Translator: Theresa Ranft
Reviewer: Leonardo Silva How many of you grew up
with a pet, or have one now? Wow! That looks about right. Actually, over 70% of people in America
have at least one pet or companion animal. In fact, kids are more likely
to live with a pet than they are with their biological
father or siblings. And children seven to eight years of age
rank pets higher than people, as providers of comfort,
self-esteem, and as confidants. "Animals are such agreeable friends,
they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms",
so wrote George Eliot. That's a big reason we love them so much. Uh-oh! Oh my gosh! I don't know who stuck this photo of me
when I had some pretty long hair. But anyway, back then when I was
growing up in rural West Virginia I had all types of pets and animals. I became a veterinarian,
and an equine surgeon and have treated countless
animals in my career. However, one patient sticks out. While on faculty at LSU, I treated a very special patient,
a pony named Molly. After Hurricane Katrina, Molly became
stranded in a barn for nearly ten days before she was rescued, adopted,
and taken to a nearby farm. Unfortunately, about two months later
she was attacked by a dog, and the power of the dog's bite
crushed the blood vessels and effectively killed the lower part
of her right front leg. Her veterinarian contacted me
to ask if I would be willing to consider doing an amputation,
and fitting Molly with a prosthesis. After some debate and being very skeptical
I decided that, after watching Molly, it was, in fact, her that convinced me that if there was ever a patient
to perform this on, it was her. Fortunately, ten years later,
Molly's still going strong. However, her purpose
and role in life have changed. She now visits cancer camps,
children's hospitals, veteran care and elder care facilities,
and gives them hope and courage and lets them know that it's OK
to look and be different. I will never forget the confident smile
on this young boy's face who lost a leg to bone cancer,
or to this elderly veteran amputee, who literally came to life
when they met Molly. Molly is the perfect example of the power
of a human-animal bond. In many instances, an animal or pet is the most important or stable part
of the family structure, perhaps the only positive
relationship someone has. We know that women who are
in situations of domestic violence would oftentimes not leave it
simply because they're fearful for what might happen
to that pet left behind. And yet, very few shelters
will allow a pet. Bev and Roy are homeless,
here in Columbus, Ohio. They have been offered shelter
and housing, but will not take it because they would have to leave behind
their four-legged furry family members. When asked why not just give up your pets,
get off the street and get into housing, they both said to me, "We cannot do that. I cannot
give up Boo-Boo or Tigger, he's my family. That would be like me giving up my child." Now listen to that. People in situations of homelessness
or domestic violence will not give up their pets. That's a powerful bond. Research has shown and is recognizing
the importance of this human-animal bond on the health and well-being
of individuals, families and communities. Researchers have coined a term
for this phenomenon: Zooeyia. Zooeyia are those positive
health benefits, whether physical, social, behavioral,
emotional, mental or psychological, for people who have a pet,
or interact with one. So why care about this? The reason is it's important for us
to convince the healthcare community of the need for change. From physicians to caregivers,
insurance providers to policymakers, they need to understand
and recognize the legitimate impact and importance of animals
on the health and well-being of people. You're probably sitting there saying,
"OK, show me the proof." Well I will share some examples and data that I'm pretty confident
will convince you of this phenomenon. There's been substantial research
documenting this and I will provide some,
including some physiological evidence, including hormonal changes,
decreases in stress and blood pressure, improved weight loss, decreases
in cholesterol and triglycerides, among other health benefits. Billions of dollars are saved each year
in the healthcare system when people are healthy, and it's been shown
that animals play a vital role in that good physical and mental health. I will share three examples with you,
where it's been shown that pet interaction is actually having a positive benefit
on these individuals: autism, Alzheimer's,
and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Autistic Spectrum Disorder is actually
a complex developmental disability that typically first manifests
in early childhood, and is characterized
by an inability to communicate or interact socially with others. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention have estimated that the prevalence of this has increased
to 1 in 68 births in the United States, or 1 in 54 boys. Take a moment and read this letter
from a 14-year-old autistic boy who was at a correctional facility
in Marysville, Ohio, and he was being treated for physical,
emotional and learning challenges. Isn't it ironic that what
he identified that Oswald needed, who was actually trained
to become an adoptable dog, were the very things that he needed
as a child, but did not experience: family, love, fun, people to be around,
and a set of rules to follow. Oswald gave this boy
a chance for a better life, and that's only one of the reasons I'm so passionate
about the human-animal bond. Research with people that have Alzheimer's
or dementia is remarkably similar. Nearly 5,5 million people
in the United States have Alzheimer's, and millions more
have other forms of dementia. So how can an animal or pet
