The Top 5 Benefits Of Having A Pet

May is National Pet Month! While we celebrate pets every day, we’ll take any chance we can to talk about them.

There are plenty of reasons to bring home a pet. Sure, they come with their own challenges just like anything good, but if you’ve ever owned a pet, you know that they give us more than we could ever give them. And here are five reason that prove just that.

Move More

From daily walks to playing around the house, a cat or dog can motivate you to get up and be active each and every day. Without a pet, it can be easy to spend the weekend on the couch. But pets require daily activity, and they aren’t shy in reminding you. Dogs especially lend themselves to fun ways to move more. From walks and runs, to games of fetch, canines can help owners spend more time on their feet, improving their overall health.

Heart Health

The increased activity levels that come with owning a pet inevitably mean better overall cardiovascular health. But it’s not just because of the activity that cats and dogs are good for your heart health. Scientific research has actually shown that owning a pet lowers the risk for heart attack. These studies concluded that pet ownership lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, which lowers your risk of heart disease. It also doesn’t hurt that owning a pet decreases your stress level, too, another factor in heart health.

Less Stress

Through the good and bad, cats and dogs are always there for you and the unconditional love they offer each day reduces your stress levels. They can make an owner forget about a rough day at work in a matter of moments. Studies have shown that petting a dog can actually lower your levels of cortisol, a hormone that causes stress. Dogs and cats can also reduce the impact of anxiety and depression. Overall, they offer a healthy and wholesome way to destress and unwind.

More Social

The moment you take home your dog or cat for the first time, you become part of a community, and a very large one at that. A majority of American households own at least one cat or dog. Chances are, there’s at least a few of those individuals that live on your street or in your apartment building. Having a dog or cat is an excuse to get to know them. For example, taking your dog on a walk around the neighborhood or to the dog park is a great way to meet new people. There are even social media groups where dog and cat owners congregate to celebrate and cherish their pets.

Help with Learning Disabilities

Not all heroes wear capes; some have fur. Cats and dogs play a critical role in the wellbeing for those struggling with a variety of mental and physical health issues. From veterans suffering from PTSD, to senior citizens struggling with cognitive function, cats and dogs have a special ability to enrich people’s lives. Whether they are emotional support animals, or a constant companion for a child struggling with a social disorder, dogs and cats can play an integral role in helping us heal and cope.

There are so many reasons to bring a dog or cat into your home. They have scientifically proven health benefits for owners. Through caring for them, they can actually help you become a better you. While the benefits are clear, the best parts of owning a dog or cat are the unexpected ways they will make you smile.