Is owning a pet good for you?
By msedge
@msedge (4011)
United States
September 11, 2008 4:37pm CST
A furry friend can be more than a loving companion — research has shown that owning a pet can improve your overall physical health and keep you mentally sharp.Studies show that owning a pet can promote heart health, lower anxiety and depression, increase your activity, and even exercise your brain.If you're considering adopting a puppy, kitten, or other pet – or if you already own one – then you know about the companionship and fun pets add to your life. But in addition, owning a pet can boost your health.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets are good for cardiovascular health: Owning a pet can decrease your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Studies have also found that pet owners are more likely than people without pets to survive after hospitalization for a heart attack, and that owning a pet lowers anxiety and decreases feelings of loneliness and depression.
Pets also help keep their owners fit, since they increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. In a study conducted by the University of Missouri in Columbia, researchers encouraged dog owners to walk their dog for 10 minutes three times a week, and gradually increase to 20 minutes five times a week over the course of a year. The dog walkers lost an average of 14 pounds.Pets can increase the opportunity for socialization — they're a natural topic of conversation and offer a chance to connect with other pet lovers. "Having a pet increases your mental acuity," says Kelly Connolly, M.S., a companion-animals specialist with the Humane Society of the United States. "Remembering to walk and feed your pet exercises your brain, and it increases your sense of responsibility, which is important to people."
The emotional bond between an owner and a dog, cat, or other pet can be as intense as those between humans, and it may offer many of the same psychological benefits. Caring for an animal offers a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Many pet owners believe their pets express a range of emotions. Dr. Stephanie LaFarge, senior director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Counseling Services, says it is "normal and natural to project human emotions onto animals, even if you know better."
2 people like this
6 responses
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
11 Sep 08
Yes, having my little ones is a great pleasure for me. I love them so much and they are my babies. They help keep me active and busy...as if I really need more to keep me busy, lol. They are my little loves and I spoil them rotten.
1 person likes this
@jaysonjpa (151)
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
Yes it is they take out all your stress. Having them I enjoy most, play with them is so much fun. Sometimes I take one of them in the office. If Im not busy, I feed them three 3times a day and on holiday we let them play at the park.
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
11 Sep 08
My babies also love going to the park and hiking and swimming in the river.
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
24 Nov 08
Yes for us it is good to have pets. We have 1 labrador dog who is very gentle and loving plus and 2 cats who are very much a large part of our lives and their antics keep us laughing. Every day my partner goes for a walk around the block and the dog and both cats wander along with her to keep her company. Yes when I am home I also go and the animals join us.
With our animals, they come out into the garden with us whether we are planting, weeding or picking the fruit and vegetables we grow. They run up and down the paths between the plants and we always take some balls and toys out with us to throw for them to find and bring back to us. It is good for the animals as they get some exercise as well as attention and our pets bring joy and laughter into our lives.
When we are not "flat out busy" and have a little bit of time to spare, then my partner will take our labrador down to the Nursing Home a couple of times a week. The patients there also enjoy the company and try to outdo each other by giving tidbits to our dog. A few weeks ago we were busy and had not been able to get to the Nursing Home so one of the staff asked is she could take our dog down for the patients as they were fretting. So now if we are too busy, then my partner just phones up and one of the staff comes and takes or labrador down for the patients to spoil for a while.
The doctor said that on the days that our dog is at the Nursing Home, he knows the patients will sleep well plus their blod pressure is lower.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
11 Sep 08
I think that pets can definitely do a lot to relax people. My family has always been big on pet ownership (well, atleast my mother's side of the family). My sister and I take after her. My sister is a bit more of a pet owner than I am (she has a housefull of pets, whereas my husband and I only choose to have our two cats), but we all love animals very much. They help to relax us.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
11 Sep 08
Pets can reduce loneliness and induce relaxion-both keys are good long-term health. I love cats. It is a pity that they scartch me on the other hand. When my mom saw her cat scarching me, she got angry with the cat. But I still tried to protect the cat and told her it was Ok. White cats are especially naughty. So, just pay more attention. Dogs, however, are more obedient. When I was a small kid, I was bited by a dog. I had to see a doctor at the time. Anyway, I don't hate dogs.
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
25 Nov 08
You are right in that pets can reduce loneliness and help people to relax as well. When I am away from home for a few days, my partner finds our pets great company plus they keep her amused. She says that the pets give her something to do and remind her that she too hard to eat. Before we got out pets, my partner would regularly forget the time and keep working till it was dark and then she would be to tired to eat. But our pets will not go hungry and if she hasn't fed them by a certain time, they will let her know it is meal time. lol
It works out well having pets. They get fed and my partner then has something to eat herself plus they keep her company on her daily walk.
Cats do scratch sometimes but we find that generally they are playing rather than have an "evil intent" to hurt.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
14 Feb 09
Hi msedge,
At the present situation it is not possible for us to keep a pet. I like to have pets and when I was in our village we have pets like dog and cats. There is enough space there. But now we are residing in flat in the city it is not good to keep the pet. Nobody may be at home in day time so it is also another problem. I appreciate those who have pets they must have enough space and time. Unfortunately I am not in that lucky category.
Have a nice weekend.
@babytaffster (2232)
• Chatsworth, California
21 Oct 08
Yes of course. Its something sweet and adorable (usually) to take care of. And dogs especially are loyal as anything.
