We have quite a long history and attachment with pets ever since thousands of years ago. Stories tell of cats being objects of veneration in Ancient Egypt, and legends say when a group of less-than-hostile wolves approached a human encampment is the start of long long pet-human relationship in our civilization.
Nowadays, dogs and cats are among the most popular animals to be kept as pets. More than half of U.S. households have a pet in their homes and many even consider them as paw-rt of their family.
What gives? What has kept the human society stuck with keeping pets for centuries after centuries? After all, pet upbringing could be hard work (albeit rewarding).
What benefits could there be with owning a pet?
Social life
A 2015 study conducted in four cities in U.S. and Australia found out that being a pet owner could open new doors to forming more human-to-human relationships. When asked about getting to know about the people in their neighborhoods, pet owners were found out to be more likely to meet new neighbors (and even receive more social support from them) than their non-pet-owning counterparts.
If you want to stay socially connected, you could always volunteer for fundraising drives, join a choir or band, or even a local sports team. And if you’re like us pet lovers, then maybe owning a pet would do.
Mental health
More than just being our big bundles of joy around the house, our pets could also reduce the stress that we collect from our day-to-day. Our furry friends could potentially increase oxytocin and serotonin levels leaving us happier and with less stress and anxiety. Studies also found out that having that parent-child bond with our pet companions could also reduce depression and loneliness.
(Even watching a few cat videos can do much for you—it sure did with us!)
Simply, just having that quality time with your pet may produce a more reliable sense of mental wellbeing than any commercially available product in the market today.
Physical Fitness
Dog owners, particularly, are more likely to achieve the recommended hours of exercise per week. Regular walks with your dog can cut the mundane nature of just plain ol’ exercise—courtesy of our just wanting to just be with our dogs.
So it’s no surprise when studies like this one from 2017 show that dog walking is associated with having lower body mass index and fewer activities of daily living limitations
Another study shows a similar result—participants losing a significant amount of weight over a course of a year (they even see it as responsibility for their canine friend rather than just an exercise!)
Conclusion
If you’ve done your research and have been thinking of getting a pet of your own for a while now, then we welcome you to a world of fun and hugs where owning a pet could mean a better social, mental, and physical health!
And if you did decide to get a pet, the next step would be to get your companion some good tools to keep them happy and clean around your home. Our range of grooming products for dogs and cats may interest you!