The 12 – 18 May is Mental Health Awareness Week and over on our Instagram all week we’ve been putting the spotlight on the teams furry friends and the positive impact having a pet has on their mental health and wellbeing.
Having pets can help reduce feelings of loneliness and offer companionship, can encourage routine and physical activity and elevate mood-boosting hormones all adding to improved mental and physical health. Read on to hear the positive impact our teams pets have on them:
Joy, Community Projects Specialist
Cats often get labelled as independent, or aloof but any cat owner knows they have a sixth sense for when you are feeling down. My cats Whiskey and Khaleesi seem to take turns curling up with me on tough days, offering silent (or sometimes not so silent) support that is more comforting than words. A cat’s purr can lower stress levels in humans (and promote healing processes such as bone growth and fracture healing!) Studies show that petting a cat can lower cortisol levels and increase oxytocin…I once advised a colleague, “when you are feeling stressed, just grab a cat and stroke it.” She has since got a cat, whilst I can’t take full credit it’s clear that feline companionship offers genuine mental health benefits. I may have rescued them, but in truth I think they rescued me!
Corinne, Community Projects Assistant
Piper (aka Hyper Piper or Pipsqueak) is our super affectionate mini schnauzer who prefers humans over other dogs. She brings so much joy to everyone that comes to our home. More than that, she’s a huge part of how I take care of my mental health. She gets me out of the house and into nature everyday, giving me space to reflect on my priorities in the morning and unwind my busy brain in the evening. She keeps me grounded and reminds me to slow down and enjoy the little things.
Anna, Community Projects Officer
I’ve had pets my whole life – mainly cats but also hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas. I started fostering cats last year after the loss of my beloved Monty cat, I hated not having a cat in the house but wasn’t ready to commit to another cat of my own. Monty was my soul cat, he was my shadow and saw me through some very difficult times in my life. Pets give a sense of consistency, they don’t judge or say unkind things. They can be a listening ear when you need to vent, they can be a companion when you are alone, they have no agenda, rarely hold a grudge and ask very little in return. My chinchillas, Sam and Milo, are 15 this year, they provided much needed routine when Monty first passed. Their cage is next to where I work at home and I will often stop to watch them as they are snuggled up together sleeping, having a stretch or looking for the perfect food pellet to eat (they’re all identical as far as I can tell but Milo begs to differ!). They may be small but they have their own personalities, they recognise my voice and are kings of chaos when they want to be. They make me laugh, have the softest fur and are utterly adorable when washing themselves or chattering to each other.
I’ve now fostered 4 cats (Alfie, Penny, Charlie and currently Max) and have loved having the opportunity to get to know them, give them a calm and peaceful home to adjust from whatever difficult situation they were previously living in and then find them the right home with their new families. Volunteering with animals is really special and I feel very honoured when a cat decides to trust me, it’s amazing seeing their personalities develop as they become more comfortable and confident. It gives me a great feeling of comfort knowing I’ve helped that cat on its journey to finding its forever people, knowing how much my Monty meant to me and how much their new pet will positively impact their lives in the future.
Emily, Communications Officer
I bought a hamster (Dave) for my boyfriend last June, he has Bipolar Disorder and I thought having a pet would be beneficial to his mental health where he lived alone and sometimes found evenings difficult once he was home from work. Being nocturnal Dave appears around 7.30pm most nights, then spends 3 to 4 hours getting cuddles, being given snackies, playing on the sofa and following my boyfriend around. Dave’s often still awake when he gets up early for work so they get to spend some time together then as well. My boyfriend didn’t realise something so little could have such a big impact on him. (Prior to me moving in) Dave was the last thing he saw at night and first thing he saw in the morning. A pet no matter how small makes you feel less alone, especially over the dark winter evenings. Building a bond and having the trust of something so tiny and the excitement he receives whenever it’s playtime, are positive feelings that never get old and he’s a little light in his life he didn’t know he needed until Dave came along.
Before Dave I also owned gerbils. When I moved into my flat in 2022, I was really missing not seeing the family cat everyday. Although my tenancy stated no pets allowed, after speaking to my landlord she was happy to let me have something small…and so the gerbils came along! Curious, mischievous and friendly little balls of fluff, I didn’t know how much personality could be packed into something so small. Gerbils sleep in short intervals of 1 to 4 hours so they are always popping up throughout the day to play. Their teeth are also continually growing which means they need a constant supply of things to chew on. Nothing is safe from destruction once it’s in their cage and friends and family haven’t been allowed to throw an empty toilet roll, egg carton or thick piece of card away in years as I’m always asking for supply’s of things for them to get their teeth into! My gerbil Pumpkin is 3 years old in August making him an old man in the gerbil world. He has lived alone since his cage mate passed, but he’s as bright eyed and bouncy as ever. He may be small but his cuddles and chattering saw me through some difficult times in 2023 and he plays a big role in helping my wellbeing everyday.
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See photos of all the wonderful pets mentioned above over on our Instagram, follow us @action_hampshire
