Pet Therapy During Recovery

Now more than ever, pets are becoming a valuable part of our families. Scientific research has shown that human-animal interaction and companionship provide several benefits to individuals who are in addiction recovery. Pet therapy is becoming more and more common through all stages of recovery because they provide unique benefits to humans and can increase the chance of successful recovery. However, you do not need to go to pet therapy to reap the benefits of it. Adopting your furry friend can provide you with the same benefits. Victory Bay Recovery Center can guide you through the process.

Benefits of Owning Pets During Recovery

There are numerous benefits to having a pet companion. When in recovery, pets provide a wide range of emotional support for those in recovery and needing mental health therapy such as:

• Reduced Stress and Anxiety- Pets can help us find healthy ways to reduce stress. Stress reduction is an important part of relapse prevention. Petting your furry friend can reduce levels of oxytocin in the brain, which can lead an individual to feel more relaxed and lower blood pressure.
• Minimized Feelings of Loneliness and Depression– Pets are excellent companions and can provide support for individuals in ways humans cannot. Finding support during recovery is important to maintain long-term sobriety. Pets can reduce depression by providing unconditional love and acceptance.
• Pets Encourage Responsibility- Pets add emotional and financial responsibility. Caring for a pet can increase self-worth due to a pet’s livelihood, depending on the good choices that are made to promote the pet’s well-being and care. Most pets follow a scheduled routine and need to be fed and exercised regularly. This will help an individual plan their day accordingly and remain busy.
• Increased Activity- Research has shown that individuals who own a dog are more likely to exercise. Exercise is known to have many benefits during addiction recovery, including healing your body and brain and stress reduction.

Although pets provide many benefits to individuals in the recovery process, always remember that pets are a major commitment, and it is important to research before adopting a pet to understand what owning them entails. Each type of pet requires different needs by species and breed.

Pet Therapy Through Victory Bay Recovery Center

If you are interested in learning more about how a furry friend could benefit your addiction recovery, reach out to Victory Bay Recovery Center in Laurel Spring, NJ at [Direct]. Our licensed therapists can provide you with more information and an individualized treatment plan to assist in your road to recovery.

Check out Victory Bay Staff and Their Furry Friends

Alexa Garvey

My pup Scully gives me structure, meaning, and is essential to my mental health. She has an intuitive sense of what I need, and as much as I take care of her, she takes care of me!

Ashley Coralluzzo

Chip runs up to me every time I come home from work and lays on my chest to calm me down. He knows when I’ve had a rough day! He puts a smile on my face on my roughest days.

Shannon Donnachie

My pup rescued me six years, four of them I have been sober. To say he has been with me through my darkest times to my greatest moments is an understatement. We get through it together—the purest form of unconditional love.

Melissa Cramutolo

My pets provide me with so much unconditional love and support!

Katie Quinn

Lola is one of the most precious gifts that I have ever received in my life. If you know me personally, my dog is my entire world! Lola and I met on my 21st birthday. Since I was new to recovery, and I did not want to be tempted to drink or celebrate in an uncomfortable setting, I decided to get a best friend. I thank Lola for always reminding me to laugh, smile, and love unconditionally!

Scott Kreifels

Trigger has helped me in so many ways that it is difficult to decide on just a few to mention. Trigger always greets me with a wagging tail and a howl to let me know that he is happy to see me. He has provided me with unconditional love that is unmatched and has become more than just a pet, but a true member of our family.

Tina DiGerolamo

A pic of our new puppy Rocky with my son, Carlo