DESCRIBE THE
IMPORTANCE OF
THE SMALL ANIMAL
INDUSTRY AND PETS
ON SOCIETY
Taken From: http://www.helpguide.org/life/pets.htm
Small Animal Management
DO YOU HAVE A PET AT HOME?
How does your pet enrich your life?
Have you thought about what life would be like
without your pet?
Today we are going to identify the influence of
small animals on society, and describe the
importance of the small animal industry.
STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT…
 Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without
pets.
 People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than
those without pets.
 Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which
calm and relax.
 Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of
heart disease) than those without pets.
 Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
 Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors
than those without pets.
 A pet doesn’t have to be a dog or a cat. Even watching fish in an
aquarium can help reduce muscle tension and pulse rate.
Taken From: http://www.helpguide.org/life/pets.htm
SMALL ANIMALS
HELP MAKE
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
CHANGES
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
INCREASING EXERCISE
Exercise doesn’t have to involve boring
repetition at a gym.
Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, or
simply chasing a kitten around are fun ways
to fit healthy daily exercise into your
schedule.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
PROVIDING COMPANIONSHIP
Isolation and loneliness can make disorders such as
depression even worse.
Caring for a living animal can help make you feel
needed and wanted, and take the focus away from
your problems.
Most pet owners talk to their pets, some even use
them to work through their troubles.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
HELPING MEET NEW PEOPLE
Pets can be a great social lubricant for their
owners.
Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other
on walks or in a dog park.
Pet owners also meet new people in pet stores,
clubs, and training classes.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
REDUCING ANXIETY
The companionship of a pet can offer comfort, help
ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people
anxious about going out into the world.
Has your pet helped ease your anxiety? How?
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
ADDING STRUCTURE TO YOUR DAY
Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding
and exercise schedule.
No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or
stressed—you’ll always have to get out of bed to
feed, exercise, and care for your pet.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
PROVIDING SENSORY STRESS RELIEF
Touch and movement are two healthy ways to
quickly manage stress.
This could involve petting a cat or taking a dog for
a walk.
ACTIVITY
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES
In pairs discuss pets you have had in the past. If
you have never had a pet, think of a friend or family
member with a pet.
List the fun times you remember with your pet.
From the healthy lifestyle changes list, what healthy
lifestyle was most prevalent in the relationship with
your pet?
For each of the following types of pets, identify one
benefit of ownership: dog, cat, reptile, fish
IMPORTANCE OF
THE SMALL ANIMAL
INDUSTRY
PETS IN AMERICA
 Three-fifths of American households have a pet, and
nearly half own two or more.
 Americans keep nearly
 17 million birds,
 91 million cats,
 74 million dogs,
 139 million freshwater fish,
 10 million saltwater fish,
 11 million reptiles, and
 18 million other small animals
Taken From: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jsh/summary/v040/40.3mintz.html
IMPORTANCE OF PETS ECONOMICALLY
 Americans spend more than $34 billion annually on pet
products and veterinary services, twice the amount in
1994.
 Sale of animals
 Pet food
 Equipment
 Animal Health
 Insurance
 Activities such as shows and competitions
 Veterinary services
Taken From:
http://www.fecava.org/sites/default/files/files/The%20economic%20importance%20of%20Companion%20animals%2
0report%202007.pdf
ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Using the internet and other resources, determine the
cost of owning a dog for one year. Be sure to include the
following:
 Initial purchase price
 Pet food
 Equipment
 Animal Health
 Insurance
 Activities such as shows and competitions
 Veterinary services
ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
What is the overall cost of owning a dog over
the lifetime of the pet (assume the pet lives 10
years)?
Keep in mind that not all expenses will recur
each year (such as purchasing the pet,
spay/neuter, etc.).
Does this cost outweigh the benefits associated
with ownership?
ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Estimates for owing pets
 http://www.petfinder.com/after-pet-adoption/estimated-yearly-costs-
pet.html
EVALUATION
What are some of the healthy lifestyle changes
pets can make in our lives?
 Exercise, companionship, etc.
What are the positive benefits of owning a pet?
 Less trips to the doctor, less health problems,
etc.
What is the cost of owning a pet for one year?
SUMMARY
Today we learned the importance and benefits of
small animals.
For those of you with pets, you likely already know
the intrinsic benefits of pet ownership.
Hopefully you can now recognize the other
benefits as well as the costs associate with owning
a small animal.
REFERENCES
 The Therapeutic Benefits of Pets: http://www.helpguide.org/life/pets.htm
 Beck, A.M. & Katcher, A.H. (1996). Between Pets and People: The importance
of animal companionship. Purdue University Press. Google Ebook:
http://books.google.com/books/about/Between_Pets_and_People.html?id=c
od2UA-W-rwC
 Mintz, S. (2007). Pets in America: A History. Journal of Social History. (40,
3, Spring 2007).
http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jsh/summary/v040/40.3mintz.html
 The Economic Importance of Companion Animals (2007). The Federation
of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations.
http://www.fecava.org/sites/default/files/files/The%20economic%20importan
ce%20of%20Companion%20animals%20report%202007.pdf
 Estimated costs of pet ownership: http://www.petfinder.com/after-petadoption/estimated-yearly-costs-pet.html
TEXAS COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
STANDARDS
English Language Arts: V. Research, B, 1, a-b
Mathematics: VI. C, 1, a-b; X, A, 2, a
DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP,
EDUCATION & COMMUNICATIONS,
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
FOR THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY,
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE PROJECT
FOR AFNR
©TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2013
Developed by the Department of Agricultural
Leadership, Education & Communications,
Texas A&M University
for the Texas Education Agency, Educational Excellence
Project for AFNR
©Texas Education Agency, 2013