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The Idea of the Week
How do pets benefit our mental well-being? This article, an 8-minute read, shares the research on the 10 Ways Pets Support Mental Health. Having a pet helps increase our physical activity through play and walks; reduces stress; provides companionship and unconditional love; helps us be more present and mindful; and more!
Now that we know about the mental health benefits of interacting with our pets, let’s look at emotional support animals, service animals, and therapy animals. This 10-minute video breaks down the definitions and differences between an emotional support animal, a psychiatric service animal, and a therapy animal. Here’s a brief overview:
- An emotional support animal is an animal who assists through their presence alone. They do not require training but require a letter from a mental health professional explaining their therapeutic value.
- A service animal is a dog who has been individually and specially trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability.
- A therapy animal is an animal, usually a dog, who has been trained to provide affection, comfort, and calming. The training is not as specific as service animals.
Practice of the Week
No matter how old we are, we can all find purr joy and love in our companion pets! This week, we encourage you to cherish the meowment with your pets! As you interact with your pets practice mindfulness. For example:
- When you go on a walk with your pet, mindfully walk by walking at a natural pace, noticing the sensation of walking, experiencing your surroundings with your senses, and keeping awareness of you and your pet alongside you.
- When you pet your pet, notice the texture of their fur, the meowsic they make when they purr or make happy noises, and their body language.
The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
