One in every four Spanish households has a dog at home, and statistics show that the presence of these animals has grown significantly during the quarantines implemented in response to the pandemic. As Earth Day is observed this Thursday, the dog’s role in daily life remains a topic of broad public interest across Spain and beyond.
Isabel Buil, director of the Affinity Foundation, told Efe that today’s estimates reflect this trend. Spain is home to about 6 million dogs, and the majority are cherished by their owners. About 74% of people living with dogs reported that they experienced a sense of better confinement because their pets helped them cope with social distancing and feel less alone during those challenging times.
Growing closer to a dog produces a rewarding feeling and lifts mood, an effect that Buil emphasizes is hardly accidental. She notes that dogs make a meaningful emotional contribution and act as a powerful motivator in many people’s lives, shaping daily routines and social interactions in positive ways.
There is scientific evidence backing this experience. Contact with animals activates hormones tied to pleasure and well-being, such as oxytocin, while helping to reduce stress-related hormones like cortisol and even lowering blood pressure, according to Maribel Vila, an expert in canine behavior and animal-assisted therapies.
Vila explains that the physical and psychological benefits of canine companionship extend to education and social development of children, support for the elderly, the sick, and others, serving as mediators of socialization, reintegration, and health improvement for groups with special needs.
This animal-assisted therapy aims to improve people’s lives through dogs as a therapeutic resource across physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational dimensions, Vila adds. Since 2013, the Affinity Foundation has dedicated itself to educating and disseminating knowledge with scientific rigor about the bond between humans and dogs, undertaking various projects such as anti-bullying initiatives in training centers.
According to their observations, 94% of children report feeling better in the company of an animal, and Buil notes that the vast majority express a willingness to spend more time caring for their pets, sometimes even choosing to forgo playtime with friends to stay with their animals.
For older adults, dogs can alleviate loneliness and assist with psychomotor activities. In hospital settings, canine-assisted therapy is described as very effective for people facing communication, motivation, attention, and concentration challenges, as well as low self-esteem, eating disorders, and even certain mental health conditions.
There are also reintegration projects in prisons and in shelters for minors, where dogs help individuals express and regulate emotions, manage anger, and cultivate more compassionate treatment of others. Vila underscores that dogs do not judge; they accept people as they are and do not abandon them, which makes dogs outstanding facilitators of this kind of therapy.
Despite the positive outcomes, several restrictions still exist around renting homes, accessing local facilities, or taking vacations with a pet. The therapist describes these limitations as unacceptable, given the broad benefits dogs provide to many people and communities.
Regarding abandonment data, up to 285,000 dogs and cats reached shelters last year, according to Buil. She believes there is still much to be done, even though more than 50% of the animals in the shelters have been adopted for the first time. The adoption rate has reached around 90% of those placed, signaling resilience among the animals, strong shelter efforts, and a thriving community.
World Dog Day has been celebrated since 2004 as a tribute to man’s best friend, but there are other commemorations as well, such as the day to bring a dog into the office on June 21, International Stray Dog Day on the last Sunday in July, and the adopted dog day on September 23.