Pets are the key to happiness

KEEGAN BALSTER people, and instead, being stuck in a small social bubble,” said Lukas Wiggers,

A student sluggishly goes to class. It’s a Carlmont junior and owner of his dog 7:30 in the morning, and their sunken Roscoe and cat Squeaker. eyes and hunched back are a result of The prime explanation for the assignments they completed the night increased pet adoption rate during the before. The student’s fatigue will surely pandemic is a reaction to social isolation carry on into the afternoon, following an in quarantine and the subsequent desire endless cycle of excessive schoolwork. for company and personal interaction.

While this is a case for many, other “I think a lot of people struggled with students have their pets to stop the isolation, and my pets have really helped downward spiral into negativity. me through it,” Wiggers said. “It would Students have found pets as an help anybody to have a pet that gives effective source for emotional and them social and emotional support, but mental tranquility. Additionally, the it doesn’t completely make up for real social and educational obstacles from human connections.” the COVID-19 pandemic have further The distinction between a complete emphasized the necessary relief these replacement of social interaction and companions provide. mental support is important. HABRI

Max Srivastava is a senior at concluded from a surveyed sample, Carlmont and has two dogs, Lily and including people with and without pets, Lola, and two cats, Monkey and Myka. that pets are found to combat loneliness

“My pets have helped me through directly and are integral in helping a lot of stress over the years, especially develop connections with others. throughout high school,” Srivastava said. Pets not only prevent social anxiety “Lily will come lick and jump on anyone and loneliness during a transition away if they’re crying, and Monkey is always from social isolation, but they also a nice presence when you’re stressed or provide a distraction from worries and sad.” stress.

Srivastava is among many pet “Probably the biggest way Mia has owners who have found emotional helped me is by giving a change of pace,” support in their animal companions. said Hannah Jin, a Carlmont junior The Human-Animal Bond Research who owns a dog named Mia. “Walking Institute (HABRI) reports that a 2018 Mia every day forces me to go outside study found the majority of owners and stay active when I’m not in normal shared this common theme: pets almost online classes.” instinctively understood when their A distraction from anxieties and owners were distressed and provided an work is one of the core benefits of pets emotional outlet at these times. alongside companionship. HABRI found

This relationship between people in a 2018 research study that almost all and their pets has shown to be greatly pet owners had the dynamic that Jin apparent throughout the COVID-19 mentions, where pets prevent them from pandemic. spiraling into negativity due to stressful

The American Society for the workloads. This dynamic is significant Prevention of Cruelty to Animals considering the global pandemic since (ASPCA) found in a survey that nearly pets give a break from what could be 20% of American households adopted otherwise dull living conditions. a cat or dog since the start of the It makes sense that of American pandemic in early 2020. This means the households with newly adopted pets new pets brought into about 23 million during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly homes in the U.S. directly correlates with 90% plan to keep their new companions. the global pandemic, specifically with “Pets will always be there for you as the detriments from social distancing that consistently supportive and secure and quarantine. company without any form of judgment,

“I guess the biggest thing [during all to help you overcome life’s stresses COVID] was not being able to meet new and worries,” Srivastava said.