About 85 million families across the United States (about 65% of total households) own a pet of some type, and a vast majority of that number consists of cat and dog owners. So, if you’re not one of the 85 million, you have to ask yourself: what’s so great about owning a pet?
Exercise
Most Americans don’t get enough cardio exercise during the day, hence the staggering statistic that states over 600,000 deaths are attributed to heart disease. Dogs of all sizes are a great excuse to get out and get physical. Hiking, jogging, and even a stroll around the Boise Greenbelt is going to be made better with an excited and loving pooch by your side.
Mental Health Benefits
The importance of mental health is something everyone needs to be taking as seriously as physical health. It was estimated that in 2018, 16.2 million adults in the United States experienced a major depressive episode, and 44.7 million suffered from PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) caused by a traumatic event during their life.
Adding a pet, usually a dog, to your life has amazing benefits to help relieve depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health issues. Pets have the amazing ability to show unconditional love and companionship which has been proven to help with so many mental health issues. That is why organizations such as Pets for Vets and Pets for Patriots have proven to be such a fantastic program for our Military members.
Get Better ZZZ’s
You read that right: letting your pet in the bedroom or even giving up some space on your bed can lead to a better night’s sleep. When surveyed, people who have pets in their room or on their bed reported feeling a sense of security, companionship, and relaxation.
Build More Relationships
Have you ever noticed that people with animals tend to be friendly, more outgoing, and form deeper romantic relationships than their non-pet owning counterparts? A research study conducted in 2016 by Cloutier and Peetz found that subjects with pets have “predominantly positive (86.5%) effects” on their romantic relationships.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recently published an article on the positive benefits of children who learn to take care of pets as part of their lives. Pets help teach children how to have empathy for other living things, physical comfort, and affection. Programs like 4-H are available to kids all across the U.S. to get involved with different types of pets and animals.
Reduced Risk of Allergies
In late 2017, the National Institute of Health released a short article outlining the findings of different studies concerning children and asthma. In short, the studies concluded that children who were exposed to dust with elements of different dander had a lower risk of developing asthma during childhood.
Less Stress
Considering all of the physical and mental health benefits pets bring, one can easily conclude that pets bring a sense of stress relief. However, back in 2016, scientists were able to prove that children going through a stressful situation while petting their dog had a lower cortisol response than children who did not.
Adding a Furry Family Member
Now that you know all of the benefits of adding a pet to your family, don’t dive in head first yet. Do your research on what kinds of pets will be best for your family and your lifestyle and living arrangement. It will be more challenging to have a high-energy canine in an apartment than a mellow cat. Also, make sure you meet the new addition before you bring him or her to their forever home and that you have all the needed supplies to take care of them!
