Everybody loves puppies and kittens. They are small, playful and most of the time harmless. They put smiles on the faces of everybody they meet and are a joy to have around. But not many people know the mental benefits these companions provide.
According to the Mental Health Organization, having a dog provides many benefits. They improve physical activity by forcing their owners to exercise by going on walks. They also reduce anxiety by having a friendly face to comfort people in times of stress. They can also help in meeting new people— having a cute dog can be a conversation starter with other dog lovers.
Another mental benefit of dogs is their ability to be “a man’s best friend.” The companionship they provide is unparalleled. They provide unconditional love to their owners and help them to feel understood and appreciated.
Cats provide similar benefits. While they might not provide the same physical benefits dogs do, they are still extremely beneficial for their owners. Those who own cats tend to be more sociable and don’t experience feelings of high stress as often as people without pets.
Dogs and cats are great companions, whose mental benefits supersede a lot of people’s expectations. Reagan Hassel owns multiple cats and dogs and is very grateful she has them in her life. “My pets provide me with comfort and fun when I need it… It is nice to have them there when I maybe don’t want to talk with another person,’ said Hassel.
She doesn’t know what she would do if she lost one of her companions. Losing a dog or cat is heartbreaking for everyone. “If I didn’t have my dogs and cats I’m not sure if I would feel complete,” said Hassel.
Unfortunately, not all pets find their forever homes with a loving owner. Many end up in pounds or rescue centers completely reliant on foster homes and people walking in the clinic.
This problem is most prominently seen in the Southern U.S. states where one shelter has a euthanasia rate over 90% with maybe 10 adoptions a year. Fortunately, the Quad Cities area has The Kings Harvest Pet Rescue No Kill Shelter that treats local cats and dogs well.
Addie Menke and her family have been fostering dogs for nearly eight years. They receive and train dogs from the South in order to help ease the overpopulation issue in shelters. “We have to train a lot of the dogs how to be pets in a way. Some of the adult dogs we have had were never treated like pets, so we get to spoil them and give them the love they didn’t have and teach them some manners they never had because every chance they had to eat was sporadic,” explained Menke.
Whether fostering or owning these adorable animals, the mental benefits they supply is incomparable. People are happier when they have someone by their side to love them unconditionally. Pets are one of a kind– they console, are goofy, and most importantly they contribute to the lives of their owners positively.
