The Benefits of Having Pets

Why we have our pets are important to understand our physical and mental health daily.

It is a given that pets are great, if you are already a pet owner you know this. We also know the huge responsibility we have as pet owners. We are responsible for walking them if they are an active pet and also feed them at set hours of the day. However, do you know understand the great benefits of having our pets. Rather you have a dog, cat, fish or reptiles, having a pet creates a great quality and structure in our lives.

Some of the great benefits research has shown over the years establish amazing reasoning for having our pets as companions. Outside of the daily responsibilities, some of the amazing benefits below may be looked over however they are added values for us and our pets.

Practicing Social Skills

Owning a dog, you will normally walk them a few times a day and sometimes take them to a local dog park or parks in general. On a typical day many other dog owners will be at those parks and conversations spark no matter what breed or size of your dog. As you typical travel to that dog park you create a routine and you normally see the same dog owners. During these times you are stepping out of your comfortable zone if you are not a social person and have a relatable topical which are your pets. Inertially your social skills and sometimes your inner circle gets larger, a great advantage by just having your pet around.

Mental Companionship

During the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic pet adoptions/ ownership skyrocketed leading to over 20 million pets being adopted. Also, there were a mass number of pets being given back once covid slowed down, it was amazing how the understanding that having a pet during an isolated time can relieve us of some anxiety.

We should understand some research behind this; a study was shown given a highly stressful situation, petting pets helped released said stress level. This study was done on toys (non-living object), and it did not have this same effect. I believe understanding this, is to know that the warmth and comfortable of our pets give a fulfilling comfortable to our daily lives.

Sense of All Together

Caring for something outside of ourselves is giving up our selfish ways and knowing that you are living for someone greater. Our pets give us that purpose, they take away our fears, rather than be of flying or adventures and ease those anxieties. The pets we have in our life become more than just pets and daily become family. Truly a part of our family activities, they are our children in many ways.

As a pet owner myself, I know all too well the benefits that my pup has given me over the years. I cherish the moments we have daily and I know the growth of having him has given me. Pawlette Brand is fully amount the moments we have the reasoning we have our pets.

Anxiety Stress & Coping. 16(4):387–395.