HumanAnimalBond

THE HUMAN ANIMAL BOND

The Human-Animal Bond is the dynamic relationship between people and animals in that each influences the psychological and physiological state of the other. Human-animal interaction has profound physiological consequences. People, in the contact with animals experience a decrease in blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and a general feeling of well being.

By observing the behavior of animals, children learn to be more nurturing and perhaps better parents to their own children. The therapeutic value of animals for socially isolated individuals in nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, and prisons has been documented. People in the presence of animals are often perceived to be more happy and healthy.

Wild, zoo, farm, and companion animals are an integral component of our culture and socioeconomic environment. Animal welfare, or the humane care of animals, is a societal responsibility. However, there is little information available that relates animal health and welfare to such factors as genetics, stress, environment, and husbandry practices. A better understanding of the determinants of animal well being is needed to optimize the comfort, health, performance, and sometimes survivability of all animal species.

NICE is committed to expanding our knowledge of the interrelationships between people, animals, and their environment. NICE is concerned with all aspects of human-animal interaction and welfare including companion, farmed domestic species, and wildlife.

N.I.C.E sponsors programs which foster pet visitation to nursing homes, assisted-living residences, retirement centers, mental health centers, residences for children with special needs, rehabilitation facilities, hospital settings, and other facilities.

N.I.C.E. offers resources such as trained volunteers, medically and behaviorally screened animals, and guidance regarding pet visitation, program development, dog certification, program certification and evaluation.

Our group works to explore the circumstances and consequences of the human-animal bond and to promote this valuable bond between people and animals.

We want to offer our community the best programs possible and that takes planning, coordination, and TIME. We ask for your patience, your donations and welcome your ideas and suggestions for N.I.C.E.

In addition to medical benefits, assisting with daily activities and working with us, animals can help us emotionally, psychologically, and socially. They can help us cope with stress and grief:

Adjust to serious illness and death
Children often turn to their dog for comfort if a friend or family member dies or leaves the family.
Grieving adults who did not have a close source of human support were also found to have less depression if they had a dog.
Be less anxious and feel more safe in the company of a dog.
People living in urban areas tend to feel less afraid of being a victim of crime when walking with a dog or having a dog in the home.

Relax and reduce everyday stress

Pets can help us relax and focus our attention away from our problems and worries. We do not even need physical contact to appreciate this. Watching fish in an aquarium, or the activity of birds can be very soothing. Of course many of us with dogs and cats find ourselves absent-mindedly petting them, which is relaxing for both us and the pet.

The power of the touch

This ability to have something to touch and pet is very important. More and more studies show how important touch is to our physical and emotional health. Dogs lift our mood and decrease our feelings of loneliness and isolation by providing companionship to all generations.

Certainly for residents of nursing homes this is true, but it is also true for the staff and volunteers there as well. Residents of nursing homes are more apt to smile, talk, reach out to people and objects, be attentive and alert, and experience a greater sense of well-being and less depression if animals are present in the facility.

Feel less lonely
Pets can help ease the sense of loneliness or isolation we feel.
Have something to care for
Everyone needs to feel needed and have something to care for. Many elderly citizens or people living alone will tell you their pet gives them a reason for living.

Dogs keep us active

Having a dog can help us remain more active. We may not only get more exercise from walking a dog, but we also increase our activity through feeding, grooming, and otherwise caring for our pet.

Pets provide some consistency and routine to our busy lives. Caring for a pet can significantly affect our routine and gives us something to do and look forward to each day. People may come and go, but our pets are pretty much with us day in and day out.

Families surveyed before and after they acquired a pet reported feeling happier after adding a pet to the family.

A study in a Veteran's Hospital showed that the residents had more verbal interactions with each other when a dog was present in the room than when there was no dog present.

Dogs were also shown to increase socialization among persons with Alzheimer's disease in a Special Care Unit of a nursing home.

Residents in long-term care facilities were more likely to attend activity sessions when a dog was going to be present.

Dogs can greatly influence how we feel about ourselves and life in general. They are teachers and healers of extraordinary talent.