Claremont, CA

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The interest in the human-animal connection has been heightened in the past few decades as a direct result to mainstream media and popular press's coverage of the impact of animals on humans' lives. This coverage has peaked the general public's curiosity to our unique relationships with animals. This trend is most clearly seen with the recent success of the 3D movie Avatar. The storyline centers strongly on the connection the Na'vi population feels with their earth and their animals. The connection can even be visualized through the syncing of the Na'vi to their animals and the Tree of Souls. The connection and the bond between the Na'vis and their animals is clearly seen throughout the film. These illustrations seem also pertinent to the roles that we are now witnessing with the human-animal bond.

A formal definition of the human-animal bond is given as "a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both. This includes, but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, other animals, and the environment". More generally, the wish to keep an animal usually arises from a longing for a bond with nature. This bond is similar to human functions that go hand in hand with the emotions of love and friendship in the purest and noblest forms.

We are now entering a new crossroad in an era of scientific curiosity where there is a greater interest to define the underlying mechanisms of this bond. More scholars are now becoming curious about the underlying mechanisms that allow these interventions to be considered much more than puppy love. Perhaps today's glamour found in this unique affection/connection with animals and within animal assisted interventions is directly related to the mystic in interspecies bonding. People seem intrigued with our similarities and differences and want to better understand our relationships with domestic and exotic animals.

As time progresses, numerous interventions have developed employing a strong belief that relationships with animals contribute to the well-being of people. It is apparent that clinicians from numerous disciplines seem to have become enamored with the therapeutic roles that animals have in the lives of their patients.

For some, their clinical interests stem from their personal convictions and attractions to animals, while others have been driven because of their perceived perception that animals may provide a useful alternative for clinical application.

It is inevitable that science will provide us with clearer explanations of why and how, but perhaps we may never be able to capture clearly the healing power that comes from a loving relationship—either between humans or humans and other species. The words of the brilliant Albert Einstein echo clearly as we march to our future. Although understanding helps us persevere, we should also respect that "not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted". We need to appreciate that there are elements of life that can never be fully explained but only witnessed. Perhaps we need to take heed to his wisdom, as we set forth to unearth the unique strength found within the human-animal connection.

Dr. Aubrey Fine

Motivational Speaker/Psychologist

Claremont, CA

909-625-2297