Those who have never had a pet cannot understand what it feels like to have one. They cannot know the immense joy of coming home and finding your furry friend waiting for you, or of having your cat unexpectedly curl up beside you. They cannot even imagine the wonderful and unique bond that develops between a person and their pet, the level of understanding that is reached, the complementarity, and the desire never to be apart.
Those of us who have a pet know that life is better with animals. Animals make us better people: more sensitive, more attentive, more responsible, more generous… They improve us in terms of our humanity, but they also do us a great deal of good inside.
That is why experts from around the world recently met in Brussels at the “1st European Better With Pets Forum”, organized by Purina, with the aim of giving pets the recognition they deserve for the role they play in society.
The general conclusion they reached (very obvious to any self-respecting Aristopeter, of course) is that companion animals are much more than that. There is extensive scientific evidence of the emotional, psychological, and physical benefits that pets bring to our society: pets help prevent illness, contribute to reducing stress and loneliness, and improve people’s well-being and self-esteem.
But what about pets’ lives? Do we do as much for them as they do for us? The answers reached at the forum were not so optimistic in this regard.
Much as it pains us, the situation of pets around the world is not as ideal as one might imagine (not all of them are lucky enough to have an Aristopeter by their side). Social and economic changes in Europe are not encouraging. Population growth in urban areas, long working hours (very few companies allow pets in the office), the economic crisis, and above all the lack of recognition of the positive role companion animals play in people’s lives (they receive barely any coverage in the media) are significant barriers to pet ownership in the future. This is because it is difficult to combine their care and attention with the demands of modern life. One example of this is that animal obesity has increased in recent years. All of this inevitably affects pet ownership.
That is why it is so important to emphasize the benefits animals have for people’s health, as well as the role assistance animals play in various therapies and activities: dogs in hospitals, schools, or homes with dependent people. Pets can also become an indispensable tool for children’s and adults’ learning and physical and mental health. This is clearly demonstrated by the moving case of the autistic girl and her cat Thula.
As we always say, there is still much to be done. That is why forums like this one are so important, because as a result of it, a list of commitments was created to help build a world where people and pets can live together more harmoniously. The proposed actions include promoting responsible pet ownership, adoption campaigns, programs to place pets in public and private companies, and efforts to lead investment in research into companion animal health. Nothing is too much when it comes to improving conditions for our best friends around the world!