#1 Reduce Stress and Anxiety
All the cuddles, playtime and laughter can reduce your stress and anxious feelings. Spending time with your pets contributes to the release of endorphins called oxytocin. Oxytocin is not only calming; it causes you to feel a surge of positive emotion too. While it puts you at ease cuddling them or just being around them, petting them can also be a soothing experience!
#2 Increased Physical Health
Owning a pet, particularly a dog, might be beneficial to your physical health. Statistics have shown that dog owners, in general, had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Though there are no black and white findings for the reasons behind it, it could be due to the dog’s physical requirements that need to be met. For example, going for walks and playing fetch does contribute to physical exercise.
#3 Improved Socialisation and Emotional Development
When you have pets, it helps with your social skills and emotional development, especially if you start owning a pet from a young age. A study showed that adolescents with pets had greater empathy and were more confident during their adulthood. Besides, a journal found that those who had greater care for animals also had greater community involvement and displayed higher leadership qualities!
#4 Improved Discipline
When you have pets, you develop a particular routine. You’ll have to make sure you wake up in time to make your pet’s food, feed them, take your pets for a walk, or even bathe them. All pets require attention and care, and in a way, this shapes our discipline as we balance our time for daily tasks and our time for pets.
#5 Improved Immunity
Studies have shown that when you are exposed to pathogens and potential allergens at an early age, your immune system is strengthened, which leads to an increased tolerance to allergies in later life. Not just that, studies have also shown that those children with pets in their household are less prone to asthma or eczema.
Owning a pet can boost our well-being, but it’s also a great responsibility. Pets are living creatures who need love and care, feeding, grooming, and veterinary attention like any other creature needs to survive or maintain its health.
If you need some companionship, make sure you are prepared, and since there’s plenty of choices for adoption nowadays, consider adopting one instead of buying!