help these individuals? They serve as companions;
dogs are naturally born listeners and can provide positive non-verbal
feedback and communication. And animals have been shown
to decrease anxiety, agitation and aggressive behavior. This is Alan when he was 78 years old. He has non-Alzheimer's dementia
and was participating in an equine therapeutic
intervention study along with some others, and part of that was
to visit horses on a regular basis. After every visit to the horses,
Alan would repeatedly ask, "When can we go and see Jack? Can I ride Jack? Can I have Jack?" Well, Alan couldn't remember much, but he never forgot
these horse experiences. In fact, four years later
on his 82nd birthday, he asked again,
"When can we go and see Jack? Can I ride him? Can I have him?" So you can see the power and importance
of the human-animal bond is as strong as ever,
regardless of age or mental capacity. Post-traumatic stress syndrome, or PTSD,
is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the witnessing or experiencing
of a life-threatening or traumatic event, whether that be combat in a war zone,
a serious accident, a natural disaster, a terrorist attack,
or a physical or sexual assault. Nearly 8% of Americans will deal with PTSD
sometime during their lifetime. Meet Ryan. Ryan is a first-year student
at our college of veterinary medicine. I first became acquainted with Ryan
last year when I read his personal essay as part of his application
for veterinary school, and with Ryan's permission
I'm going to share his story. Ryan grew up like I did
in rural West Virginia, and he had a Cocker Spaniel named Jim
that was his confidant for 11 years. When Jim died, Ryan experienced true grief
for the first time at the age of 17. Seeking adventure in his life,
he joined the army, and was later deployed to a war zone
where he was critically injured. In fact, so much so that he had to retire
from the military with medical conditions, and also with a diagnosis of PTSD. Ryan said that although
he recovered physically, the damage that was done would require
more than medicine to heal. His mother, watching him struggle,
gave him a life-changing gift, a runty Great Dane puppy
that Ryan named Izzy. In Ryan's application, he said, "This dog saved my life. It amazes me how the bond we developed
brought me back to life. Izzy got me through some difficult times." When Izzy died about two years ago, Ryan's roommate noticed
that Ryan was slipping backward in dealing with his PTSD,
and he said to Ryan, "Maybe you should get another dog."
And Ryan said, "Maybe I should." And so together they went out
and found another Great Dane puppy, and Ryan appropriately and ironically
named this new puppy and companion "Maybe." Ryan says that he's thankful and grateful
for Maybe to help him get through and be successful in the stressful
and rigorous demands of veterinary school. Now this Great Dane puppy
will become a big dog, and not everyone can handle a Great Dane. So it's wise to consult a veterinarian
about the most appropriate type of pet for a given situation, so that you can actually
achieve the health benefits that are meant to be had by having a pet. Also, not everyone can have a pet
for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, it's been shown
that even brief interactions with a pet can have those same positive benefits. So, therefore, seek out
opportunities and activities, or you can interact with a pet or animal. Perhaps you volunteer
at a local shelter and walk dogs, or maybe just go and visit
your friends or family who have a pet. So armed with this information,
what can we do? We can tell our family
and friends about Zooeyia and the positive health benefits on us,
which is scientifically proven. We can talk to healthcare professionals
on the human side and encourage change. Medical teams should be asking patients
about pets in the medical history taking. The reason is, this has been shown
to increase rapport and trust with the physician
and the entire healthcare team, which is likely to lead to the patient revealing information
important to their health care. If you have a pet and you're not asked
about it in the medical history taking, take the time to tell them about the pet, and the important role
it plays in your life. We can also heighten the awareness
among the healthcare profession about the importance of incorporating
a pet into a therapeutic or wellness plan, because this has been shown
to increase patient compliance. You can also simply ask your doctor
or healthcare professional how a pet might improve your health,
or that of a loved one. And finally, encourage your physician
to write a prescription for a pet, or an interaction with one. Speaking of that, and on a personal note, about a year ago
I was given this prescription: "Adopt two black miniaturize Schnauzers, and spend at least 10 minutes with them
as needed to decrease stress and anxiety." I took that advice. (Laughter) Since adopting Travis Lincoln
and Teddy Luther in December of 2014, my life and perspectives
have changed dramatically. My stress levels are down,
my priorities are different, and my personal and professional
relationships are enhanced. I can tell you that Travis and Teddy
make me laugh and smile multiple times a day, every day. So what can we do? We can actually encourage
the healthcare profession, the public, governmental agencies,
health insurance providers, and others, to understand, accept and embrace the power and importance
of the human-animal bond and Zooeyia. Remember the power of a pet. Now I couldn't end this without
introducing you to the two boys in my life that have actually enriched it,
and inspired this presentation. So join me in welcoming
Travis Lincoln and Teddy Luther. (Applause) (Laughter) I don't think they've ever seen
these many people. Thank you very much. (Applause)
