Austin (KXAN) – The title “Best Friend of Men” rings many dog owners. In fact, most of the pet owners say their pets have a positive effect on their mental health.
This is according to a 2023 poll From the American Psychological Association.
The survey results showed that 86 % of pet owners said that their pets have a positive effect often on their mental health, and 88 % of pet owners said they consider their pets as part of their families, according to the American Psychological Association.
According to the collapse of the survey, those who said that their pets positively affect their mental health were martyred with several major benefits, including the following:
- Helps reduce stress and anxiety (69 %)
- Providing unconditional love and support (69 %)
- Companionship (69 %)
- Provide a calming presence (66 %)
- They are real friends (63 %)
Here in Austin, pets are a large part of society. Pet owners can find a lot of entertainment options and lifestyle that meets pets, such as restaurants and apartments friendly to pets. A Zillow analysis It was released in 2023 Austin as a city more suitable for pets in the United States for tenants.
Austin also focuses initiatives that focus on animal services, such as the Austin Consulting Committee, the Animal Services Office in Austin and the five -year animal service office plan.
There are also many animal shelters and rescue organizations in Austin. KXAN talks with one of them about the effects that pets can have on people’s mental health.
Austin pets alive! (APA!), It is a single shelter that takes the relationship between humans and animals into consideration in its approach to pets. Father! He said in a press statement that the adoption of a pet not only saves the life of this animal, but it can also improve the life of their owner.
“What we see again and again is that these animals, many of which came from tragic situations, flourish in homes. Dr. Alexis Bardezensky, APA medical director!
Brettany Szalkiewicz, Coordinator of the Social Work Program for Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), Join Kxan on Monday to discuss APA roads! It approaches the mental health of pet owners, as well as mutual benefits of pets and people when adopting animals.
Szalkiewicz said the veterinary social action focuses on “two sides of the steering wheel”.
Work with APA! Passing program Positive alternatives to shelter surrender. The program helps members of society with a crisis or challenge to life that prevents them from caring for their pets. Szalkiewicz explained that the program works to know the services that members of society can receive so that they can maintain their pets in their home.
SZALKIEWICZ reported about the American Psychological Assembly monitoring statistics that 86 % of pet owners said that their pets have a positive impact on their mental health. “This looks like a lot of different things,” she said.
“This can be just companionship, a decrease in a feeling of loneliness in your home, as well as things like an increased structure in your day. Therefore, physical activity, reduce stress and anxiety,” said Szalkiewicz. “With children, it may seem to be increasing social skills, and there are many different parts of your life that can be affected positively through the presence of an accompanying animal.”
Father! It is also part of the national program Human animal support servicesOr Haas. It is a program “provides societies for support and diversity support systems that allow each of the people and pets to have multiple options of care that suit their needs,” according to its website.
Szalkiewicz said that there are more than 200 animals on APA! It is available for adoptionAnd there are more than 1000 in Nursery.