Nik Shough Professor Eicher ENGL 2367 10 March 2024 Readability: 10.7 Annotated Bibliography Eicher, Mary. Personal Interview. 7 Mar. 2024. The. On the morning of March 7, 2024, I interviewed my professor, Mary Eicher. The interview centered around the question, “How have pets affected your life?” diving deeper into the issue of pet ownership and negative health outcomes. The interview began with Eicher setting the scene for her current pet situation, owning two cats and a dog. As the interview progressed, she began to elaborate on her dilemma with the pair of cats, especially the newly rescued one. Eicher explains, “She (the new cat) has been a full-time job” (Eicher). This metaphor conveys the harsh reality for some pet owners, especially…show more content… 2024, p. 441. EBSCOhost, doi.org/10.3390/ani14030441. In 2024, a study was conducted on the issue of the relationship between the quality of the human-companion animal bond and the well-being of pet owners. Throughout this article, the authors examine how the attachment to pet owner’s pets and their perception of their pets’ sensitivity to their needs influence their mental health. The study reveals that pet owners who report higher levels of attachment to their pets and perceive their pets as being more sensitive to their needs experience lower levels of detriment to their mental health and higher levels of positive affect. Conversely, the study doesn’t go without acknowledging that owners who report lower levels of attachment and perceive their pets as less sensitive have higher levels of depression and loneliness. Through their research, the authors highlight the significance of the human-animal bond in promoting positive well-being outcomes for pet owners. They suggest that actions that encourage positive interactions and relationships between pets and their owners could be effective in improving mental health. The article provides the audience with an unbiased evaluation of their source material and exemplifies their stances through multiple studies (Ellis et…show more content… The authors provide slightly biased insights toward the negatives of pet ownership, highlighting the importance of considering demographic background before becoming a pet owner (Mueller et al.). The authors, Megan Mueller et al., are researchers at Tufts University, a reputable institution in the field of veterinary medicine and animal behavior. Additionally, their credibility is further established by their methods of review, specifically the use of systematic review. On another note, the article boasts some strengths, especially how the authors go beyond the surface of the simple association between humans and pets and examine the role of demographic factors that may influence the relationship. In contrast, the article has flaws in the authors’ reliance on previously published research, which may be subject to bias or limitations in the methods used. Overall, the credible perspectives these authors provide will greatly help me in my paper, forcing me to acknowledge the factors that demographics play in pet ownership’s effect on mental health. Mueller, Megan K., and Erin K.
