An Overlooked Health Solution

There are tremendous physical and emotional health benefits associated with having a pet or an animal. Besides the obvious fun of interacting with them and the loving-bond that many people share with them, pets actually make us feel healthier and happier. Many studies have proven that contact with animals leads to a decrease in blood pressure, a reduction in anxiety, an enhanced feeling of well-being and happiness. In children that observe or interact with animals, there is an increased sense of responsibility and self-esteem. They tend to assume a parental role with the animals and become increasingly more nurturing and empathetic. Overall, people of all ages are perceived to be happier and healthier in the presence of animals and pets.

It Works Two Ways

Pets and animals benefit from interacting with people as well. Those that have human companions are healthier and happier, and they live longer lives. But that’s not all that happens. Many types of animals connect and relate to humans in a way that educates and informs us about ourselves. Horses, for example, mirror human behavior and emotion. To interact with a horse, we need to recognize, understand, and stabilize the way we feel and behave. This knowledge has become the foundation for many types of animal therapies and has resulted in medical breakthroughs that would never have occurred otherwise.

Moovjam is committed to promoting human-animal interaction in all settings: home, school and work. We believe strongly in pet adoption, pet rescue, pet education, and pet therapies. Through our fundraising efforts, we support research that finds and evaluates the benefits of bonds between humans and animals. Moovjam’s Healthy Living and Tracking Program includes interactions with pets and animals, and reinforces positive trends accordingly. Animals create and enhance community health, and we hope that everyone adopts a pet today!