Living with Chronic Pain and Animal Companions

Photographies and Stories

These visual stories and photographs were produced as part of an undergraduate research study, made possible by the University of Calgary, the MITACS Research Training Award, and the Mabbott Leadership Award, offered through the Faculty of Nursing.

This project takes a novel approach in health research: photo-elicitation. We embraced qualitative, participatory-action research, which empowered participants to take digital photographs to visually represent their experiences. Hafsah Syed integrated these photographs during the second phase of the research: the photo-elicitation interviews. During the individual interviews, each participant discussed their photographs and their first-hand accounts of their lived experiences with chronic pain and animal companionship. We received glimpses into their lives, and share this with you here.

Institutional ethical approval was obtained (#REB19-1636). Names have been replaced with pseudonyms, to protect the participants' and their pets' identities. Each page that follows includes one photograph from a participant, and an excerpt from their interview. Together, the stories tell how animal companionship affects four areas of one's life with chronic pain: (1) physical health; (2) mental health; (3) social interactions; and (4) challenges.

The photographs and interviews were completed between the years 2020 and 2022; during this time, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred— a period of heightened isolation. The research project provided a new means to connect; the participants share testimonies of resilience, love, strength, and hope.

Rob and Max

"He never leaves my side. He's saved my life, in more ways than one.

There are choices to live or die. Whether to take your life or not— there's always a choice— but, my dog is my choice to stay here.

To me, the medications are a way out of the pain— I've got so many lying around the house, it's very easy to take them all— but, he's always here for me. My psychologists asked me 'what keeps you here?' It's my dog, 100% of the time. He doesn't know— he would just never see me again, and that would be the worse thing ever— that keeps me from doing anything. There are choices and, hopefully, always the right one.

Rob is 60 years old and has lived with chronic pain for 10 years now. He experiences chronic pain in his legs, arms, neck, and other areas due to fibromyalgia. He has a dog, as pictured, who has been by his side for 3 years and counting.