1. The Human-Animal Bond Office Management

2. Introduction Human-Animal Bond Definition- Human-Animal Bond Definition- The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Definition: “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. This includes but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, other animals, and the environment.

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

5. Pets or Family Members? 62% of US households have at least one pet (AVMA 2002) 62% of US households have at least one pet (AVMA 2002) Children are more likely to have pets than siblings or fathers (Melson, 2001) Children are more likely to have pets than siblings or fathers (Melson, 2001) More than 75% of owners say dog’s health is as important to them as their own (Pfizer Animal Health/Gallup survey) More than 75% of owners say dog’s health is as important to them as their own (Pfizer Animal Health/Gallup survey)

7. More statistics and thoughts 57% would prefer their pet as their only companion if they were stranded on a desert island (2001 APPMA pet owner survey) 57% would prefer their pet as their only companion if they were stranded on a desert island (2001 APPMA pet owner survey) 52% are better at remembering the names of neighbor’s pets than human neighbors (2001 AAHA survey) 52% are better at remembering the names of neighbor’s pets than human neighbors (2001 AAHA survey) A scientifically established link exists between how people treat animals and how they treat each other A scientifically established link exists between how people treat animals and how they treat each other

9. Finances on Pets $41 Billion was spent on pets in 2007. $41 Billion was spent on pets in 2007.

11. How do Pet’s Function in Modern Society? Assistance animals Assistance animals Helpers (i.e. hearing, sight, seizure detection) Helpers (i.e. hearing, sight, seizure detection) Visitation Visitation Therapy programs (physical, mental, skill-building) Therapy programs (physical, mental, skill-building) Search and rescue dogs Search and rescue dogs Bomb detection dogs Bomb detection dogs Police dogs Police dogs Police horses Police horses

13. Pets as Healers? Pet owners have: Pet owners have: Lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol Lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol Increased survival after heart attack Increased survival after heart attack Stress reduction Stress reduction Weight control Weight control Fewer minor health problems Fewer minor health problems

14. More Benefits to Humans Alzheimer’s patients allowed to observe fish demonstrated improved relaxation, alertness, and eating habits Alzheimer’s patients allowed to observe fish demonstrated improved relaxation, alertness, and eating habits Positive impact on the lonely, emotionally or physically impaired Positive impact on the lonely, emotionally or physically impaired

15. Benefits to Children Pets: Pets: Provide a sense of security and self-esteem Provide a sense of security and self-esteem Facilitate play, exploration, independence Facilitate play, exploration, independence Facilitate an understanding of life events and life-changing events Facilitate an understanding of life events and life-changing events Promote responsibility, nurturing, loyalty, empathy, sharing, and unconditional love Promote responsibility, nurturing, loyalty, empathy, sharing, and unconditional love

16. Equine Therapy To give those in search of help and self-discovery the opportunity to grow and experience well being through the healing power of horses. To give those in search of help and self-discovery the opportunity to grow and experience well being through the healing power of horses.

17. Animals in classrooms: Animals in classrooms: Motivate students to work well Motivate students to work well Improve behavior Improve behavior Provide care-giving opportunities important to psychological development Provide care-giving opportunities important to psychological development

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

19. Pets and Disasters A sense of personal responsibility to those entrusted to our care is a hallmark of emotionally and ethically mature human beings. 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. Owners are loyal to the animals they love, and will risk personal injury to protect them. Studies indicate that pet-owning households are significantly less likely to evacuate during mandatory orders than households without pets; the more pets, the less likely household will evacuate. (AJE 2001 153:659-665) Studies indicate that pet-owning households are significantly less likely to evacuate during mandatory orders than households without pets; the more pets, the less likely household will evacuate. (AJE 2001 153:659-665)

20. Sometimes having pet and being able to care for pet is the only stabilizing factor left by the natural disaster. Sometimes having pet and being able to care for pet is the only stabilizing factor left by the natural disaster.

22. Other Notes Generally pets are referred to as he or she and almost never as “it”. Generally pets are referred to as he or she and almost never as “it”. Most pet owners freely admit to talking to their pet and feeling that their pet understands what they are speaking about. Most pet owners freely admit to talking to their pet and feeling that their pet understands what they are speaking about.

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