Advantages of Having a Domesticated Animal

A Secret To Happiness: The Benefits Of Owning A Pet

Being a pet owner comes with many responsibilities and requires much patience since you're basically in charge of another life. Whether a person has a pet dog, cat, bird, fish, or hamster, taking good care of that pet is extremely necessary and a part of a daily routine that must be practiced every single day. In return, having a pet can bring positive results that helps the pet owner in ways they never would have imagined. It has been proven that having a healthy relationship with a pet can reduce stress levels and help heal a person from the inside out. In fact, having a pet can ease pain and keep the owner healthy, aide in socializing with other people, and improve a person's mood. These three benefits are just a few of reasons of why having a pet can be nothing but a plus in a person's life.

Having a pet can greatly decrease anxiety and aide in easing any kind of pain and suffering a person may be going through. Whether a person is going through a bout of depression, anxiety, or physical aches from an accident, pets can help ease the pain by reducing stress and taking the person's mind off of the pain. In some studies about acute pain, adults who were pet owners reported feeling much better at a quicker pace than non-pet owners and required 50% less pain medication as well. I remember having an accident a couple of years ago where I had to get stitches in the back of my head. The pain was excruciating and I had to take pills every other hour just to function. A friend of mine came to visit and brought along their puppy who was very lively and active which kept us busy laughing the whole time. By the time both of them left, I was in a great mood and pain-free without the medication so I know firsthand about the power that animals have.

It is a much known fact that having a pet can attract other people who own and/or love pets. The connection that one pet owner has with another pet owner is very deep as both people know what it is like to care for an animal day in and day out. And you don't have to be the most outgoing person in the world to approach a person that you'd like to meet. If the pet is present, even the shyest person feels comfortable enough to approach the pet owner and strike up a conversation because they both have a common ground from the start: pets. Studies have found that pet owners are more socially engaged than non-pet owners, especially when the pet is present or when a discussion about pets is brought up in a chatroom. I've heard many stories among friends of how they get extra attention from the opposite sex when they are out with their pet. Not to say that they use their pets to attract people to them but people are naturally drawn to cute furry animals. Also, having a pet shows that the pet owner is compassionate and responsible enough to handle the pet and for some people, those are very great qualities that a potential mate may possess.

Aside from making a person more social, having a pet can also lift their spirits and put them in a better mood. Since animals cannot verbally express their wants and needs to us, they express themselves through emotions which in return affects us emotionally. Who doesn't fall for the puppy-dog eyes or the warm purr from the family cat when you tickle its tummy? These are things that tugs at our heartstrings and cause for us to be at ease and enjoy the moment. Pets also have a way of making us laugh without trying which can definitely put a person in a great mood. I can recall my friends’ puppy always doing something adorable despite the fact that it wasn't quite house-broken just yet. It once tore up its owner's shoe but then stood up on its hind legs and did a little dance which, in a way, overshadowed its wrong doing. Of course, it was disciplined for destroying the shoe but my friend and I couldn't do anything but laugh about the dance afterward. We were definitely in good spirits courtesy of their loving pet puppy.

In conclusion, having a pet can do wonders for a person because of the benefits that come along with the responsibility. Not only is the person gaining a loyal companion but they're also getting help in being healthy, sociable, and happy. They say that dogs are man's best friend but I have to say that any living thing that helps bring an extra added joy to a person's life is a best friend as well.