Pets are great for our body, mind and soul! If you’ve ever owned a pet you know what I’m talking about and if you haven’t, you don’t know what you’re missing! When I come home I’m always greeted by two wagging tails!
Studies show that owning a pet can lower our blood pressure, reduce stress, improve our mood, and even reduce our risk of heart disease! There is even research that indicates owning a dog or cat may reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in babies.
Why do pets have such a strong influence on our mental and physical well-being? There are a myriad of reasons for this (in my opinion) that pets are central to our body and mind.
- All pets need to be taken care of. When we’re taking can of our dog, cat, fish, bird, horse or any other furry or feathered friend, we’re focusing on something other than ourselves. I walk, feed, play with and “dote” on my two dogs, Cleo and Kayla.
- Most pets, especially dogs need daily exercise, and if they get walked, we do too! My fitbit and I have logged many extra steps while walking Cleo & Kayla.
- Pets make sure we relax. How do you feel when your dog snuggles up to you, or your cat jumps in your lap and purrs? They also encourage us to have fun and play with them. When Kayla comes to me with her little orange football, I know it’s time to stop what I’m doing and play football tag!
- Pets help us live in the moment. When we’re taking care of a pet, it’s hard to focus on all the things we need to do tomorrow, next week or next month. We are in the here and now, which is sometimes easier said than done. It’s a lot easier to live in the moment with a furry friend by my side!
- Last, but not least, pets LOVE us no matter what! Unconditional love is something special that all pets give us. It doesn’t matter if we’ve had a bad day at work, or look like we’ve just rolled out of bed because we’ve had the flu for a week. Our pets are by our sides with their wagging tails, floppy ears, or quiet purrs, making our world a better place because they are a part of it.