According to the Insurance Information Institute, roughly 66% of U.S. households own pets. This survey shows pet owners mostly own pets like:
- dogs (number one most popular)
- cats (number two)
- freshwater and saltwater fish
- horses
- reptiles
- birds and small animals which include hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and gerbils.
What many people may not know is that all of these pets are very beneficial to our mental and physical health.
From birds to fish, and horses to cats, one thing all animals share in common is the benefits they provide to humans. Yes, you heard that right. Being around animals is great for your physical and mental health!
First, just being around animals lowers your heart rate which can reduce stress, and lower your blood pressure. Scientists are currently studying interactions between animals and children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and other neurodiversities.
They believe that animals help support child development, especially those with disabilities. All animals require food, water, and basic care like cleaning their living area, and exercise. These responsibilities are a great way to teach young kids the value of caring for another living thing, and why it’s important.
In addition, some animals require a lot of exercise, like taking walks and runs. This is great motivation for the owner to work out, and the best thing… it’s cost-free! Take a walk around your neighborhood, take a hike, or even go to the local park! Exercising gives you endorphins which make you happy, in addition to keeping you in shape!
One of the most amazing things about owning a pet is they are kind of like a built-in best friend! There are so many types of toys for all different animals which make a great way to play. In addition, they are great listeners and someone you can talk to about literally anything.
If you don’t have any pets yet, what is the best pet for you? Some certain pets don’t mix well with busy lives. If you have a very busy schedule but still want a pet: fish, hampsters, guinea pigs, birds, rabbits, turtles, or lizards would be some great options for you! They are generally independent and don’t require much human interaction.
Cats are a good “in-between” because they don’t require as much attention as a dog, but they may require more attention than, for example, a fish. While all of these animals still require care like feeding, providing water and enrichment/entertainment, as well as cleaning their living space, they may not require as much one-on-one attention as animals like dogs.
If you have a more flexible schedule, dogs would be a great option for you! Not only are there 360 globally recognized breeds to choose from, but they also can be trained to do hundreds of different tricks, and participate in many activities like agility, “Dock Dogs”(dock jumping), “Disc Dogs”(frisbee catching), and so much more! If you choose a puppy, or a dog in need of training, weekly classes are a great way to spend time bonding with your dog while learning something new and practicing good behavior.
Inline K9 Training is a great dog training facility for people living in and around Sutton, Massachusetts! Not only are obedience classes taught at different levels, but there are also private lessons offered. Kristen Morse, the owner of K9 Inline, is “the owner/dog trainer of In-Line K9 Training located in Sutton, MA.” Her “job is to help the owners of any age dog build a long-lasting relationship through training and obedience. I also help with some unwanted behavior problems that may have developed in owning their dog.” She “would recommend getting a pet/dog into any family.
I am a little biased as I have five dogs myself. Having a pet can help you look forward to something every day. The love of a dog is unconditional. There is science backed studies of people living longer with pets and health benefits as well. In a family with children, pets can teach responsibilities, empathy, and love.”
However, she explains it is also important to choose the right pet for your family. Not everyone is suitable to owning a pet. A traveling lifestyle, long work days, or financial struggles may prevent someone from getting a pet. If this is the case, it is not very responsible for them to not be able to give the attention a pet needs or care for it if it needs medical help. Owning a pet/dog is something that is very rewarding, but can also be a lot of work and very expensive.”
If you’re interested in spending time with animals but don’t want to get any of your own, look into visiting a farm, or local shelter. Many shelters look for volunteers to help care for their animals. Just think… while you help care for the animals, the animals will be helping you.
