child that never grows up. You are a slave to their care and feeding, as well as innumerable toilet needs per day, etc., etc. Not to mention grooming and medical needs, and so forth. It makes MUCH MORE sense to support some of the good ministries that are feeding and caring for actual children in foreign lands........many of whom also come to know the Saviour as a result.
We DO have a lovely and loveable “Granddog” a Sheltie named Abercrombie, who goes nuts with joy whenever we visit our granddaughters. We enjoy the pup a lot during those visits. But as for all the benefits of pet ownership; I guess I’ll have to hope the visits with Abbie result in healthier and extended life. Otherwise I’ll just have to be content to pass on and go to be with my Lord a little early. Praise Jesus!
DP has a leash for Santana: he carries him on his shoulder sometimes, when we got out on sunny days. All the kids swarm around yelling, “Mister, is that real?!?”
Yeah, Buttons loves for me to take an old shirt or a large bath towel & throw it over him & then try to dig out from in under them. I told my mom that I would like to get either a border collie or golden retriever ‘cuz I thought (???) they were the most intelligent breeds, & she told me that poodles are way up there, too.
Buttons HATES to be alone. He hates being “away” from me even when I am in the shower! Not to mention how much it bothers him when I have to leave the house for any period of time. He is terrified of thunder storms & I feel sorry for him & can only try to console him when he is shaking out of fear due to the noise of thunder in the distance.
What kinds of tasks do you think would be best for him to do?
poor thing. Looks to be highly distressed. “Mom, Dad, rub tummy please.” LOL.
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