The Dog PrescriptionThe Dog Prescription

The The human/companion human/companion

animal bondanimal bond

Why do People Relinquish Why do People Relinquish Animals?Animals?

No timeNo time

Moving HouseMoving House

AllergiesAllergiesHaving a babyHaving a baby

Relationship Relationship breakdownbreakdown

Can’t CopeCan’t Cope

Behavioural IssuesBehavioural Issues

• Must remember that while in the UK we may speak about the relinquishment of dogs, elsewhere street dogs are perceived as strays with the attitude that they must be ‘dealt with / got rid of’. However, as you are well aware many so-called street dogs are owned; they are community dogs, and therefore the benefit they bring to the communities that own them must not be overlooked when looking at addressing/approaching dog control programmes.

• This importance is already being reflected in some areas with the move from TNR – trap/neuter/release to CVNR – collect/vaccinate/neuter/return.

Dogs and PeopleDogs and People

• The special abilities of dogs have been harnessed to help mankind in many diverse ways. For example to herd flocks.

Cancer DogsCancer Dogs

• More recently it has been discovered that dogs can be trained to detect cancer. In the UK a new charity Cancer Dogs is being set up in which bio detection dogs – usually gun dogs - are trained to detect prostate cancer in urine samples. www.cancerdogs.uk

Assistance DogsAssistance Dogs

• The ability of assistance dogs is astounding

• The social support provided by the dogs is as important as the freedom and independence achieved

The Dog PrescriptionThe Dog Prescription

- what’s in it for me?- what’s in it for me?

4. Dog owners make fewer 4. Dog owners make fewer visits to their GP and spend visits to their GP and spend

less time in hospitalless time in hospital

In countries where there is no national health service, huge financial burden on the individualIf there is a national health service much greater drain on the country’s resources

9. Dog owning adults and 9. Dog owning adults and children are more physically children are more physically

active and healthier than non-active and healthier than non-dog ownersdog owners

If more physically active will reduce the chances/incidence of obesity and diseases associated with it e.g. type 2 diabetes, arthritisDoes not necessarily mean that they are out walking the dog, but different outlook on life – not sedentary in front of the TV approach

7. Owning a dog can help 7. Owning a dog can help lower blood pressure in lower blood pressure in

children and adultschildren and adults

The very act of a dog being around lowers BP – again an impact on the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke

6. Dog ownership aids 6. Dog ownership aids recovery of post coronary recovery of post coronary

patientspatients

Not talking about pets as therapy – pets that visit those that are ill/incapacitated. Provide a fantastic service.This is owned dogs and the impact that they can have. Again, in terms of what’s in it for me; aiding recovery = less time in hospital = less cost either to the individual or to the country’s resources

10. Dogs can provide great 10. Dogs can provide great emotional support for humans emotional support for humans during periods of stress and during periods of stress and

anxietyanxiety

5. Dogs can reduce 5. Dogs can reduce depression and improve depression and improve

mental well-being in humansmental well-being in humans

8. Dogs can help the elderly 8. Dogs can help the elderly by combating feelings of by combating feelings of loneliness and isolationloneliness and isolation

““Many elderly and lonely people have discovered that Many elderly and lonely people have discovered that pets satisfy vital emotional needs .... they can hang pets satisfy vital emotional needs .... they can hang onto the world of reality, of cares, of human toil and onto the world of reality, of cares, of human toil and sacrifice and of intense emotional relationships by sacrifice and of intense emotional relationships by caring for an animal. Their concepts of themselves, caring for an animal. Their concepts of themselves, as worthwhile persons can be restored, even as worthwhile persons can be restored, even enhanced by the assurance that the pets they care enhanced by the assurance that the pets they care for love them in return”for love them in return”

LevinsonLevinson

Health benefits, older peopleHealth benefits, older people

Better scores relating to Activities of Daily LivingBetter scores relating to Activities of Daily Living Improved calmness in dementia patientsImproved calmness in dementia patients Increased alertnessIncreased alertness 30-40% reduced risk heart attack, stroke30-40% reduced risk heart attack, stroke Better survival following heart attack or strokeBetter survival following heart attack or stroke 15% fewer GP visits, less time in hospital15% fewer GP visits, less time in hospital Fewer prescriptionsFewer prescriptions

Social benefitsSocial benefits

• Provide structure to the dayProvide structure to the day• Better social interactionsBetter social interactions• Reduce lonelinessReduce loneliness• Promote independencePromote independence• Buffer against relocation shockBuffer against relocation shock• Provide outward focusProvide outward focus• SafetySafety

What’s in it for my children?What’s in it for my children?

