Always providing a listening ear and plenty of unconditional love, the animal in your life might be your best friend. Pets are great for snuggling on a rainy day or taking a walk in the sunshine. However, owning a pet can do more than just make you happy. Here are a few great reasons owning a pet can be a great option for your and your family:
Heart Health
There is nothing like a morning jog with the dog to get your blood pumping. Some breeds require a lot of exercise, keeping you active. But, what about cats? Petting an animal is a proven stress reliever, and cats demand plenty of it.
Making Friends
Pets are people magnets. Their presence seems to draw attention and spark conversation. Those who have difficulty making friends can benefit from taking a cat or dog to the park to assist with meeting new people.
Pest Control
Many cats are good mousers. Simply the presence of a cat is often enough to deter mice. Gophers and rabbits can be warded off by dogs who love to dig them up or chase them away. While they do a good job of keeping some pests away, they won't be able to treat an existing problem. Call a professional to get rid of the pests in your home before it becomes a hazard, suggest the experts at ICE Pest Control and Wildlife Removal. Then let your pets keep future intruders away.
Loving Companionship
Loneliness is something everyone faces at some point in life. Pets, like cats and dogs, provide people with a sense of purpose, companionship, and responsibility. They require you to get up and move to make sure your furry friend is fed, played with, and well loved. This is especially important for families with children. Having a pet can help teach them responsibility.
Allergy Prevention
Studies have shown that children who are around pets from birth, particularly dogs and cats, are less likely to develop pet allergies. Being exposed to them early on in life works like an immune system booster. It's important to note that children can still be allergic to pets, however, and to treat the problem.
Longer Life
Those walks with the dog, loving caresses, and laughing yourself silly can add years to your life. Possessing heroic skills, many dogs and cats have saved the lives of their owners by warning them of gas leaks, pulling them out of burning buildings, and protecting them from predators.
If you don't own a dog or cat, you might want to consider getting one. Other ways to be around pets include volunteering at shelters and veterinarians offices. With so many benefits of owning pets, it's no wonder that families everywhere have fallen in love with these furry friends.
Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver and often writes about home, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family when she isn't writing.
