Human-animal bond seen as path to healing, well-being

MANILA, Philippines — When loneliness and isolation “seem as widespread as ever,” the bonds between humans and animals serve as a reminder that “healing often begins with connection.”

This was pointed out during the Second Philippine Human-Animal Bond Conference (PHABCON), which gathered health care professionals, researchers, students, veterinarians and advocates on May 30.

Held at Ateneo de Manila University’s (ADMU) Leong Hall, the conference highlighted the need to better understand human-animal relationships through extensive research, with Filomeno Aguilar, assistant vice president for research, creative work and innovation, stressing the need for “research that serves people, animals, and communities.”

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“PHABCON carries this work forward by inviting us to imagine how research can better serve humanity, animal welfare, and the wider world we share,” Aguilar said, adding that “after all, research, at its best, is an act of service.”

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With the theme “Healing Connections Between Humans and Animals,” the conference, ADMU said, was a celebration of its long-standing support for animal-assisted services and evidence-based approaches to mental health and well-being.

For Aguilar, research on the human-animal bond deepens the understanding of care and well-being. He also recognized Communitails, a nongovernment organization that advances animal-assisted services in the Philippines.

Aguilar said Communitails has been helping ADMU “create safe, inclusive, and evidence-informed spaces for healing,” as the conference highlighted “emerging research on the many ways people and animals enrich each other’s lives.”

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Raj Mariwala, director of the Mariwala Health Initiative in India and founder of Citizen K9 India, stressed the importance of trust, communication, consent and respect in nurturing healthy relationships between humans and animals.

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Sharing stories and lessons from work in canine behavior, mental health and disability justice, Mariwala urged participants to create communities of care that honor the well-being of both humans and animals.

“I love working with dogs and cats because it continuously reminds me that well-being is relational: It doesn’t happen in isolation. Dogs don’t become confident alone; humans don’t heal alone,” Mariwala said.

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Presenters shared studies on animal-assisted interventions in educational and health care settings, the experiences of foster pet owners and animal rescuers, the role of companion animals in well-being, and innovative approaches to animal welfare, elder care and community engagement. /dm