06/29/2022
Happy and today we invite you to connect with an animal! ✨🐕🦺💜🦦✨
Whether it's your own pet, a neighbor's pet or volunteering at a local animal shelter, we encourage you to reach out to an animal.
Why?
🔸Many studies demonstrate the relationship between companion animals and human happiness.
🔸Research has shown that interacting with animals decreases levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lowers blood pressure, while also releasing oxytocin (a feel-good hormone). Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.
🔸 Dogs may also aid in the classroom. One study found that dogs can help children with ADHD focus their attention. Researchers enrolled two groups of children diagnosed with ADHD into 12-week group therapy sessions. The first group of kids read to a therapy dog once a week for 30 minutes. The second group read to puppets that looked like dogs.
Kids who read to the real animals showed better social skills and more sharing, cooperation, and volunteering. They also had fewer behavioral problems.
🔸Another study found that children with autism spectrum disorder were calmer while playing with guinea pigs in the classroom. When the children spent 10 minutes in a supervised group playtime with guinea pigs, their anxiety levels dropped. The children also had better social interactions and were more engaged with their peers. The researchers suggest that the animals offered unconditional acceptance, making them a calm comfort to the children.
The interconnectedness of nature, animals, and humans is deeply intertwined with our own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of our planet. The sooner we acknowledge this and start to live accordingly, the better for all animals, human and non-human.
Has an animal been a source of comfort and joy in your life? Share with us below!
✨🐕🐮🐠🐰🐷🦥✨
