Research has shown having a pet can be beneficial to an owner s health. Pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and triglycerides, decreased mortality rates after a heart attack, less psychological stress, and lower rates of isolation and loneliness. Many healthcare facilities use pets in a therapeutic setting. An experienced animal handler brings the pet into the facility with very specific goals in mind for each patient. Animal-assisted therapy is a great tool for children in the hospital.
Animals can reduce the loneliness and boredom of the hospital setting.
Petting an animal can initiate physical therapy. Walking a dog can motivate a reluctant child to get out of bed. Frightened children often confide their concerns to a caring, nonjudgmental pet. Not all pets can be used for animal-assisted therapy. Certifying organizations, such as the Delta Society or Therapy Dogs International, have rigorous testing and training standards for animals and their handlers.