Positivity… just a paw away

Ingelheim, Germany, 3 April 2019 - Data released by Boehringer Ingelheim shows the 96% of dog owners and 91% of cat owners claim their pet has a positive impact on their daily lives.¹

More than pets
It’s a known fact that people love having pets. They are an integral part of their family’s life, with almost 2/3 of dog owners in agreement.¹ In many cases, the role of a pet seems to go far beyond this. According to a new survey, owning a pet can bring joy and happiness (71%), whilst giving owners a better and healthier feeling (57%).¹ Primary care doctors have recommended a pet to help live better with a disease and over half of people (54%) living with health issues believe owning a pet helps them focus on something other than their illness.¹ It’s no wonder experts have begun to delve into the human-animal bond!

Jean-Luc Michel, Head of Companion Animals Strategic Business Unit at Boehringer Ingelheim says: “The human-animal bond includes a mutually beneficial connection between pets and owners that can help provide psychological and emotional support and has been shown to lead to improved patient outcomes.”

Be positive…think healthy
There are many situations that can cause negative thinking and a feeling of stress, from day-to-day duties to work and even home life. Constant stressors can begin to have a serious influence upon mood, sense of well-being, behaviour and health.³ However, studies have shown that positivity and optimism can lead to better psychological and physical health.⁴ It can help in perceiving stress as less threatening, improving the ability to cope with it effectively.⁵ Whilst there are many ways to ensure positivity and reduce stress, one of the simplest suggestions is to stay connected to things that bring provide emotional and other support.⁶ 

A Unique Bond
Boehringer Ingelheim has launched several initiatives to support the positive impact the human-animal bond has on people’s wellbeing. The ‘Boogie with your Beagle’ project promotes physical activity and supports the fight against pet abandonment. The company is in collaboration with the French Animal Assisted Therapy Association (AFTAA), who work with various groups such as the elderly, disabled and the incarcerated to focus on physical, psychological and emotional well-being through interaction with dogs. 

Michel added: “At Boehringer Ingelheim, we understand the crucial role animals can play in improving our lives, including for people living with a long-term condition, and support this unique bond through our dedication to both human and animal health.”

Furthermore, the launch of the ‘A Unique Bond campaign’ sets out to spread this message globally and actively raise awareness of the human-animal bond. The narrative follows 5 individuals who have suffered from a disease or disorder. They share their intimate story about how owning a pet has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on their life. 

For more information on these initiatives, visit: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

About Boehringer Ingelheim
Improving the health and quality of life of patients is the goal of the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company therefore concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention. 

Family-owned since it was established in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the pharmaceutical industry’s top 20 companies. Some 50,000 employees create value through innovation daily for the three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceuticals. In 2017, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of nearly 18.1 billion euros. R&D expenditure, exceeding three billion euros, corresponded to 17.0 per cent of net sales. 

As a family-owned company, Boehringer Ingelheim plans in generations and focuses on long-term success. The company therefore aims at organic growth from its own resources with simultaneous openness to partnerships and strategic alliances in research. In everything it does, Boehringer Ingelheim naturally adopts responsibility towards mankind and the environment. 

More information about Boehringer Ingelheim can be found on www.boehringer-ingelheim.com or in our annual report: http://annualreport.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit
Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world. We are committed to creating animal wellbeing through our large portfolio of advanced, preventive healthcare products and services. With net sales of 3.9 billion euros (2017) and around 10,000 employees worldwide, we are present in more than 150 markets. For more information visit: https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health/overview 

References

1IPSOS. Human-Animal Bond and mutual benefits – survey. 3,000 adult pet owners in France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Germany. 16-21 September 2017. Data on file.
2McConnell, A. and Brown, C. Friends with Benefits: On the Positive Consequences of Pet Ownership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 101.6.1239-1252. 2011.
3Schneiderman, N., Ironson, G., Siegal, S. Stress and Health: Psychological, Behavioral and Biological Determinants. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 607-628. 2005.
4Mayo clinic. Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress. 2017. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950 [last accessed: March 2019]
5Naseem, Z., Khalid, R. Thinking in Coping with Stress and Health outcomes: Literature Review. Journal of Research and Reflections in Education. Vol.4, No.1, pp 42 -61. 2010.
6National Institute of Mental Health. 5 Things You Should Know About Stress. 2016. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml#pub1 [last accessed: March 2019]