Animals play a significant part in human life as they can help with daily routines and fulfill emotional conditions. According to Scheibeck et al. (2011), elderly people are not always able to find new friends, and pets, such as dogs, might help maintain communication. Moreover, by owning a pet, elderly people have more physical activities in their routines, significantly increasing their quality of life. The research presents the relationships which can be constructed between dogs and their owner and what meaning pets have in a human’s life. Moreover, it shows the importance of dogs for older people and what activities people and dogs can do together.
The data collection method is qualitative as it is important to find out more deep information about the relationship between people and dogs. The authors’ main types of qualitative research are the systematic literature approach, data collection using Grounded Theory, ethnographic field research, and ethnographic interview. The results showed that not all elderly people want to own dogs, and those individuals who are more active in life want to own a pet to stay communicative and energized. Scheibeck et al. (2011) mentioned that some respondents believe that dogs make their lives happier, and they cannot imagine their existence without these best friends. Also, it was not defined by the research whether there is an age factor that influences the decision to buy a dog.
In conclusion, the research confirmed that elderly people who own dogs are happier and they are more active in their daily routines. The existence of a pet makes people more open to surrounding society, and their ability to communicate is high. Even though there is no exact age for owning a pet mentioned, I believe that people at every age may feel more comfortable surrounded by dogs.
Reference
Scheibeck, R., Pallauf, M. & Stellwag, C. (2011). Elderly people, in many respects, benefit from interaction with dogs. European Journal of Medical Research, 16(557). Web.