Blog 8: An Easy Way to Improve Your Health? Believe It.

What's warm and fuzzy and good for your health? Pets of course!

Since childhood my house has been crawling, slinking and prancing with pets. My animals have been a consistent source of happiness, comfort and stress relief for me and the other members of my household. Pets are an integral part of many people's lives, and the benefits of owning a pet extend beyond the "awww" factor. Below are a few ways that pets can improve your life and overall health.


1. Owning a pet can reduce stress and lessen feelings of loneliness and depression, which in turn alleviates stress-related health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, owning a pet can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels and feelings of loneliness. Caring for an animal offers people the opportunity to give and receive unconditional love without the standard stress of human relationships, inevitably elevating the owner's mood. When I come home from a long day of work and school, the ecstatic, tail-wagging greetings from my dogs always lighten my spirits. Walking into my room and seeing my 16-year-old cat curled up on my bed, I can't help but smile.

Pets also seem to have an uncanny ability to sense when humans are down or depressed. Talking about her Labrador Retriever, pet owner and graduate student Victoria Arnold said, "Sawyer makes me more happy than anything else. When I feel down he seems to know it and will lay his head in my lap for some attention."



2. Pets can improve your fitness and cardiovascular health. Studies show that pet owners have statistically lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than people who do not have pets. It is believed that the reason for this is because, as stated above, pets help to alleviate stress. But pets (particularly dogs) can also serve as an impetus to get out and be active. Walking, running or even just rolling around on the ground with your dog can get your heart pumping and provide you with a great workout.

"As a running partner, Sawyer makes me want to run more, plus when we do go on runs he pushes me to go faster," said Arnold. "It's nice to have him challenge me. He most definitely makes the runs more enjoyable. It turns into a game with us. Sometimes I go trail running with him and let him run lead. It's a lot of fun to race each other in the woods."



3. Growing up with pets benefits children mentally and physically. Owning pets seems to have a positive impact on early childhood development. According to the study "The Health Benefits of Pets" by the National Institutes of Health, "A number of studies of children in diverse family circumstances suggest that, at least for some, the presence of a pet is greatly beneficial." It goes on to say that studies suggest that interacting with pets can help children create and maintain healthy relationships with peers.

But it seems children that are exposed to animals on a regular basis experience physical benefits as well. According to a WebMD article "5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health," children that live with furred animals have a lower propensity for allergies and overall stronger immune systems.

4. Pets can improve your social life. While animals cannot hold a conversation, they can still provide social stimulus for humans, particularly people who suffer from social anxiety. Connecting with another emotional being, regardless of species, opens the door for compassion and caring. The Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek has a "Teaching Loving Care" program that is based on this very idea. The program, which pairs ARF with the Contra Costa County Probation and Mental Health Departments, aims to "assist high-risk adolescent females in developing positive personal skills so that they can become contributing members of society." This is done through socialization with cats and dogs from the rescue center.

The WebMD article mentioned above even suggests that pets can help your dating life! Walking your dog or visiting a dog park opens new venues for socializing, potentially leading to romance, or at least friendship. Taking my dogs on a neighborhood walk usually results in 3-4 conversations with other dog-walkers. These are neighbors that I now know by name and am friendly with, neighbors that I would not have even spoken to if not for the flawless opener: "Oh your dog is so cute! What's her name?"



Pets can have an incredibly positive impact on your life. So go take your dog for a walk, or lounge around with your cat. Don't have a pet? Shelters and rescue centers exist in almost every county, including Contra Costa. Go search for a new, furry friend! It's a simple act that could change your life.

Contra Costa County Animal Shelter Adoptions

ARF Adoptions

Photos by Colleen McCullough