The Effects of Interacting with Pets by Terry Spencer https://padlet.com/drspencer1/dxt2v5bjk29zmgrx Post your examples of the benefits of interacting with pets. Share physical, mental, emotional, psychological, social, or other effects. Add resources, citations, etc. You can bookmark this scrapbook to visit later after others have posted. You can also like and comment on posts by others. en-us 2024-02-13 02:21:56 UTC 2024-02-13 03:13:02 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4d9.png drspencer1 https://padlet.com/drspencer1/dxt2v5bjk29zmgrx/wish/2881689513 Sometimes, interacting with a pet can help in multiple ways. For example, this fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital benefited the person (me, mentally during the long, cold, dark winter months), the pet (Jack, physically because we went outside more to hike), and the children who are fighting cancer at St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN (physically through donations we collected and emotionally knowing that we were supporting them to get better).

]]> 2024-02-13 02:38:33 UTC https://padlet.com/drspencer1/dxt2v5bjk29zmgrx/wish/2881689513 drspencer1 https://padlet.com/drspencer1/dxt2v5bjk29zmgrx/wish/2881703231 Taking a shelter pet home for a one-night sleepover or out for an afternoon field trip can increase the chances of that shelter pet getting adopted up to 14 times! And think how good that must feel mentally and emotionally for the person who took the time to visit for the day with the shelter pet. Even if they can't commit to having a pet in their family long-term, they can reap the benefits of temporarily fostering shelter pets.


Read about this study here:


Gunter LM, Feuerbacher EN, Gilchrist RJ, Wynne CDL. Evaluating the effects of a temporary fostering program on shelter dog welfare. PeerJ. 2019;7:e6620. doi:10.7717/peerj.6620

]]> 2024-02-13 02:58:24 UTC https://padlet.com/drspencer1/dxt2v5bjk29zmgrx/wish/2881703231 ASK Domestic Violence Victims if They Have Pets! drspencer1 https://padlet.com/drspencer1/dxt2v5bjk29zmgrx/wish/2881709428 Domestic violence survivors reap physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and social benefits by knowing that both they and their 4-legged companions can escape abuse.

The following are examples of questions to ask to help flesh this out when a victim seeks help:

  • Does an animal—a pet, service animal, or support animal—live in your home?

  • Where is your pet right now?

  • Is your pet safe?

  • Do you want to ask that the court grant you custody of your pet?

  • Do you want to ask that the court order your abuser to stay away from your pet?

Then provide resources that will help both the human and animal victims get to safety. The Safe Havens Mapping Project is a place to search for assistance.


Visit the Animal Welfare Institute for additional guidance for working with domestic violence survivors (both pets and people).

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