Many people – both old and young – are learning how animals make up for lost connections as they struggle from social isolation and loneliness amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s also good research to show that people with mental health challenges who are often social isolated can benefit from having companion animals,” Steve Feldman, Executive Director at the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) , told The Denver Channel.
HABRI, in collaboration with Mars Petcare, are studying the social bond between humans and their animal companions.
“Well, you can give somebody a pill and it’s pretty easy to know what the dose is. What’s the right dose of a dog, right? We need to make sure we continue to study this and have it exactly right to help as many people as possible,” added Feldman.
The research aim to come up with the best practices to overcome barriers to animal interactions. It also hopes to provide practical recommendations that medical and mental health professionals can provide.
Pet owners report that they get to meet and make new friends in their neighborhood thanks to their companion animals. This shows that there is a significant link between animal interaction and development of social and people skills.
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