The mental health benefit of owning a pet

The RSPCA's Kindness Index report is a UK-wide investigation into people feelings towards pets, and in this years report almost 7 in 10 adults would describe themselves as an animal lover. This shows that to most people pets are very important and impact their emotions.

Priory Group is the leading independent provider of mental healthcare, and according to them about 6,300 Pets As Therapy (PAT) dogs currently work across the UK.

Teresa Jack-Nunez volunteers at Merlin's pet food bank in Bournemouth, and also has a daschund therapy dog. She explains to me that she experiences depression and her dog, Binksy, helps to improve her life.

"When I wake up in the morning they make me happy because I'm really sad. He knows when I'm sad, and he'll do something really stupid, like start rolling over and being silly," she says.

Lina S is an animal owner in Bournemouth whose pet has also helped her mental health. She has a tuxedo cat called Max who she describes as having a "big personality". During her struggle with Agoraphobia (a mental illness where you don't like leaving your safe environment, such as your house) she explains Max was a "constant presence" for her.

Lina feels that the government don't care enough about this issue. "I don't think people in power care as much as they should. And that's like, a really terrifying shame," she says.

Two of Teresa Jack-Nunez's dogs: Karma (left) and Binksy (right). (Sourced by Teresa Jack-Nunez)