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The Power of Pets_Monday Check In_ABS-CBN Lifestyle

Article (news)

Zarah R. Hernaez

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787461549929Thumbnail_The Power of Pets_Monday Check In_ABSCBN LIFESTYLE.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Photo from Pexels by Cottonbro Studio</em></span></span></span></div><p>There is something to be said about the quiet power of pets. Pets often arrive as one more responsibility: another mouth to feed, another schedule to manage, another living creature to care for. For families with children, they can also become a gentle introduction to responsibility, patience, and empathy. Yet anyone who has truly welcomed an animal into the home knows they offer far more than chores and companionship. Slowly and quietly, they make themselves part of the family rhythm. They wait at doors, curl up beside tired feet, interrupt lonely afternoons, and bring a kind of comfort that does not need words. In their own simple way, pets help heal the households that care for them.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFX58uqJDTr/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A870558.2000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="747" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong>A New Member</strong> </div><p>When a pet first joins a family, rules and responsibilities usually come first. Who will clean the water tank? What will the cat eat? How many times a day should the dog be walked? The questions can feel endless, and responsible pet ownership can seem intimidating at first. But once the dust settles, the daily routine of feeding, cleaning, walking, and playing begins to create something unexpected: a comforting structure in the middle of a world that often feels unpredictable. </p><p>Focusing on a pet’s needs, even for a few minutes, can pull you away from the dopamine-filled world of social media, the pressure of work, and the heaviness of daily problems. What begins as responsibility slowly turns into purpose. Most pets rely on their owners completely, and knowing that a living creature depends on you can give the day a clear and steady direction. </p><p>Life’s unpredictability can leave anyone feeling frazzled, but one thing remains constant: the dog still needs to be fed and walked by 5 PM, the fish still need clean water, and the cat still expects a familiar hand nearby. These routines can be grounding. Without noticing it, you may also gain the health benefits of movement, fresh air, and a reason to step away from your worries. </p><p>This is one reason pets become especially meaningful in modern family life. In homes where everyone is rushing between school, work, errands, and screens, animals invite people back into the present moment. A child pauses to refill a food bowl. A parent steps outside for a walk instead of answering one more message. A teenager who barely talks after a long day may still sit beside the family dog in comfortable silence. These small, repeated moments may look ordinary, but together they create connection, routine, and emotional relief.</p><div><strong>Pets Heal </strong></div><p>The calming presence of pets is often taken for granted. Every time you stroke a dog’s fur, listen to a cat purr, watch fish move quietly through water, or speak softly to an animal that simply stays beside you, the body responds. These small interactions can encourage the release of feel good chemicals such as oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, while also helping reduce cortisol, the hormone commonly linked to stress. Watching or caring for a pet can calm the breathing, soften the body, and lower the feeling of tension. Just as important, every interaction with a pet is free from judgment. They do not ask for explanations, compare your struggles, or expect you to have everything together. They simply stay, and that steady presence can become a powerful source of comfort. </p><p>For many people living with depression, anxiety, grief, or loneliness, pets can become a quiet lifeline. A home without a pet can feel painfully silent, especially for someone who is struggling to get through the day. An animal’s presence can soften that silence. Pets have a remarkable way of easing loneliness, even for people who feel alone in a room full of others. They understand without demanding words. They comfort without needing explanations. They are more than mouths to feed; they are mood boosters with tails, tiny legs, bright eyes, and soft paws. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Da_Xs-wkdWO/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A966644.3999999762%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>Choosing A Pet </strong></div><p>A pet may not be the right fit for every household, but someone in your family may benefit deeply from having one around.</p><p>If you are thinking about welcoming a pet into your home, choose one that matches your space, schedule, budget, and lifestyle. The goal is not simply to have an animal, but to create a home where both the family and the pet can thrive. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaA9LHOp5IP/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A1162475.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><strong>Consider these before bringing home a pet:</strong></div><p> • Gauge how much free time you and the rest of your family have for a pet. </p><p> • Assess whether your home has enough space for an additional family member and everything that your pet will need. </p><p> • Some pets, breeds, and temperament may not be suitable for young children. Do thorough research to find the best one for your family.</p><p> • Pets can add to the family budget, so make sure to plan not only for food and grooming, but also for veterinary check-ups, vaccines, and medication. </p><p> • Smaller animals such as fish, hamsters, guinea pigs, and cats can be good choices for smaller spaces and may require less daily maintenance. Dogs and birds, on the other hand, often need more interaction, space, stimulation, and exercise.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRKbU4DSmc/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=648&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A1022636.3000000715%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>In the end, choosing a pet is not only about adding an animal to the household. It is about making room for another source of life, routine, affection, and responsibility. Pets teach children gentleness. They remind adults to slow down. They bring movement into quiet days and companionship into empty rooms. For many families, the gift of having a pet is not found in one grand moment, but in hundreds of small ones repeated over time. Pets are powerful companions and beloved family members. The love they give is constant, the joy they bring is priceless, and the energy they add to a home can change the way people move through ordinary days. </p><p>The French writer Anatole France once wrote, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” The quote beautifully captures the quiet transformation that can happen when a pet enters a person’s life. They may begin as creatures we care for, but over time, they become the ones who comfort, steady, and awaken us.</p><div><em>If today’s conversation resonated with you and you’d like to explore the topic further, you may connect with mental health coach Zarah Hernaez through her </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zeeheehee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Instagram </em></a><em>account via direct message.</em></div><div><strong>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</strong><strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787460622975ZARAH HERNAEZ_PROFILE PHOTO.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:475px;height:715.118px"/></strong><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zeeheehee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>ZARAH R. HERNAEZ</em></a><em> is a mental health advocate and US Certified Mental Health First Aider from the National Council for Behavioral Health, Washington DC, USA and a certified Positive Psychology and Well-Being Coach from the Stanford School of Medicine. She is also the founder of </em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thewellnestph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Wellnest PH</em></a><em>, a Mental Health Advocacy dedicated to creating a safe space and giving assistance to those going through mental health concerns in the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of Zarah Hernaez)</em></div><div><em>Thumbnail photo credit: Photo from </em><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-happy-family-sitting-on-the-couch-while-playing-with-their-dog-5998697/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Pexels/Cottonbro Studio</em></a></div>

<p>For today's Monday Check-In, mental health coach Zarah Hernaez shares the ways pets support families' mental health and wellbeing. From teaching children empathy to giving families comfort and connection, pets can quietly strengthen the emotional life of a home.</p>

For today's Monday Check-In, mental health coach Zarah Hernaez shares the ways pets support families' mental health and wellbeing. From teaching children empathy to giving families comfort and connection, pets can quietly strengthen the emotional life of a home.

The quiet power of pets: Can pets really support a family's mental health and wellbeing?

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The quiet power of pets: Can pets really support a family's mental health and wellbeing?

Zarah R. Hernaez

Published August 24, 2026 12:33 AM PHT

Read More:

Monday Check In

Family Parenting Relationships

Pets And Mental Health

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