If you cannot care for a pet and its daily responsibilities, but still want to benefit from animals and their calming and relaxing effects, supporting wildlife in your area could be an option. Such as bird or squirrel feeders, hummingbird water in summer or organic and vegan food leftovers for deer.
There are so many options to discover and enjoy wildlife. Feeding our birds and watching them bathe in our birdbath is fun for the whole family. We have also placed a book about ‘North Carolinas Birds’ by our window so we can refer to it whenever we see birds and learn more about their habitats.
One other wildlife pet, the squirrels, show up and get our attention through bumping their tail on our kitchen window. They know they will get some nuts or fruits and they are adorable to watch.
In my work in animal assisted education, I have witnessed animals healing affection on humans in so many different ways. Through watching, feeding, observing, feeling, touching and very often not touching… it all can have positive effects on us.
Feeding animals for example is like watching small children munch their meal.
It evokes inner satisfactions, gives us a sense of purpose, and releases endorphins that boost our mental health.