Pet Project: How pets can help their owners cope and recover after experiencing trauma
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The powerful bond between humans and their pets bond was on display this week as footage showed former hostages held by Hamas being reunited with their dogs.
In particular, a scene of three Israeli children seeing their dog Rodney for the first time after being captured "probably brought tears to a lot of eyes," said Pennsylvania SPCA advocate Carol Erickson.
Other videos showed how excited dogs were to see their humans again after spending weeks apart.
Three Israeli children, who were held hostage by Hamas, were welcomed by their family dog, Rodney, at a hospital after they were freed on Sunday.
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Pets are going to be an important part of recovery for many of the hostages because cats and dogs are proven to help reduce stress and anxiety, Erickson added.
Dogs and cats provide unconditional love that benefits mental health and offers true friendship, Erickson said.
Cultivating a positive relationship with pets benefits people in good times, of course, but it can be an especially valuable source of peace and healing in bad times, she added.
But that relationship takes work.
"When you teach children to be respectful to their animals, they'll be respectful back," Erickson said.
9-year-old Emily Hand was reunited with her sister and two pet dogs 50 days after being taken hostage by Hamas from a friend's house in kibbutz Be'eri on Oct.
7.
Initially, Hand was believed to have been killed during the Hamas attack.
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You can watch the full interview with Erickson in the video player above.
Laura Fay is a digital content producer at CBS News Philadelphia.
Laura previously worked as a reporter, editor and audience director at The 74, a nonprofit news organization covering education.
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