The benefits of owning a pet go a lot further than meets the eye. Besides
benefitting the pets themselves, owners too stand to benefit from improved
physical and mental wellbeing. And two pioneering “pet champions” have
joined forces to not only advocate pet adoption but show just how rewarding
it can be.
The joys of pet parenting have long been recognized. Just ask any one of the
millions of pet owners around the world. Chances are, you’ll hear nothing
short of praises and love for their “fur babies”. Most pet owners are
familiar with the clear and profound joys of sharing their lives and homes
with their beloved companions. However, the benefits of having a pet go much
deeper – more than many pet owners may realize.
Snuggling up with a furry friend actually brings about heaps of physical and
mental health benefits. And recently, various studies have begun to
scientifically explore the physiological benefits of the human-animal bond.
In fact, many organizations have even dedicated themselves to this quest.
THE BENEFITS OF OWNING A PET
Direct and indirect physiological benefits
For instance, a survey 1 by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)
showed that 74% of pet owners reported mental health improvements from pet
ownership. This is because pets – dogs and cats especially – have the
profound ability to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while easing
loneliness and encouraging exercise and playfulness. The benefits extend to
people of all ages. Being around a pet can help children grow up more secure
and active, while just about anyone can benefit from the heart-warming
companionship that pets provide. Most importantly, however, a pet can add
real joy and unconditional love to anyone’s life, regardless of age.
In loving memory, Ms. Lucy
Besides all these more apparent benefits, owning a pet boosts our physical
and mental health in so many other ways. Having a pet, for instance, can
increase physical exercise (taking a dog for a walk, or playing with a cat,
for instance). Pets can also add structure and routine to their owners’ day,
as many require regular feeding and care. But most of all, any pet owner
will agree that pets – just by their very nature – have that certain je ne
sais quoi about them, with the innate ability to melt hearts or turn a bad
day into a great one, all with one loving gaze or a warm cuddle. It is no
surprise then that many pet owners consider their pets members of their own
family!
Interestingly enough, the HABRI survey also found that 80% of pet owners who
were aware of the health benefits of pet ownership reported spending most of
the day, or a big part of it, with their pets. This suggests a direct
correlation between the amount of time spent with our pets, to the marked
improvement of our physical and mental health.
It should come as no surprise then that a recent partnership between Royal
Canin - a leading brand in health nutrition for cats and dogs; and
PetFinder.my
- a digital web portal dedicated to finding homes for stray, abandoned, and
rescued dogs and cats; marked a significant increase in pet adoption
following the recent iterations of the various movement controls over the
past year, as more people were confined to their homes.
A partnership that makes a difference for animals – and humans!
Since the partnership began in June 2020 – a time when most Malaysians were
beginning to be increasingly confined to their homes with the various
iterations of movement restrictions - Royal Canin and PetFinder.my have
found loving “forever homes” for more than 1,300 pets. The positive response
to the partnership has inspired the two entities to augment their
collaboration even further this year through a number of initiatives to
improve efficacy and promote a higher level of quality care for adopted pets
while continuing to rehome cats and dogs from rescues and shelters.
Royal Canin is also leveraging on its position as an advocate for the
welfare and wellbeing of pets by improving its dedicated “You Must Know”
section on PetFinder.my contains vital information on the rescue of strays,
as well as crucial care guidelines for caring for dogs and cats. The
quarterly updated section also features “Jom Talk Pets!”, a podcast series
specially created by Royal Canin, to further guide adopters through their
journey into “pet parenthood”. These efforts will be further boosted by
periodic events and webinars for adopters and pet owners organized by Royal
Canin to provide essential care tips further driving home the importance of
responsible pet care and ownership.
A tough but rewarding journey
Andy Koh, Founder of PetFinder.my admits that though finding many loving
homes for homeless pets, the road ahead remains long, with its fair share of
challenges.
“There are many kind-hearted people out there who do so much for these ‘future pets’. However, the struggle lies in effectively seeking suitable adopters. We have found that while there are many people who are willing to adopt pets, they have significant hesitations, such as costs, time, or resources. Meanwhile, reaching out to a wide audience on the plight of these animals also poses a challenge. Hence, this partnership with Royal Canin seeks to address these concerns while providing better communication, at the same time educating and encouraging the public to adopt these truly lovable creatures who just want equally loving homes,” he says, with much hope.
He adds that those who are even remotely considering adopting a pet should
seriously weigh their options. While it takes a fair level of
responsibility, resources, and time, the rewards far outweigh the efforts,
not only for the pets but for their owners – not the least being a marked
improvement in their physiological health and well-being.
Those who are unable to adopt can still support the initiative by referring
to the stray rescue booklet at
https://www.petfinder.my/RoyalCaninEducation
to discover the many options they have to help within their limits.
Meanwhile, potential adopters can head to
https://PetFinder.my/RoyalCaninStarterPack
to find out more.