Dogs bring mental health benefits to their human companions

Senior Jessica Goldman, then 7 years old, gently stroked her Ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel aboard a plane. Although Goldman was excited about traveling to visit her family in Florida, her fear of flying would have caused unbearable anxiety if not for Tyler, her furry companion.

She took deep breaths as the plane rose into the air, suffocating from scenarios of everything that could go wrong. Tyler, however, stayed unruffled, and in turn alleviated her stress.

Dogs like Tyler are are referred to as psychiatric service or emotional support dogs: specially trained dogs that assist people with psychiatric or mental health needs. They often help their owners manage the symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks through physical contact.

Goldman adopted Tyler when she was 7. He relieved a lot of her stress at home, and when she started travelling more often, she realized taking him on trips would also help with the stress that came with flying.

Tyler has a certified card that allows him to be a passenger on a plane, rather than being stored in a carrier. Unlike most certified service dogs, though, Tyler has no formal training. To Goldman, Tyler acts as a reminder of home and serves as a “comfort item” that relieves a lot of tension.

The Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) permit individuals such as Goldman to travel with an emotional support dog. The United States Dog Registry recognizes the ability of pets to provide comfort through  emotional hardships.

“I feel more comfortable going through anxious situations with him,” Goldman said.

According to a study done in 2017 by UC Davis, psychiatric service dogs are the fourth most common use of service dogs in North America, ranking behind guide dogs for the blind, physically disabled and hearing-impaired. In earlier years, most service dogs were only used by individuals with physical disabilities, but since then, the category has grown to accommodate a variety of conditions such as PTSD, autism, diabetes, anxiety and depression.

But even if a dog is not officially recognized as an emotional support dog, it can still help reduce stress and provide comfort.

Sophomore Malika Ahuja said that her Labrador Retriever, Cooper, helps her get through bad moods and cheers her up after long days.

“It’s hard to stay upset about something when you have a cute furry little guy trying to get your attention at home,” Ahuja said.

Studies have shown that dogs have become attuned to recognizing human behaviors in order to interpret their owner’s emotional state. According to AnimalSmart, contact with an animal can reduce the production of cortisol, a stress-inducing hormone, while increasing levels of oxytocin, a hormone associated with relationship building and affection.

A connection with a pet can ease loneliness, provide comfort and relieve emotional pain. Additionally, the presence of a pet in a household can lessen family tensions.

Ahuja said that Cooper has brought her family together. When someone yells, Cooper starts barking, which helps bring arguments to a close.

A survey conducted by The Harris Poll claims that 95 percent of dog owners display strong relationships with their pets and consider them to be a part of the family.

“We treat Cooper just like a person,” Ahuja said. “If anything happened to him, everyone in my family would be heartbroken.”

Ahuja said that Cooper is like the smallest sibling in the household; he has comforted her and brightened up her mood countless times.

“He has been there for me when I had nobody else,” Ahuja said. “He had gotten me through so many tough times and I don’t know where I would be without him.”