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We already know the emotional support our pets can provide us with, and while the benefits of having a pet nearby are well researched and documented, in recent months it's come to light that watching pet shows and videos is a mood-lifter in itself and can help build stress resilience.
When the local docu-series A Dog for Life launched on Netflix amid the pandemic, it brought us the tears of joy, heart-warming moments, and laugh out loud encounters we'd been aching for.
Through this show about the extraordinary bond between people and their pets, the phrase 'finding the one' takes on a whole new meaning as they match shelter dogs with their forever homes around Cape Town.
Through a quirky doggy dating process, she helps humans to look beyond the fluff and fall in love with the one. The dogs are a mix of scruffy, grubby, perky, goofy, beautiful, shy, boisterous, delinquent, and angelic.
ALSO READ | Dog and Child Safety | What to do if your child is attacked by a dog
The happy benefits of watching animal shows
While presenter and show ideator Sue White, producer and co-director Samantha Gray believed in the show and its concept from the beginning, never could they have imagined the life-changing positive impact it would have on so many people.
By simply watching animal-related shows, your brain releases feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin helping us remain calm and happy. As these animals do fun stuff on social media or television, our happiness rates also increase.
While no single study provides a complete picture, a group of studies shows a link between cute animal videos, shows and less stress. These adorably entertaining videos possibly provide greater satisfaction within many areas of our lives, such as our relationships, resilience to certain stressors, and an increase in productivity when watching these shows.
The love and bond between a pet and pet parent are unlike any other. This show highlights this most especially and we can't wait for even more people to see it for themselves.
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