Friends and family can be there for you when you need someone to talk to, but there is nothing like the love that comes from a pet. In fact, when it comes to pet ownership there are a number of proven health benefits for people. From physical, mental and emotional improvements, to enhancing social skills and decreasing a person’s risk of heart attack.
One of the social benefits of taking on the responsibility of pet ownership is that animals can be an instant icebreaker, whether they’re with you or you’re just using them as a topic of conversation. Of course, few people would suggest getting a pet solely for this purpose. It’s hard to overlook the fact that pets provide a great means for improving your socialization skills across the board, especially in terms of meeting and interacting with other pet owners.
Having a pet can also be beneficial to your health. In particular, dogs require constant entertainment and need to be let outside every few hours. This forces the owner of the dog to take them outside. Whether walking, running, or just playing fetch, having a dog as a pet requires the owner to be somewhat active.
Many pet owners would agree that a pet can fill your heart with love. Fish owner, Ali Staver, says, “I love my fish and how unique the species are, they keep me company and I know that they are always there.” So maybe it’s only fitting that the presence of a pet can help improve the overall health of that organ, too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) have both conducted heart-related studies on people who have pets. The findings showed that pet owners exhibit decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels — all of which can ultimately minimize their risk for having a heart attack down the road. For those who have already experienced a heart attack, research also indicates that patients with a dog or a cat tend to have better recovery rates. These benefits are thought to be connected with pets’ tendency to help reduce or at least control their owner’s overall stress levels. Senior, Maureen Thompson, says, “I wish I had a pet because all pets are so cute and I think it would be fun to have one!”
Pets are a great way to beat the blues. Not only are they known to offer unconditional love, but they may also give their owners a sense of purpose. This can be crucial for those feeling down in the dumps. Pets also combat feelings of loneliness by providing companionship, which can boost your overall mood and even bring you feelings of joy and happiness. This is especially important for high school students who have different moods all of the time and have constant stress.
