Aline H. Kidd

Loneliness and Pet Ownership among Single Women

Relationships among loneliness, pet ownership, and attachment were studied in a sample of 148 adult female students, 59 pet owners and 89 nonowners. No significant differences were found on the loneliness reported by pet owners and nonowners. A two by two analysis of variance showed that women living entirely alone were significantly more lonely than those living with pets only, with both other people and pets, and with other people but without pets. No associations were found between loneliness and pet attachment. Also, no significant differences were found in loneliness or pet attachment scores between dog and cat owners; however, women living only with a dog were significantly more attached to the dog than those living with both a dog and other people. Conversely, women living only with a cat were significantly less attached to the cat than those living with both a cat and other people. These findings indicate that having a pet can help to diminish feelings of loneliness, particularly for women living alone, and compensate for the absence of human companionship.

Benefits and Liabilities of Pets for the Homeless

Observations in the streets and parks of San Francisco East Bay cities and suburbs suggested that many of the homeless people own and maintain pet animals in spite of circumstances and environmental conditions. Accordingly, 105 homeless adult men and women, half of whom owned pets, were interviewed for this pilot study. Responses indicated that homeless pet-owners were extremely attached to their pets and had owned significantly more pets during childhood and adolescence than nonowners although there were no significant differences in attachment to pets between parents and nonparents or between married and single persons. Providing food and veterinary care for pets, however, was a very significant problem for the majority of the homeless pet-owners. It was clear that many homeless adults did have pets which were important for their mental and physical health and that pet care was associated with unique problems.

ATTACHMENT TO FELINE COMPANIONS

A sample of 100 adult cat owners participated in a mail survey designed to investigate various aspects of attachment to feline companions. 54 respondents were members of a nationwide computer cat club and 46 were attenders at a cat show in Anaheim, California. 92% of respondents reported preferring cats to all other pets citing ease of care, affection and companionship, and personality as the main reasons. A mean self-rated attachment score of 9.3 on a 10-point scale was obtained. Positive characteristics of the cat were associated with attachment, and the presence of certain problem behaviors did not affect that attachment. Comparisons of the benefits of feline and human companionship showed that affection and unconditional love were the primary benefits of the human-cat relationship, and verbal communication was the primary benefit of the human-human relationship. The findings indicate that, although not a replacement for human contact, feline companions can be a very important source of pleasure and emotional comfort for their owners.

Problems and Benefits of Bird Ownership

Because research literature on human and avian interactions is limited, it seemed important to investigate the benefits and liabilities of pet-bird ownership. It was hypothesized that most pet bird owners would have other pet animals in addition to birds, that one-fifth of owners would have owned pet birds during childhood or adolescence, that they would report their birds provided physical and verbal companionship, and that most would admit to their being some real liabilities in owning birds. 50 men and 50 women bird owners were interviewed. Clearly, bird owners were also animal lovers, and their responses supported all the hypotheses. The primary benefits of bird ownership were friendship, companionship, and verbal interactions. The primary liabilities were messiness and noise. Respondents stated good bird owners needed to be patient, affectionate, and sensitively perceptive. These findings should help in training of both children and adults for careful nurturing of birds and other pets.

Developmental Factors in Positive Attitudes toward Zoo Animals

Research suggests that attitudes toward animals are established through childhood experiences. Currently, educational wildlife experiences for most urban children are available only at zoos and wildlife parks. To clarify the cognitive and emotional effects of distance, visibility, and tactile stimulation generated by various ways of exhibiting animals, 308 parents and their 3- to 7-year-old children were interviewed in Main Zoo and Petting Zoo areas. Children at Petting Zoos spent more time watching, touching, and talking to the animals than at Main Zoos, demonstrating that, even when live animals are very close and visible, children are significantly more interested when they can touch, pet, or cuddle. Parents felt that touching and petting were extremely important in teaching respect and appreciation for all animal life.

