Pet pawsitivity – Lifestyle News

At the Mipig cafe in Japan, visitors can not only enjoy a cup of coffee, but also get a cuddle with micro pigs, a category of tiny pigs. These pigs are smart, adorable and clean animals, remember where the toilet is and also learn verbal commands.

These cafes are trending in Japan where visitors can take selfies with miniature pigs and cuddle them on lap for a service that costs around 2,200 yen ($15). Apart from pigs, furry friends like cats and dogs are becoming a major source of comfort and have proven to have great effects on mental health.

Recently, a Spanish hospital enlisted therapy dogs to boost morale of patients in intensive care units (ICU). As part of a trial launched by Hospital del Mar in Barcelona and the Affinity Foundation, the therapy dogs visit patients to improve their emotional well-being.

In fact, animals have been used in offices as well to uplift and boost employee morale. Media organisations like NBCUniversal have opted for a new way to drive employee engagement through partnerships that enhance company culture. The company is working with America’s Vet Dogs and their sister organisation, the Guide Dog Foundation, on a puppy-in-training programme to sponsor a puppy to become a future service dog. The company is also encouraging employees to spend time with an animal in the workplace. Reports in the past by Dr 

Bruce Kornreich from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine state that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure, reduce headaches, and enhance a sense of well-being. Therapy dogs have been associated with ‘nonpharmacological interventions’ for many patients. As per journal Critical Care, patients need healing therapies to recover from disorientation and hallucinations and using such therapies result in less medication. The human-animal bond can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve cardiovascular health. 

Studies have also shown how pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets. It has been proved that animal interaction releases powerful hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin that help relax and lower blood pressure, suggests UCLA Health.

While pet therapy or animal-assisted therapy is an age-old concept, Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud used his dog Jofi in his clinical practice with his psychotherapy patients to help them feel at ease. In fact, data from 

US-based insurance provider The Zebra suggests 74% of pet owners believe their mental health improved after getting a pet; 75% of dog owners in the US take their canine companions along for rides and adventures.Interestingly, not just pigs and cats, but owls, hedgehogs and birds are also friendly for physical and mental health benefits. Taiwan is known to create the very first animal café in 1998, which has the concept of a cat. But today Japan is known as the country with the most animal cafes in the world besides Spain, Germany, France, United States and Australia.