Pets, people and robots: The role of companion animals and robopets in the promotion of health and well-being

Abstract

An increasing body of research evidence now appears to support the view that pets and, in particular, companion pets, act as agents of health promotion. People who own pets, and who form a bond with that pet, benefit in terms of better physical, mental and social well-being, when compared with non pet owners. Although the exact mechanisms responsible for this have yet to be elucidated, it does appear that companion pets are able to act as a buffer against the stresses of daily life, to offer a degree of unconditional social support for the pet owner, and to encourage moderate physical activity that otherwise would not take place. Recent developments in computing and robotics have seen the emergence of robopets, small domestic robots which have the appearance and behavioural characteristics of companion pets. This paper explores this research and suggests that companion pets and their robotic equivalents may be useful agents in the promotion of health and well-being.