Why Schools Need Pets

Many people around the world have pets and some consider their to be family. If you own a pet that you love, you know the many joys of having a pet, but do you know that there are many mental and physical health benefits from pets? With this being said, schools would benefit greatly with the implementation of pet programs. I, a pet owner and a student at UMass Amherst, became interested with this topic after seeing many therapy pets around campus, and after hearing about the pet sessions that the school offers around exam times. However, students everywhere are stressed weekly-- not just when exams come around the corner. Here are some of the reasons why consistent pet programs would benefit students:

1. Vet student at Ohio State University, Kristina Solch, states in her article “Health Benefits of Pet Ownership”, that research has “proved that owning a pet can: buffer stress, lower heart rate, lower blood pressure…help you stay in shape, and prevent certain sicknesses”. Everyone has stress in their lives, especially students, so pet programs would help lower stress levels which could in turn help improve academic performance. It can also help improve several aspects of students' health.

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2. Along with the physical benefits, Solch also discusses that if “a child has a good relationship with their pet, the animal will encourage: cognitive stimulation, improved behavior in children, heightened understanding of others…and lower anxiety levels”. Pet programs in schools could help improve social skills of students, especially for those who have trouble connecting with others. Establishing relationships is important for psychological health. This will ultimately help students later in life when they will need to be able to socialize with others in the work world.

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3.Grady Hugh who suffered from addiction and depression describes how is dog Bix helped him recover in his book “In the Solution: Pets and Mental Health”. There are alarming rates of depression in students, and there are many cases of addiction. Pet programs in schools could help with these issues.

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4. Patrick Skerrett has added to this conversation in his article “Pets Can Help Their Humans Create Friendships, Find Social Support”. In this text, Skerrett discusses how friendships can be formed through discussing pets or walking pets together. These social relationships further help a person’s mental well being because companionship has a psychological benefit. In schools with pets, students would be able to be engaged with others who like pets. This could help students meet other students, and these friendships can improve their mental wellbeing.

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5. William H. Thomas agreed with the notion that pets can help our mental wellbeing and implemented a program for pets in a nursing home which he explains in his book: “The Eden Alternative: Nature, Hope, and Nursing Homes”. Thomas was able to see an increase in mental wellbeing in the patients of this nursing home thanks to the incorporation of pets into the facility. This further proves the argument that pets can help our mental health, and why pets would be beneficial to students.

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6. There have been many studies performed to research this conversation, and in the article “Friends with Benefits: On the Positive Consequences of Pet Ownership.” by Allen R. McConnell, Christina M. Brown, Tonya M. Shoda, Laura E. Stayton, and Colleen E. Martin, there are three studies that are described that explore the idea of pets increasing our mental and physical well being. These studies provide further convincing and evidence as to why schools need pets.

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With all of these perks, students would benefit in many ways with pet programs implemented into schools.