9 Ways Pets Improve Our Lives, Pet Help Our Health and Happiness, Loving Our Pets, Tips from Pets, Love Animals, Adopt a Pet, Friends

They Can Help Reduce Our Negativity

Much like thinking about a friend might help you feel less negative after a bad social experience, thinking about a pet has been suggested to have the same effect. In a study conducted on 97 pet owners (see the Psychology Today article cited above), participants were unknowingly subjected to a negative social experience. They were then asked to either write about their best friend, their pet or draw a map of their college campus (the control group). This study showed that the participants who wrote about their pet or their best friend both showed zero negative feelings and were equally happy, even after the negative social experience. The control group, however, continued to exhibit negative feelings.

They Can Help Reduce Loneliness

Shutterstock.com

In addition to boosting self-esteem, pets can also reduce the amount of loneliness we feel. One study found that people with pet dogs reported having their social needs fulfilled just as effectively by their pets as by their friends. The research subjects reported that their dogs provided them with a strong sense of self-esteem, belonging and a meaningful existence. Unlike the stereotype, however, people do not seem to rely on their pets more when their human interactions are lacking. That is, people don't turn solely to their pets in lieu of having friends but, rather, enjoy their pets' company in addition to the company of their friends.

They Can Help Stabilize Our Blood Pressure

Lastly and possibly most impressively, owning a pet can actually help reduce your blood pressure. While medications like ACE inhibiting drugs can reduce high blood pressure, such medications aren't effective enough to control blood pressure spikes due to tension and stress. However, this study took a bunch of stressed out stockbrokers and gave half of them dogs and cats, while leaving others without pets. Those given pets for the course of the study exhibited significantly more stable blood pressure than those without. What's more, when the control group learned of the study's findings, many of them got a loving pet to help them manage their stress. Adopting an animal from your local ASPCA or other adoption center is the best thing you can do for him or her. When left on the street, animals are likely to die fromstarvation, vehicle accidents and disease. However, reputable animal shelters make sure to properly vaccinate and rehabilitate animals before they are put up for adoption, so you can be sure that the animal you're adopting will be a good fit for your family. Ask your local shelter today about adopting a senior pet, and improve the life of both your pet and yourself.

How Adopting a Pet Might Just Save Your Life

Our furry friends can give back as much as we give them. Read next feature >