Reimagining Healthcare: Human–Animal Bond Support as a Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Public Health Intervention

Abstract

The emergence of human–animal support services (HASS)—services provided to help keep people and their companion animals together—in the United States has been driven by two global public health crises. Despite such impetuses and an increasing recognition of One Health approaches, HASS are generally not recognized as public health interventions. The Ottawa Charter, defining health as well-being and resources for living and calling for cross-sector action to advance such, provides a clear rationale for locating HASS within a public health framework. Drawing from Ottawa Charter tenets and using the United States as a case study, we: (1) recognize and explicate HASS as public health resources for human and animal well-being and (2) delineate examples of HASS within the three-tiered public health intervention framework. HASS examples situated in the three-tier framework reveal a public health continuum for symbiotic well-being and health. Humans and their respective companion animals may need different levels of intervention to optimize mutual well-being. Tenets of the Ottawa Charter provide a clear rationale for recognizing and promoting HASS as One Health public health interventions; doing so enables cross-sector leveraging of resources and offers a symbiotic strategy for human and animal well-being.

The impact of pet ownership on healthcare access and utilization among people with HIV

“…We recommend community support for the pets of those managing chronic diseases, such as HIV, to better facilitate access to healthcare without compromising the human-animal bond. For example, to increase access to family healthcare and veterinary resources, communities may consider partnerships between animal welfare organizations and community health clinics [ 58 ]. If PWH who have pets find they have trouble maintaining their medication regimen or healthcare maintenance, healthcare providers may consider a solution that allows patients to bring their pets to appointments with them.…”

Canicross Pilot Programme: Basic Considerations for Its Implementation as an Extracurricular Sports Activity

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Unleashing insights from Toronto Humane Society’s urgent care fostering program: a community case report

“…T he importance of the human-animal bond for mutual well-being is being increasingly recognized across both human and animal health and welfare organizations worldwide. 1 A biopsychosocial framework underpins the many interacting factors that make up this beneficial relationship. 2 Pet ownership has been shown to improve mental and physical health, as well as provide social support and companionship broadly 3 and in supporting resilience in the face of adversity specifically.…”