Have you ever had an animal that seemed to know you needed company? Maybe your dog stayed close during a hard day, your cat curled up beside you when the house felt too quiet, or watching birds outside your window gave you a moment to breathe.
For many of us, animals are more than pets. They are part of our family and part of our everyday lives. The connection we share with them is called the human–animal bond.
What can this bond mean for our mental health?
An animal may bring comfort simply by being there. Caring for them can also create structure in our day, such as getting up to feed them, taking them for a walk, or settling into a familiar evening routine. For some people, those small moments offer connection and give a sense of purpose, especially during difficult times.
The bond can also have a social side. A walk with a dog might lead to a conversation with a neighbor or a complete stranger at the local park. Talking about a beloved animal can help people connect. Still, research on whether pet ownership reduces loneliness has produced mixed results. However, what matters is the relationship and the person’s circumstances, not simply whether someone has a pet (Scoresby et al., 2021).
We also need to be careful with promises. Animals can be a meaningful part of someone’s support system, but having an animal does not guarantee better mental health. A review of 54 studies found positive results in some, mixed results in others, and no benefit or negative associations in others. Animals can bring joy and comfort while also bringing responsibilities and worries (Scoresby et al., 2021).
When animals are part of a care program
The bond someone shares with their own animal differs from a planned program that includes animals.
Dr. Aviva Vincent and her colleagues studied one such program with 18 children who were fearful about dental care. Certified therapy dogs were present during their appointments. The children's parents reported feeling relieved and supported having the dogs present during their children's appointments. The dogs provided the calm presence needed to avoid the routine medications the children normally would have had to take to attend their dentist appointments. Although the study was small, its findings suggest the approach was workable and welcomed by families. However, I would note that the small study could not show that every child would respond the same way as the children in the study. (Vincent, Heima, et al., 2020).
Dr. Vincent also worked with researchers on studying a program called Reining in Anxiety. This program paired therapeutic horseback riding with skills for managing anxiety. The researchers monitored the stress levels of both the horses and the young people who participated, and the results were promising but not conclusive, as more research is needed. (Hoagwood et al., 2022).
These studies demonstrate another aspect of the human-animal bond. They show that trained animals and handlers who are mindful of both the animal and the client can positively impact those struggling with mental health.
Loving an animal can be complicated
A close bond can bring comfort and worry at the same time. Food, veterinary bills, housing rules, transportation, and changes in our own health can make caring for an animal harder. If you are struggling with any of these things, it does not mean you love your animal any less.
Reaching out early may help. A veterinarian, humane society, pet food pantry, trusted friend or family member, or veterinary social worker may be able to provide resources, broaden your options, and help you think through them. Asking for support can be a way of caring for both yourself and the animal who depends on you.
We can also love animals deeply while remembering that they have needs of their own. They need appropriate care, rest, and space. Noticing when your animal wants to be close and when they don't is part of a caring relationship.
When the bond includes grief
Losing an animal, especially if they have been in your life for a long time, can be devastating. Their bowl is still there. You expect to hear them at the door. The routines you shared are suddenly gone.
If someone says, “It was only a dog or cat,” that loss may feel even lonelier. A review of research on pet loss found that grief can affect people deeply and that understanding support matters (Cleary et al., 2022).
If you are grieving an animal, you do not have to minimize what the relationship meant to you. You might share stories, keep a photograph nearby, make a small memorial, or talk with someone who understands. If the grief feels difficult to carry, a counselor can offer support as well. Everyone grieves in their own personal way; there is no wrong way.
A simple question worth asking
Animals are not important to everyone, and that is okay. But for someone who shares a close bond with an animal, that relationship may tell us a great deal about their comfort, routines, worries, and sources of strength.
That is why I think it is worth asking everyone, both personal and professional connections: Are there animals in your life who are important to you?
I then listen to how they answer, which animal or animals they choose, and what their bond means to them.
If you or someone you care for needs support, please reach out to our office to learn more about our compassionate, trauma-informed services and the therapists who provide them.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you need someone to talk to who will listen, or you are experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis in the United States, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. Support is available 24 hours a day. Key Takeaway
Having a pet can help you deal with your mental health, but they're not a cure-all. The benefit frequently depends on how well the pet fits your circumstances, the level of bonding and care, and the support systems you have in place. The benefits to your mental health can be significant if you approach pet ownership or your connection with a pet with knowledge and responsibility.
References:
Cleary, M., West, S., Thapa, D. K., Westman, M., Vesk, K., & Kornhaber, R. (2022). Grieving the loss of a pet: A qualitative systematic review. Death Studies, 46(9), 2167–2178. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2021.1901799
Hoagwood, K., Vincent, A., Acri, M., Morrissey, M., Seibel, L., Guo, F., Flores, C., Seag, D., Pierce, R. P., & Horwitz, S. (2022). Reducing Anxiety and Stress among Youth in a CBT-Based Equine-Assisted Adaptive Riding Program. Animals, 12(19), 2491. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192491
Scoresby, K. J., Strand, E. B., Ng, Z., Brown, K. C., Stilz, C. R., Strobel, K., Barroso, C. S., & Souza, M. (2021). Pet ownership and quality of life: A systematic review of the literature. Veterinary Sciences, 8(12), 332. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8120332
Vincent, A., Heima, M., & Farkas, K. J. (2020). Therapy Dog support in Pediatric dentistry: a social welfare intervention for reducing anticipatory anxiety and situational fear in children. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 37(6), 615–629. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-020-00701-4