Having a pet makes you happier and healthier

Dear Diary,

There is a saying:

“Nothing better than coming home to a pet.”

Many pet lovers would agree. Spending time with pets impacts the overall well-being of a person. Pets make us responsible, keep us active and help manage our loneliness. Many studies claim that pets make us happier and healthier.

There are several ways in which pets improve our lives.

Benefits of having a pet

• Provide company: Having a companion helps in preventing loneliness. Interacting with animals decreases levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and blood pressure.

  An Australian study shows that dog owners have displayed changes in mental well-being.

  Furthermore, the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute found that 85% of people believe that interacting with pets reduces loneliness.

• Effects on physical health: Many reviews published between 1950 and 2019 found that dog owners have a lower risk of heart diseases. Having pets lowers blood pressure levels, improves mood, slows breathing, and eases muscle tension. Many dog owners have a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases.

• Lower stress and depression: Pets help handle stressful situations. Studies reveal that bonding with canines releases dopamine and oxytocin.

• Increasing exercise: Taking a dog for a walk, hike, or run is an opportunity for owners to get their daily dose of exercise. Pet owners are more likely to meet their physical exercise requirements and maintain an active lifestyle.

• Unconditional Love: Pets are a great source of unconditional love.

• Socialization: Taking a pet for a walk gives a chance to the owner to interact with other owners or community members. Hence, pets can bring people together.

A study by BarkBox found that pets also make people better humans. Read it here.

Some of the key pointers of the study were:

• Happiness index: 71% of dog parents claimed that their pets made them happier.

• Routine: 4 in 5 pet owners claimed that it is easier to wake up in the morning when the pets greet them. Some of the parents also claimed that the pets help them be active and engage in physical activities.

• Love index: Nearly 50% of the pet parents involved in the study claimed that their pet made them more patient, responsible, and affectionate.

• Accepting pet peeves: Nearly 80% of the dog owners involved in the study claimed that they have become more accepting of common annoyances like snoring, making a mess, or eating treats throughout the day.

Conclusion:

A social support system is essential for our physical and mental well-being. Adopting a pet is a way to fulfill our needs.

That’s all I have for now,

I will write to you soon.

Take care!