The bond with dogs and cats during the COVID-19 pandemic state of alarm in Spain

Authors

  • Jaume Fatjó Ríos Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6806-2097
  • Elena García Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • Patricia Darder Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • Juan Argüelles Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia
  • Jonathan Bowen Queen Mother Hospital for Small Animals, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hertfordshire

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the results of a previous study that looked at the effects of the COVID-19 confinement on people and their dogs and cats. It helps us to understand the support that people get from their animals, particularly at difficult times, and how the human-animal bond can compensate for certain aspects of human relationships that become compromised during a pandemic, such as companionship and physical contact. It also evaluates the effect of confinement on Spanish Animal Shelters. Our findings suggest ways in which public health interventions can take advantage of pets as a valuable source of social capital.

 

Keywords

COVID-19, Human-animal bond, Anthrozoology, Canine behavior, Feline behavior.

References

BOWEN J, GARCIA E, DARDER P, ARGÜELLES J, FATJÓ J. The effects of the Spanish COVID-19 lockdown on people, their pets, and the human-animal bond. J Vet Behav (2020) Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2020.05.013

DWYER F, BENNETT PC, COLEMAN GJ. Development of the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS). Anthrozoos, 19/3 (2006) 243–256.

EMERSON RM. Social Exchange Theory. Annu Revi Sociol, 2 (1976) 335–362.

HOWELL T, BOWEN J, FATJÓ J, et al. Development of the cat-owner relationship scale (CORS). Behav Process (2017) 14193. DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.02.024

FIELD T. Touch for socioemotional and physical well-being: A review. Dev Rev, 30/4 (2010) 367–83.

FUNDACIÓN AFFINITY. https://www.fundacion-affinity.org/blog/impacto-del-confinamiento-sobre-las-protectoras-y-la-adopcion-de-animales-de-compania

RATSCHEN E, SHOESMITH E, SHAHAB L, SILVA K, KALE D, TONER P, et al. (2020) Human-animal relationships and interactions during the Covid-19 lockdown phase in the UK: Investigating links with mental health and loneliness. PLoS ONE, 15/9 (2020) e0239397. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239397

RUSH MM. Perceived Social Support: Dimensions of Social Interaction Among Sober Female Participants in Alcoholics Anonymous. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc (2002) 8/4 (2002) 114-19.

XIONG J, LIPSITZ O, NASRI F, LUI LMW, GILL H, PHAN L, CHEN-LI D, IACOBUCCI M, HO R, MAJEED A, MCINTYRE RS. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. J Affect Disord, 277 (2020) 55–64.

Published

2020-11-30

Downloads