1. Dogs can help the 1. Dogs can help the development of children with development of children with

learning and educational learning and educational difficultiesdifficulties

2. Children that grow up with 2. Children that grow up with dogs are healthier and spend dogs are healthier and spend

more time in schoolmore time in school

Children and animalsChildren and animals

• Increased empathy Increased empathy • Higher self-esteemHigher self-esteem• More friendsMore friends• Improved learning skillsImproved learning skills• Better school attendanceBetter school attendance

3. Owning a dog helps reduce 3. Owning a dog helps reduce the risk of allergies in children, the risk of allergies in children, in particular asthma, wheezing in particular asthma, wheezing

and eczemaand eczema

9. Dog owning adults and 9. Dog owning adults and childrenchildren are more physically are more physically active and healthier than non-active and healthier than non-

dog ownersdog owners

10. Dogs can provide great 10. Dogs can provide great emotional support for humans emotional support for humans during periods of stress and during periods of stress and

anxietyanxiety

1.1. Dogs can help the development of children with learning and Dogs can help the development of children with learning and educational difficultieseducational difficulties

2.2. Children that grow up with dogs are healthier and spend more Children that grow up with dogs are healthier and spend more time in schooltime in school

3.3. Owning a dog helps reduce the risk of allergies in children, in Owning a dog helps reduce the risk of allergies in children, in particular asthma, wheezing and eczemaparticular asthma, wheezing and eczema

4.4. Dog owners make fewer visits to their GP and spend less time in Dog owners make fewer visits to their GP and spend less time in hospitalhospital

5.5. Dogs can reduce depression and improve mental well-being in Dogs can reduce depression and improve mental well-being in humanshumans

6.6. Dog ownership aids recovery of post coronary patientsDog ownership aids recovery of post coronary patients7.7. Owning a dog can help lower blood pressure in children and Owning a dog can help lower blood pressure in children and

adultsadults8.8. Dogs can help the elderly by combating feelings of loneliness and Dogs can help the elderly by combating feelings of loneliness and

isolationisolation9.9. Dog owning adults and children are more physically active and Dog owning adults and children are more physically active and

healthier than non-dog ownershealthier than non-dog owners10.10. Dogs can provide great emotional support for humans during Dogs can provide great emotional support for humans during

periods of stress and anxietyperiods of stress and anxiety

The Biophilia Hypothesis:

human dependence on nature extends far beyond material and physical sustenance, to encompass the human craving for aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive, spiritual meaning and satisfaction.

• Is inherent

• Associated with genetic fitness

• Basis for reverence for life

E O Wilson 1984

The Dog Prescription - The Dog Prescription - Getting Your Daily DoseGetting Your Daily Dose

• Rehome a dogRehome a dog

• Volunteer at a local re-homing centreVolunteer at a local re-homing centre

• Walk a neighbour’s dogWalk a neighbour’s dog

• Foster a dogFoster a dog

• Request a visit from a Dogs Trust Request a visit from a Dogs Trust Education Officer at your child’s schoolEducation Officer at your child’s school

The Dog Prescription - The Dog Prescription - Getting Your Daily DoseGetting Your Daily Dose

• Sponsor a dogSponsor a dog• Encourage care homes to have a regular canine Encourage care homes to have a regular canine

visit and accept petsvisit and accept pets• Think twice about giving up a dog during Think twice about giving up a dog during

pregnancy or when the baby arrivespregnancy or when the baby arrives• Consider interaction with dogs whilst recovering Consider interaction with dogs whilst recovering

from illness or surgery (cardiac rehab team)from illness or surgery (cardiac rehab team)

The Dog Prescription - The Dog Prescription - Getting Getting YourYour Daily Dose Daily Dose

• Develop your ownDevelop your own

• Use underlying principlesUse underlying principles

• Use the right ‘currency’Use the right ‘currency’

• Convert the unconvertedConvert the unconverted

• ThanksThanks

• H/CAB: H/CAB: www.scas.org.ukwww.scas.org.uk

• Dog Prescription: Dog Prescription: www.dogstrust.org.ukwww.dogstrust.org.uk

Thank YouThank You