Mental Health Minute: Benefits of pet ownership

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Dogs are still considered man’s best friend and for good reason. Service dogs, police K-9’s and emotional support dogs show how special these animals can be.

But all types of pets can have benefits, even if it’s just for you, more in this week’s mental health minute.

Pets are a large part of American society. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 62% of households own a pet and 97% view that pet as a family member.

Our furry friends are often equipped with better senses than us and can help us in many different scenarios in life.

“Animals have different senses that they can sense with humans, they know when you’re sad or something like that. Or even like diabetes, some animals can actually tune into when your sugar is high and alert you, so they have these senses that can alert the human connection,” said Kathy Couch, a local therapist.

Most people are aware of the assistance that animals, like service dogs, provide physically to people, but Couch says pets can also help those struggling mentally, whether it’s by venting to them or simply giving a scratch behind their ears.

“It’s touch, it’s relational, it’s emotional and so those are very important things that you can have so that you can get your needs met, but also not have to explain yourself so many times and grieve. People are saying ‘I need the grief story’ and you get in this grief narrative a lot of times and the animals you don’t have to do that. It can actually be relieving,” Couch said.

A University of New Mexico study found that just coming home to a pet can boost mood and decrease loneliness, especially after a long day. And that first touch actually gives you a boost in your brain.

“They’re stable, they’re dependent, there’s a connection, an attunement. It’s oxytocin, so the love touch drug is released in the brain when you touch and so that’s also important,” Couch said.

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