Animal Health Products and Companion Animals

Keeping our companion animals healthy and treating them with dignity is one of our objectives and is a contribution to society. This also applies to livestock and wild animals.

Recent research has demonstrated that the human/animal interaction benefits human physical, emotional and psychological well-being.

Some facts:

• In the EU alone, more than 13,000 assistance dogs help blind and deaf people as well as other handicapped persons in their daily life;
• Therapy horses are used to help treat people with mental and physical disabilities.
• Studies shows that pet owners are healthier than those who do not own a pet;
• Pet owners tend to be less susceptible to conditions such as depression, hypertension and heart attacks. They also recover more quickly from illness;
• Dog owners take regular exercise by walking their pets;
• For people living alone, ownership of a dependent animal offers a focus of interest and commitment, which is quite separate from personal preoccupations. Companion animals demand care and attention - and respond with affection.
• Positive self-esteem of children is enhanced by owning a pet.

(Source: IFAH-Europe and PAWSitive InterAction)

October 2005