Animals Matter: Reasons Why You Should Own a Pet

Without even realizing, many pets bring an overwhelming amount of joy into our lives. Having the company of a pet often provides individuals a sense of purpose by causing them to develop a daily routine and giving them something to look forward to each day. People choose to have pets for different reasons. Depending on the chosen animal, you will see many different benefits – from support with physical injuries, such as blindness, providing companionship for a widowed person who has lost a loved one or for children to play with, to acting as a guard to protect the family and the house from potential intruders. 

Pets are there for you, to make you laugh and comfort you when you are ill or even when you are upset. However, not everyone is convinced and does not understand the emotional bond developed between a human and its pet and only see the downsides to owning an animal. If you are one of these skeptical individuals still considering if you should own a pet, hopefully, this article listing some of these benefits will change your mind. 

Emotional Support

As mentioned above, animals are great at providing their owners with emotional support. Some animals have strong instincts and can easily sense when you are upset. An emotional support animal is a type of pet that is able to comfort to reduce symptoms or effects of an individual’s disability. If you believe you may qualify for this service but are unsure, you can consult the experts of https://www.certapet.com/ to obtain more information on the eligibility criteria and get a consultation if you require additional support. Research has shown that pets can relieve many symptoms related to mental health disorders, through their ability to provide unique emotional support as a result of their aptitude to recognize and to respond to their owners in an instinctive way. This was particularly accurate in times of crisis and periods of active symptoms. Furthermore, pets can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation and offer a source of physical warmth and companionship.

They keep you fit

Again, different species will provide different benefits. If you get a bigger animal that requires time and exercise outdoors, such as a dog, you are likely to be getting as much exercise as you play with your companion or even just go out for regular daily walks. If you are looking to be more active, then a dog would be the ideal pet as they would surely drag you out the front door and make you run around the park each and every day.

They can help you make friends

We are all familiar with the specific scene in movies where a man finds the love of his life after his dog suddenly ran away from him into the arms of a random female stranger. Although the chances of this happening are small, you are still very likely to make new friends. You may not realize this but once you have a pet, you are more likely to visit places designed for this purpose, it could be a dog park or a pet store or the vet. By visiting places like this, you will encounter many people with whom you already have at least one thing in common – a love for animals. The pet owner community is extremely friendly and people often enjoy talking about their pets and ask questions about your pet too.  

They support your immune system

We have already discussed how animals lower your stress levels and support your emotional wellbeing, and also support your physical health by keeping you active. However, they also have a positive impact on your immune system. This is because pets are likely to spend large amounts of their time outside, bringing dirt and germs into your home. Although this may sound unbearable, it is not necessarily a bad thing – the additional germs can support your immunity to colds and other mild illnesses. In fact, research has suggested that babies who live with a dog tend to develop fewer infections and are generally healthier than those who do not.

They teach valuable skills

If you are a parent, you may be considering getting a pet due to constantly hearing your children begging for you to get one. Children love animals, although responsible adults understand that it takes more than love to look after a pet, and owning one can allow your children to develop these key skills that are essential in a human being’s life.  Owning a pet can teach children to develop the practical skills necessary to take care of a pet, such as cleaning out the cage, grooming and basic training tricks as well to develop their nurturing and empathy skills, by being responsible for another life.

There are so many pets to choose from, and although most people choose to own a cat or a dog, there are many other species that are easier to look after and provide just as many benefits. Having a pet can be an extremely exciting experience but always remember that it is a long-term commitment and you should make sure you are ready before finalizing your decision.