BENEFITS, PROBLEMS, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF HOME AQUARIUM OWNERS

Although tank fish are currently the most popular “pets” in the USA, literature reporting studies on the benefits, problems, and characteristics of home aquarium ownership is extremely limited. Because it seemed important to learn more about people who enjoy owning and caring for home aquaria, 50 men and 50 women were interviewed in several area stores which provide and sell living fish and adjunct products necessary for maintaining good home aquarium environments. Major problems reported by home aquarium owners were the expensive equipment, especially the tanks and controls for water temperature, circulation, and chemical balances, the tank maintenance, and tank cleanliness. Major benefits mentioned by such owners were the calming, relaxation, and stress-reduction effects of just watching fish which lessened anxieties and created a sense of serenity. These findings help to explain the current popularity of the live inhabitants of home aquaria.

Characteristics and Motivations of Docents in Wildlife Education

Because childhood experiences with pets and wildlife help develop positive attitudes toward animals, educators who can teach the importance of protective maintenance of wildlife and environment to coming generations are needed. The characteristics and motives of 55 volunteer docents in wildlife education (9 men, 46 women) were assessed through telephone interviews. The data indicate that such actively involved docents had great concern for wildlife, had experienced positive role models, peer support, and rewards for specific behaviors involving animals, and had positive experiences with owning pets during childhood. Notably, however, these trained educators focused on teaching more about animal care and protection and less on specific interactions with animals, and they stayed in wildlife education because they liked raising childrens enthusiasm for protecting the environment and wildlife. Recruitment of docents for wildlife education should take these latter distinctive characteristics into account. Over-all, the data suggest that children, adolescents, wildlife, and environment could benefit greatly if these docents could extend their suburban outreach programs to inner city primary and intermediate schools as well.

Children's drawings and attachment to pets.

To help confirm the concept that distances placed between the self and other figures in childrens drawings represent emotional distances, 242 pet-owning and 35 nonpet-owning kindergarteners through eighth graders drew pictures of themselves, a pet, and/or a family member. Owners drew pets significantly closer than family-figures although the younger the child, the greater the distance between self and pet. Older children drew themselves holding pets significantly more often, but younger children placed the family-figure between the self and the pet significantly more often. There were no significant gender differences in self-figure/pet-figure distances, but cats, dogs, caged animals, and farm animals were placed significantly closer to self-figures than were fish. Over-all, owners were clearly emotionally closer to pets than to family members, but nonowners were as close emotionally to family members as were owners.

General Attitudes toward and Knowledge about the Importance of Ocean Life

To evaluate the amount of awareness and quality of knowledge about ocean life the average American possesses 100 men and 100 women were asked what they knew about the importance of the oceans, their attitudes toward protection of marine life and oceanic ecology, and their sources of information regarding oceans. 98% believed that oceans are necessary for human survival and 92% believed that marine life was essential to the over-all ecology. 89% believed that dumping and toxic pollution almost irreparably harm marine life and that such practices must be stopped. 48% obtained their information about the oceans from formal educational programs and 95% from popular movies and documentary video programs. These data indicate that adults are quite aware of the continuing problems which threaten the survival of ocean life, although few have any suggestions about solving such problems.

AQUARIUM VISITORS' PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE IMPORTANCE OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY '

To study peoples perceptions and attitudes toward the importance of marine biodiversity, 102 visitors to San Franciscos UnderWater World aquarium were interviewed about their perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge about marine life and the environment needed for survival. They were asked about any changes in perceptions and attitudes after their visit. The data indicate that most visitors had very Little education in marine biology, that 84% had previously visited other aquariums, that 98% had maintained or increased their positive attitudes toward marine life, and that only 20% financially or emotionally supported marine animal protection or preservation societies. These data, especially from people who had previously visited aquariums, indicated a need for school and college classes and texts to include more substantial and interest-stimulating information about the encompassing importance of the oceans for the survival of all terrestrial and oceanic species.