Spend Time with an Animal:

Time: 15-120m

Instructions:

The belief that a dog is a man’s best friend has been proven to be true on many occasions. Interacting with animals is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety and improve one’s mood in a fairly short period of time. Spend time with any animal doing an activity of your choosing. Below are ideas of what to do with your pet and how to interact with an animal if you don’t own or know someone who owns a pet.

Things to do with an Animal:

• Walk/Jog them
• Teach them a trick
• Play outdoors with a toy
• Take photos of them
• Visit a park with them

How to Interact With an Animal Without a Pet:

• Visit local animal shelters and humane societies
• Offer to watch a friend’s pet for the day
• Visit a sanctuary or zoo
• Volunteer to walk dogs/socialize cats at a local shelter
• Sign up to be a dog walker for pet-owners near you: Wag Walker

Evidence:

Interacting with animals can greatly reduce stress and anxiety [Thelwell (2019). Paws for Thought: A Controlled Study Investigating the Benefits of Interacting with a House-Trained Dog on University Students Mood and Anxiety].