“In times of stress, it is good to be with them”: experience of dog owners from a rural district of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background The dog has been man’s best companion since ancient times. And, dog ownership is associated with improved physical activity and cardiovascular health. We aim to explore the experience of dog owners on dog ownership and its effects on personal and family health in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Such studies are scarce in developing countries and rural regions. Methods A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews with dog owners in the Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed and thematic analysis was performed. Results The study findings were reported under the themes of experience of dog owners, pet dogs for children, village dogs as pets, the role of pet dogs in personal and family health, and participants’ advice on dog ownership. Participants highlighted companionship as a positive aspect of pet dogs. However, expenses and reduced travel were the concerns of dog ownership. A child’s preference was important in owning a pet dog. Also, participants were willing to adopt the village dogs. Further, they perceived stress reduction and mental satisfaction when interacting with their pet dogs. Moreover, participants seldom experienced major health risks from their pet dogs. Conclusions Human–dog interaction seems to improve the participants’ mental well-being, and future research should focus on its possible consequences. Further, the village dogs were adopted as pets. Guided promotion of such activities could ease concerns related to village dogs in developing and rural regions.

Cognitive mechanisms and neurological foundations of companion animals’ role in enhancing human psychological well-being

“…Severe or prolonged stress can lead to various psychological and physiological problems ( Iwata et al, 2013 ). Companion animals have a beneficial effect on moderating human stress levels ( Janssens et al, 2021 ; Junça-Silva et al, 2022 ; Rathish et al, 2022 ), especially for individuals in high-stress work environments ( Cevizci et al, 2012 ). Companion animals often play an important role as attachment figures in human lives ( Sable, 2013 ).…”

Pets in Palliative Care

“…At a time when the world was under the effects of the pandemic, interesting experiences were published such as an article based on observations in rural populations of Sri Lanka, where it was observed that dog ownership is related to family behaviors that promote their health and that of their communities [24]. Rathish et al conclude that it is essential to have background information on the effects of a pet dog on personal and family health to implement One Health via human-animal interaction.…”