The Human-Animal Bond

1. HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND

2. The Human-Animal Bond

“A mutually beneficial and dynamic
relationship between people and
other animals that is influenced by
behaviors that are essential to the
health and well-being of both.”

3. History of the Human-Animal Bond

Human-canine bond is one
of the oldest relationships.
Domestication >12,000
years ago
Transition from working
companion to pet between
600 to 1300 AD
Evidence of human-feline
bonds 9,500 years ago.
Farm animal domestication
10,000 years ago.

4. Most Popular Pets

5. Family Pets = Family Members

There are more US households with pets (62.4%) than
children aged 17 and under.
Children are more likely to have pets.
More than 75% of owners say dog’s health is as
important to them as their own.
57% would prefer their pet as their only companion if
they were stranded on a desert island.
52% are better at remembering the names of neighbor’s
pets than human neighbors.
A scientifically established link
exists between how people treat
animals and how they treat each other.

6. Functions in Modern Society

Assistance animals:
•Guide Animals
•Hearing Animals
•Service Animals
•Seizure Alert Animals
•Visitation Therapy programs
(physical, mental, skill-building)
•Apart from dogs, capuchin monkeys
and miniature horses are also being
used for assistance.
Livestock Guarding animals.

7. Animals as Partners in Work

•Search and rescue dogs.
•Bomb detection dogs.
•Police dogs.
•Police horses
"A cat is more
intelligent than people
believe, and can be
taught any crime."
-Mark Twain , 1895

8. The Therapeutic Benefits of Pets

•Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer
visits to their doctors than those without pets.
•Increasing exercise.
•build self-confidence.
•Adding structure and routine to your
day.
•Providing sensory stress relief.
•Pets can provide a source of positive,
nonverbal communication.
•Learning to ride a horse can help elevate the selfesteem of disabled children
•Protecting those whom we love gives a feeling of
empowerment.

9. Benefits to Humans

Pets as Healers
Pet owners have lower blood pressure.
Increased survival after heart attack.
Stress reduction.
Weight control.
Fewer minor health problems.
Reiki Healer
Alzheimer’s patients allowed to observe
fish demonstrated improved relaxation, alertness,
and eating habits.
Positive impact on the lonely, emotionally or
physically impaired .

10. Childhood Development

Pets:
•Provide a sense of security and self-esteem.
•Facilitate play, exploration, independence.
•Facilitate an understanding of life events
and life-changing events.
•Promote responsibility, nurturing, loyalty,
empathy, sharing, and unconditional love.
•Animals in classrooms motivate students to
work well.
•Improve behavior.
•Provide care-giving opportunities important
to psychological development.

11. Pets and the Elderly

•Provide companionship and support during
bereavement.
•Increase levels of activity.
•Improve person-to-person interactions.
•Ease loss in natural disasters.
•Transcend sensory deficits, mental
changes, mobility restrictions that can
impede human-human relationships.
•When moving to residential care, there are
significant benefits when elderly persons
keep their pets

12. Animals and Disasters

•A sense of personal responsibility to
those entrusted to our care is a
hallmark of emotionally and ethically
mature human beings.
•Owners are loyal to the animals they
love, and will risk personal injury to protect them.
•Pet-owning households are significantly less likely
to evacuate during mandatory orders than
households without pets.

13. Animals and People During Disasters

•Leaving animals behind during
routine evacuations creates stress
and anxiety for pet owners and
family members.
•Mandatory evacuations that do
not include provisions for pets may
cause resistance and conflict
between rescuers and evacuees.
•Therefore, joint owner-pet
evacuations should be facilitated
to the extent possible.

14. Owning A Pet Is Not For Everyone

Pets cost money.
Pets require time and attention.
Pets can be destructive.
Pets require responsibility.
Pets carry health risks for some people.