Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues

Over time, the human-animal bond has changed, with the role of pets shifting from work animals to animals with a social function providing companionship.

“Over time the human–animal bond has been changed. For instance, the role of pets has changed from work animals (protecting houses, catching mice) to animals with a social function, giving companionship.”

Due to major changes since the Second World War, such as increased leisure time and prosperity, and individualization of humans, animals are nowadays kept as pets and are regarded by many owners as valued family members, e.g., over 90% in the United Kingdom.

“Due to major changes that have taken place in society since the Second World War, such as increased leisure time and prosperity, but also individualization of humans, animals are nowadays kept as pets and are regarded by many owners as valued family members, e.g., over 90% in the United Kingdom [13].”

Significantly less absenteeism from school through sickness among children who live with pets has been reported.

“Significantly less absenteeism from school through sickness among children who live with pets has also been reported [13].”

Some authors doubt the generalized pet-effect on human mental and physical health because of conflicting results and lack of publication of negative results.

“Some authors doubt the generalized pet-effect on human mental and physical health because of conflicting results that are prevalent in this area of science and the lack of publication of negative results [13,104,105,106].”