“We wouldn’t be without them”: the positive power of pets

A well-timed wagging tail, a gentle paw, a purr-fect miaow to welcome us home, in good times and bad, our pets are there for us, helping us through, writes ASHA CLEARWATER.

Research shows that sharing our lives with animal companions boosts our mental and physical health.

A 2020 study found that having a pet was linked to maintaining better mental health and reducing loneliness.

More than 90% of owners believed their pet helped them cope emotionally during lockdown, with another 96% saying their animal companion helped keep them fit and active.

Now, as our world has opened up again, that human-animal bond is as strong as ever.

Here are six inspiring stories, all from UK Key Workers, all evidence of the positive power of pets.

Nina Cee is a 33-year-old Learning Support Assistant for a local high school. A mum and step-mum, she lives near Holt, in Norfolk. Nina has more than 40 chickens, 25 chicks and three dogs.

“I am so lucky that I have pets to come home to after work,” she says. “I regularly go and stand and watch the chickens before even coming to the door. If I’m ever stressed or anxious, I go and sit in the run and enjoy the peacefulness of watching them peck and scratch at the ground.

“The dogs all bound over like they’ve been waiting all day for me. I feel immediate relief and the day’s stresses wash over me.”

Nina and Pepper

Victoria Gordon, 41, is a cleaning company owner, from Lincoln. Married with two daughters and a stepdaughter, she lives with Golden Retriever, Henry, aged four.

“Until a year ago, we were mainly providing domestic cleaning services, but we now also specialise in crime scenes, trauma, body decomposition and other biohazard cleans, so the job can be fairly harrowing,” says Victoria.

Victoria’s precious pup, Henry, is laid back and great at helping her wind down.

“After a draining day, he is a gorgeous ball of fur and love to cuddle,” she says.

“Walking Henry really helps too. He needs two good walks a day as he’s a big, active boy. Whether I feel like it or not, come rain or shine, we have to exercise him, so it forces us out into the fresh air, which has many benefits, both for physical and mental health.”

Victoria and Henry

Robyn and horses

Robyn Harris is a British Sign Language-English Interpreter and Wellbeing Practitioner, 55, from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, married to Tim.

“My work is still mostly online, so I don’t “come home” at the end of my working day. This is when I go out ... up to the fields to see the horses,” explains Robyn, who cares for two rescue horses (Dax and Rika) and rescue dog, Inca.

She adds: “Both horses make a lovely “whickering” noise when they greet me, and this always makes me smile. Nature and animals form a huge part of my well-being work and so they’re a very important element of my own self-care.”

Teresa Bronson, 53, is a children’s home worker, from Holbeach, Lincolnshire, and mum of two. She shares her home with three dogs and a rabbit.

“When I’m feeling low, a little paw comes up to me as I truly believe they understand how I’m feeling,” explains Teresa.

Teresa’s dogs are Louis, a 10-yearold partially sighted Cocker Spaniel, Little P, a French Bulldog rescue, aged approximately eight, and Cavapoo, Jessie, two. The house rabbit is Oreo, a 10-month-old Dwarf Lop.

Reflecting on the pandemic, Teresa says: “Coming home after a long shift, to be met by their wagging tails and multiple kisses, took away a lot of the stress. It helped me to keep going when I wanted to stay in bed and not go to work for fear of bringing Covid-19 back to my family.

Teresa and one of her precious pets

“We wouldn’t be without them”: the positive power of pets in bed and not go to work for fear of bringing Covid-19 back to my family.

“The fur cuddles kept the stress at bay and still do.”

Sarah Brandis, 42, is from London and works as an NHS Rehab Assistant for Stroke Inpatients. Sarah is partner to Andy, and mum to three cats (Iggy, Ivan and Clara). In her challenging role, Sarah’s cats provide a welcome distraction.

“Cats are great examples of being zen and staying present. The cats were amazing at boosting our mental health during the pandemic. We only went out to work in the Intensive Care Unit and then came home exhausted,” says Sarah.

Sarah and Ivan

“Cats are also excellent recovery buddies. They sit with us, and the world feels better again.”

Sarah Woodbine, 43, is Volunteer Manager for a children’s charity, from Crowland, Lincolnshire. She lives with partner, Andy, 41, sons Pip, 13, and Finnian, 11, with George The Tortoise and Susuwatari The cat, aged 6 months.

Sarah and George

“George is a four-year-old Hermann’s Tortoise; he could still turn out to be a she,” says Sarah.

Sarah’s tortoise would frequently make online appearances during the pandemic.

“George was my constant companion in my makeshift office. He would make brief appearances in team meetings, as everyone loved to see what he was up to, and I would sit and watch him potter about while I ate lunch.

“He is a great distraction for all of us. He gives us routine, is always waiting at specific times during the day for his weeds or lamb’s lettuce. The cat loves the warmth of his basking bulb too!”

For Key Worker Claire Harris, launching the world’s first pet taxi franchise, Pets 2 Places, in 2014, transformed her life.

Widowed in 2012, with three children, and quitting a job she felt bullied and unhappy in, Claire struggled with her mental health.

“Whilst at home, even in the darkest moments, I found something I love.

“I started Pets 2 Places (then called Pets2Vets) in 2014, as a reason to get out of bed every day,” she explains.

It gave me purpose, made me feel needed and showed me that maybe I had a place in the world after all.

A chance conversation led to the realisation that many people who loved their animals but couldn’t drive were struggling to get to appointments.

The first dedicated Pet Taxi service was launched in Milton Keynes and has gone from strength to strength, attracting calls from pet owners across the UK.

Claire Harris of Pets 2 Places

To learn more about Pets 2 Places, visit the company’s website here.