The role of a pet on a person’s well-being

Abstract

Human-animal Interaction (HAI) is commonplace throughout one’s life however the relationship is complex and constantly evolving. Over time, people have brought companion animals into their homes, workplaces and more recently, therapeutic milieus. By conducting this study, a better understanding of pet ownership in the local context can be achieved. Women were specifically targeted for this study because they have a higher oxytocin release when petting a dog. The aim of the study was to explore the lived experiences of women who own a dog. This study adopted a qualitative stance and semi-structured interviews were conducted with four women who owned a dog. Their data was analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five themes were generated reflecting the nature of dog owner’s experiences (i) Personification of the animal, (ii) Meaning of a pet, (iii) Emotional benefits of owning a pet, (iv) Separation anxiety, (v) The experience of owning a dog. Findings show that pet ownership has an important role in participant’s lives which offers many beneficial effects. Increasing awareness about pet ownership can enable professionals to use the benefits of this relationship in a multitude of settings.