“Until
one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” Anatole
France
A pet is certainly a great friend that provides unconditional love during difficult times. Whether you've had a difficult day at work or home, pet owners immediately feel love from their pets and experience an improved mood. There
are many benefits from pet ownership. Whether it’s a fluffy kitty or cute
puppy, they help satisfy basic human needs to have contact, touch and allow us
to interact with other beings. Whether you’re at the pet store or park, having
a pet can provide you an opportunity to engage socially with others, reduce
anxiety and build confidence. By nature,
people require attention and love; animals mutually share these feelings and share their affections back without any expectations. Unlike human
interaction, where you may feel that the other person wants something, an
animal wants nothing more than to see you happy and feel loved. Based on
statistics released in 2011 from the American Humane Association, “80% of dog
and cat owners surveyed claimed that their pets could sense their moods…three
in four believed their dogs tried to make them feel better when they were
unhappy.” There
are also physical benefits to having pets; it has been found that pets increase
your ability and desire to exercise. This is not limited to taking a pet for a
walk, but includes chasing a pet around the house, or all those funny faces and
actions we perform to get our pets attention. Playing with an animal can
actually help calm and relax you as it elevates your dopamine and serotonin
levels dramatically; thus reducing the likelihood of depression. Pets
have been shown to reduce blood pressure and stress which is in part of the reason
many doctors’ offices keep aquariums in their waiting rooms. Animals
can also bring stability into an individual’s life because pets require structure and depend on us. They require and depend on us to not only to feed them, but also take them outside throughout the day
for a walk. These simple routines can help you take control of your life; it
forces you to get out of bed and holds you accountable for your actions. This
is also is extremely beneficial for the elderly as it can give
them a sense of purpose. Granted
pets are not for everyone or every lifestyle. However, adding a companion
certainly has its advantages to your mental health. Simply having someone
depend on you can help make your existence feel more important and build confidence in
yourself. Though pets are not a replacement for medication or therapy they
certainly can improve your well-being.
