We love our pets unconditionally, which means we will do anything to make the lives of our loyal companions more comfortable, so they are happy and healthy. In return, our pets provide unfaltering love, making our own lives more fulfilling and enjoyable. However, it is this special bond that we share with our beloved pets that makes it difficult and painful to say goodbye at the end of their life.

What is the pet-human bond?

The pet-human bond is a special relationship that develops between you and your pet. It occurs naturally through normal interactions, such as feeding your pet and giving them attention, so it is not something you will consciously need to work on or train for. Though the more quality time you spend with your pet, the stronger your relationship may become.

This bond is mutually beneficial for both you and your pet, as it not only helps your pet feel secure with you, so they happily seek you out for fuss and attention, but it can also provide you with much needed companionship, as a well as benefitting your health.

How your pet can benefit from a stronger pet-human bond:

• Pets feel calmer around you and, more generally, at home, reducing their stress and anxiety
• Pets become more resilient to changes to their routine or their home environment
• Owners are more likely to recognise early signs of illness and seek veterinary care
• Owners are more likely to meet their pets’ daily needs e.g. feeding the correct diet, mental stimulation, and exercise
• Pets live a more fulfilling life

The benefits of owning a pet

Sharing your home with a pet can provide benefits beyond the enjoyment of walking your dog or sharing cuddles with your cat. These interactions with our furry companions are not just a way of passing the time, but they are important for building a healthy pethuman bond, which has a role in protecting your health and supporting you through daily life.

How the pet-human bond can improve your life,

• Reduce stress and anxiety - Spending time with animals can help us feel calmer and less stressed, even when only for short periods of time. So, when you spend time with your pets, it can reduce the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, while also lowering blood pressure and heart rate, which can have positive effects on long-term health.
• Provide companionship - Pets can help reduce loneliness and social isolation for people living alone by providing company. For some people, their pet is the only reason they may leave the house, and for others, their pet may help them talk to other people.
• Enhance child development - Pets can help a child develop emotionally and socially, as well as potentially improving their learning achievements. Dogs are frequently used in schools to help children increase their reading confidence. Children who are brought up with dogs are also often more active, so pets can have a positive effect on a child’s physical activity levels.
• Improved physical health - Owning a pet can have a positive effect on your physical health, especially if you have a dog that requires daily exercise. Pets can provide the encouragement needed for owners to leave the house and exercise regularly, improving their physical fitness and protecting their health.

The pet-human bond and end of life care

The strong attachment and bond we form with our pets can make losing a beloved pet at the end of their life an emotional and painful time. It can also make it difficult for you make decisions about your pet’s health care as they age or become unwell, especially if you feel your pet is reaching the end of their life.

Our vet Juana is a member of The Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), who promote the study of people-pet interactions. Their main aims are to promote the mutual benefits of pet ownership (as outlined above), to provide trustworthy resources documenting the human-animal bond, to promote best practice protocols in animal care, to help develop policies with the human-animal bond in mind, and to provide resources and training to make human-animal interactions better for both. You can find more on their human animal bond information here:

The Human-Animal Bond — Society for Companion Animal Studies

Juana understands the special bond you share with your pet and the painful, conflicting emotions you may be facing regarding your pet’s veterinary care. This enables Juana to support you when making the difficult decision to say goodbye to your beloved pet, giving you the chance to enjoy the remaining time you have with your pet, while ensuring they do not suffer.

She can also help assess your pet’s quality of life, so you do not delay choosing the right time, while ensuring that when the time comes, your pet’s euthanasia is dignified and pain-free.

Home euthanasia

When the time comes to say goodbye to your pet, many owners will choose to have their pet’s euthanasia performed by a home euthanasia service, like ours, in the comfort of their own home. This enables your pet to remain in familiar surroundings where they feel most comfortable and secure, and removes the need for your pet to travel to their veterinary practice.

Owners strongly bonded with their pet may feel like they are betraying their pet by choosing euthanasia, but it is often the last kindness you can show your pet to ensure they are kept out of pain and are not left to suffer. You are never alone when making the decision to say goodbye to your pet, and Juana is here to help support you throughout, so you know you are doing the best for your pet.

The pet-human bond can enable you to form a strong relationship with your pet, often without realising it. Both you and your pet benefit from this relationship, and it guarantees that both of your lives will be better and more fulfilling as a result.