It's not only animals of the cuddly kind who can help some people along
Many different nonhuman animals (animals) are able to help people see the light of day and make them feel better, even people faced with challenging psychological disorders and problems (more scholarly reports can be seen here). While I'm fully aware that the results of these sorts of research projects clearly show that not everyone is helped along by being in the presence of other animals, there still are some compelling data that show that some people do indeed respond positively when in the company of other animals and caring for them.
Along these lines, I just saw an interesting essay in Time magazine (available online) by Mandy Oaklander called "Science Says Your Pet Is Good for Your Mental Health" that nicely summarizes some of these on-going studies. While many already know that animals such as dogs and horses can help people along, I was intrigued to discover that fish and crickets also can have positive effects. So, it's not only animals of the cuddly kind who can help some people along.
Concerning fish, Ms. Oaklander writes, "Animals can focus people's attention. When people at an Alzheimer's-disease facility dined in front of aquariums with brightly colored fish, they ate more, got better nutrition and were less prone to pacing. They were also more attentive and less lethargic."
And, concerning crickets, she notes, "Animals don't have to be cuddly to help. In a 2016 study published in the journal Gerontology, elderly people who were given five crickets in a cage became less depressed after eight weeks than a control group. The act of caring for a living creature seems to make the difference."
The conclusion of the study to which Ms. Oaklander refers called "Effect of Pet Insects on the Psychological Health of Community-Dwelling Elderly People: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial," reads, "Caring for insects, which is cost-effective and safe, was associated with a small to medium positive effect on depression and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly people."
Ms. Oaklander also acknowledges "More research is needed before scientists know exactly why it works and how much animal interaction is needed for the best results. But published studies show that paws have a place in medicine and in mental well-being."
I agree. So, while we do indeed need more research and it's clear that not everyone is positively affected by being in the presence of other animals, don't worry if science doesn't view it as a panacea for everyone. Even drugs don't work for everyone in the same way. I always find it interesting that advertisements on TV for this and that drug have minutes on end and small unreadable print about the horrific side effects about which people must be aware. Nonhumans are easier to deal with and also less expensive; if you don't enjoy being in the presence of another animal, you can simply avoid them, most likely with no lingering negative effects for anyone involved.
I like to say if being in the presence of another animal works for you, do it. It also can be very inexpensive and easy to do. And, as long as the nonhumans don't suffer, why not do all we can to see life in a more positive light? It can be a win-win for all of the beings involved.
Marc Bekoff’s latest books are Jasper’s Story: Saving Moon Bears (with Jill Robinson); Ignoring Nature No More: The Case for Compassionate Conservation; Why Dogs Hump and Bees Get Depressed: The Fascinating Science of Animal Intelligence, Emotions, Friendship, and Conservation; Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence; The Jane Effect: Celebrating Jane Goodall (edited with Dale Peterson); and The Animals’ Agenda: Freedom, Compassion, and Coexistence in the Human Age (with Jessica Pierce). Canine Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to the Best Lives For Dogs and Us will be published in early 2018. Marc's homepage is marcbekoff.com.
