With the NHS funding crisis a hot topic in the news right now, could alternative cheaper ways be sought to help our struggling NHS to cope? The Burnside School Report team believes a solution could be found in the form of our furry friends. We investigated whether pets can have positive effects on your health.
Pets are known to be a person’s best friend. Throughout history it’s been said that dogs have been the most popular working and companion animals. Dogs can perform many tasks for us humans: farm work, hunting, security and helping the disabled  to name but a few.
As well as performing working tasks, dogs are renowned for forming strong bonds with their owners. A Burnside student and BBC school reporter,
Abbie 12, believes her dogs are definitely something to benefit her health.
“My dogs are good company, they make me laugh and make me feel protected, they mean so much! If I’€™ve had a bad day they make me feel better and lift my spirits. I would say to anyone feeling down, the best medicine is being with your pets” Â
Many people own horses and these too can have enormous health benefits. Many people own and love their horses and would sacrifice much for them.
Rebecca 12, a Burnside Students says, ‘horses always put a smile on my face, they give me something to think about and jobs to do- I know as long as I have horses I will never run out things to do! It keeps me busy and makes me feel like I’€™ve achieved something but it can also be very relaxing too. At the end of a hard week I love to just destress and ride my horses and forget about all my worries.’
Horses are wild animals can build a huge bond when they are broken in and ridden. They have cheeky personalities and can teach people a lot of life lessons. Equine therapy is used a lot to aid mental health. It also allows people with mental health problems to escape; horses understand people, and can easily tell how someone is feeling, this means that the horse can react to the client in whatever way is needed.
We interviewed J. Morgan, a Year 9 Progress Leader at Burnside who has worked previously as a social worker and asked him what health benefits he had seen which pets could provide. He believes that pets can have positive effect on the mental health of those suffering from issues such as  depression and dementia
Watch the interview video below and hear his fascinating experiences.
So next time you’re feeling like you need a lift, don’€™t call the doctor, just remember your pets might just be the medicine you need.
By Burnside School reporters, Rebecca, Tilly, Thea and Abbie.
