Animals That Asked People for Help & Kindness! Faith in Humanity Restored!
Commentary:
0:15 – Frogs use their skin to absorb oxygen underwater but it’s possible for it to drown if its lungs get filled with water or if there is less oxygen in water
0:51 – Saving one animal won’t change the world but surely for that one animal, it’s world will change forever
1:31 – A herd of baby elephants are saved out of a mud pit in Thailand. Its
unclear how the elephants got trapped but the rangers in the national park
still manage to rescue all 6 of them
2:18 – This squirrel isn’t moving one budge out off the street. The only way to help it out of traffic is to literally take matters into your own hands
2:59 – Even on his day off camping in the woods, it seems this vet tech just can’t stop working. To his surprise, he finds a couple of abandoned dogs in the woods that need a new home
3:26 – A stranded deer in the lake is found swimming up to a boat in Alaska and helped inside to dry off
3:57 – Shivering from the cold, this poor little pup takes warmth and shelter
inside of its rescuer’s jacket
4:29 – Firefighters descend down a 15 foot hole to retrieve a dog which had fallen in. The first responders were grateful to be a part of the happy ending as the dog was in good condition without suffering any injuries
5:48 – This kind woman helps wash a kangaroos burnt hands from a brush fire in Australia by pouring water from her water bottle
6:24 – After 6 excruciating long years, this crocodile in Indonesia could finally be set free from a motorcycle tire which wrapped around the crocodile’s neck
6:50 – Not all heroes wear capes. This gentle savior goes into the water to cut an owl free from a fishing line it was tangled in
7:19 – A deer swimming in the water boundlessly with a paint bucket stuck in its head was saved by a man passing through in his motor boat
7:59 – Being stuck in a 30 foot cave for 2 weeks is a terrible thing to experience. Once this dog was pulled out it’s tail wouldn’t stop wagging in happiness
9:21 – The hummingbird symbolizes joy, healing and good luck. It’s so
wonderful that the savior of this poor bird could find it in time before
it died
9:53 – Often, animal hoarders suffer with issues of self-neglect as well as
issues linked to child abuse. As you can see here, “Hurt people hurt
others” and the hoarder of this home left their pets neglected and alone
10:38 – At first sight of rescue this cat doesn’t go in easily. Despite having its life being threatened in the water , it wouldn’t allow the rescuers to take it in peace but eventually the mission was a success in the end
11:43 – A dog gets rescued from out beneath a deck of a house. It was a
scorching day so the dog’s savior cooled it off with some water
12:16 – Who wouldn’t take this bunny home with them? This adorable thing was lost in the woods but found hope with its rescuers
13:07 – The Australian zoo unit saves a kangaroo from a canal. The team followed the kangaroo until the exhausted animal rested its paws on the kayak
10 Mental & Physical Health Benefits of Having Pets
Pets are family members. Like humans, they need love, health care, and attention. But pet parents’ relationships with their pets are not one sided. Pets give so much back in return, improving the health of our minds, bodies, and hearts.
The benefits of having pets are plentiful — and scientifically proven. Pets help their humans live longer, happier, and healthier lives mentally and physically. The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) gathers the latest information on the positive health effects of companion animals. These researchers help make the case for adding a pet to a household.
From reducing the risk of heart attacks to alleviating loneliness, these furry family members are contributing to healthy communities.
Let’s talk about those benefits.
Better Mental Health
Pets can contribute to positive mental health through emotional work and practical work. The emotional work can be described as alleviating worries, stress, and depression. You may have noticed that your pet wastes no time noticing and springing into action when you are upset or sad. Their intuition is what makes them great support and therapy animals, and animal-assisted therapy is effective in treating PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Then there’s the practical work that comes with caring for a pet. This means making sure their individual needs are met. Developing a daily routine of walks and feeding times can help pet parents with mental health conditions feel a sense of purpose that affects other areas of their lives.
The Data: Pets and Mental Health
A 2016 HABRI study explored the role of pets in the social networks of people managing a long‑term mental health problem.
- Pets were found to contribute to a stronger sense of identity in pet owners with mental health conditions, including reducing negative perceptions of a mental health condition or diagnosis.
- Pets provide a sense of security and routine in the relationship, which reinforces stable cognition.
- Pets provide a distraction and disruption from distressing symptoms, such as hearing voices, suicidal thoughts, rumination, and facilitating routine and exercise for those who care for them.
Better Physical Health
Every little bit counts when it comes to physical health benefits, and those daily walks really add up for dog owners. Since they are more likely to meet the criteria for regular moderate exercise, dog parents have lower instances of obesity.
Your heart is one of the biggest spots to see the full benefits of pet ownership. Just the presence of animals has significant impacts on blood pressure, with pet owners having a lower resting blood pressure than people without pet babies.
Cat parents aren’t left out of the healthy heart race. A feline friend in your home reduces your risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart attacks. According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), people without cats have a 40% higher relative risk of heart attack than non‑cat owners.
The Data: Pets and Physical Health
- Approximately 60% of dog walkers met the criteria for regular moderate and/or vigorous leisure‑time physical activity compared with about 45% for non‑dog owners and dog owners who did not walk their dog in a 2005 Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Survey.
- In a study of adults over the age of 50 with mildly elevated blood pressure, the presence of a pet dog or cat had a significant impact on blood pressure, with dog ownership being associated with lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure compared to people who did not own pets.
- A study of over 2,400 cat owners concluded there was a significantly lower relative risk for death due to cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and heart attack, compared to non‑owners during a 20‑year follow‑up.
Healthier Aging Process
Research has shown that older adults get social and emotional support from their pets that combats loneliness and depression. Aside from promoting exercise and reducing stress, pets also assist in the treatment of long‑term diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Pet companionship is also key for hospital and cancer patients. When coupled with animal-assisted activities, pets help patients with pain management and in interactions with doctors and nurses. Those patients also responded better to treatments and reported improvements in their quality of life.
The Data: Pets and Aging
- Results of a study of older adults who live alone suggest that pet ownership may act as a buffer against loneliness.
- Results of a one-year study that examined the impact of animal‑assisted therapy (AAT) on patients with chronic pain demonstrated that, following AAT, patients reported reduced pain, discomfort, and stress. Additionally, stress among nursing staff was found to decrease significantly following AAT.
- A study of older adults with mental illness living in long‑term care facilities concluded that AAT reduced depressive symptoms and improved cognitive function.
When we look at the data on mental health, physical health, and aging, it’s clear that pets contribute much to people’s lives in these areas, as well as being the loving companions we’ve always known they are.