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Abstract
There is growing interest across a range of disciplines in the relationship between
pets and health, with a range of therapeutic, physiological, psychological and psychosocial
benefits now documented. While much of the literature has focused on the individual
benefits of pet ownership, this study considered the potential health benefits that
might accrue to the broader community, as encapsulated in the construct of social
capital. A random survey of 339 adult residents from Perth, Western Australia were
selected from three suburbs and interviewed by telephone. Pet ownership was found
to be positively associated with some forms of social contact and interaction, and
with perceptions of neighbourhood friendliness. After adjustment for demographic variables,
pet owners scored higher on social capital and civic engagement scales. The results
suggest that pet ownership provides potential opportunities for interactions between
neighbours and that further research in this area is warranted. Social capital is
another potential mechanism by which pets exert an influence on human health.