Did you know that cats and dogs were buried with people 12,000 years ago? This practice marked the beginning of true “pet companionship,” even though the idea of keeping pet cats originated three millennia later.
Animal companions have captured people’s fancy since time immemorial (Fun fact: There’s also a hobby called “animal fancy.”) In fact, pets are no longer considered property, but rather bona fide members of the family.
Although they are of different species, cats, dogs, and other pet animals have plenty to offer people. The pros of having such a family member greatly outweigh the effort needed to keep them safe and healthy.
Thinking about bringing home a pet? Below are the top five reasons why you need an animal companion in your life:
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Pets boost people’s moods and help fight anxiety.
Although they don’t speak the human language, pets have the innate capacity to provide emotional support during tough times. This is a common belief among pet parents that is now supported by science.
According to several studies, engaging with an animal companion during or after an anxiety-triggering event helps alleviate negative emotions and significantly improve a person’s temperament.
Exposing yourself to pets also elevates your mood-boosting hormones: dopamine and serotonin. This explains why people with pets (and even those temporarily exposed to animals) become calmer and more relaxed.
The therapeutic effects of animal companions have also been linked to people’s basic need for touch. Some research also shows that even hardened criminals experience long-term behavioural improvement after interacting with pets, with some experiencing mutual affection for the very first time.
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Pets help you overcome allergies.
Contrary to popular belief, having a pet in your household won’t cause allergies in children. It’s quite the opposite: Pets are believed to lessen the occurrence of allergies. Even those with a family history of allergies don’t have to avoid having pets.
Based on a growing number of studies, children who grew up with “furred” pets like cats and dogs, and farm animals, have a lower risk of asthma and allergies.
Newer research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology studied blood samples from babies. They sought evidence of immunity changes, allergic reactions, and any changes caused by bacteria in their environment between birth and one year of age.
As a result, the study found that infants who live in a household with a dog have a 14 percent less chance of getting allergies, including eczema – a common skin allergy characterised by itchy red patches on the skin.
Plus, children who were exposed to animals had higher levels of immune system chemicals, which signifies a stronger immune system activation.
In other words, the greater exposure babies have to dirt and allergens (and dirty animals like dogs), the stronger their immune system becomes.
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Pets foster new relationships.
Although often overlooked, another positive effect of having a pet is the ease of engaging in new relationships. Besides serving as a common talking point, having a pet also brings you closer to people who share the same interest.
Pets – especially cats and dogs – offer social support that makes meeting new friends and maintaining healthy relationships easier. Many dog owners also have a “community” of their own and several places to meet new people, from dog parks to pet shops in Dubai.
Psychologists even dub pets “date magnets” because they foster love connections and help ease people out of shyness or social isolation.
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Pets offer aid to the aged.
More research is emerging about the benefits of animal companions among the elderly, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease.
According to studies, there are fewer anxiety-triggered outbursts in Alzheimer’s patients who live in households with an animal companion. Plus, caregivers also feel less burdened because of the pets, especially cats that generally need less care than dogs.
Walking a dog or simply caring for an animal also provides much-needed exercise and companionship for more able members of the elderly population. This is believed to be a cause for improvement in their physical and emotional well-being as well.
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Pets provide a reprieve from stress.
Researchers found that people with AIDS who have pets have a significantly lower risk of depression compared to those without animal companions. The difference becomes more pronounced in individuals who are strongly attached to their furry babies.
One study explored the effects of pet parenthood among stockbrokers and found that those who adopted cats or dogs recorded lower blood pressures than those who didn’t.
According to experts, this is because people in “stress mode” tend to enter a “state of dis-ease,” where biochemicals like norepinephrine and cortisol are released and negatively affect their immune system.
Become a Pet Parent
Becoming a pet parent offers you more than a sense of fulfilment, as manifested in the benefits listed in this article. Scientific studies and historical data support the idea that having animal companionship contributes to a healthier, happier you.
