The Human Animal Bond
11/09/06

They don’t judge you, they just Love you. This simple premise could refer to all healthy, loving relationships, but seems especially descriptive of the relationships we have with our pets. There is almost nothing one can do to suppress the effervescent flow of love we enjoy from our pets. They are irrevocably bonded to us. As social animals, humans and pets enjoy a demonstrable symbiotic relationship whose depth is difficult to measure.

So how deep does it go and how can it be measured. Stories of five figure vet bills abound as owners with the means will stop at almost nothing to save their cherished companions. However, to reduce this bond to financial terms is superficial at best. One study of heart attack patients determined that 28% survived if they had a pet while only 6% survived if they did not. Many of us know of elderly people who feel unwanted by society but are needed and appreciated deeply by their pets. Their attachment is deep and incontrovertibly therapeutic.

The opposite side of this story is difficult to hear. An estimated 4 - 6 million animals are euthanized by shelters each year in the U.S. That is an incomprehensible number. This bloat of unwanted animals represents society’s shamefully poor husbandry of these domesticated species. While our bond with these animals is deep we have allowed their population to explode into a problem that we cannot simply spay/neuter our way out of. We must educate people and organizations so that the full force of society can be leveled on this shameful situation.

If our bond with these animals is sincere and abiding, one can hope that society can find the fortitude to effectively prevent this needless slaughter. It starts with you, one pet owner at a time. Know that your cherished pet is one of the lucky ones who have a home where it can be loved and nurtured. Know also that there are millions of unlucky pets who suffer the neglect of society. Make sure that your pet doesn’t contribute to pet overpopulation. Support your local shelters with your time or money. Be willing to be a part of the answer and not a contributor to the problem.