Did you know pets are good for you? For a long time certain kinds of animals have been used to help improve the lives of people living with disabilities: dogs have been trained to lead the blind, monkeys have been used to help those with mobility impairment and miniature horses help support people with Parkinson’s.
There are stories of pets saving their owner’s life; predicting heart-attacks, seizures, cancer and other health threats before symptoms appear.
October is Pet Wellness Month and a good time to think about all the benefits of having a pet around during recovery. Research shows there are many benefits to owning a pet (the below list comes from Pets911.com and you can find more benefits on their website).
- Pets lower the recovery time for surgery.
- Senior citizens who own pets actually need less medical attention than those that do not.
- Pet owners typically have lower blood pressure than non-pet owners, and one study actually proved that with as little as 10 minutes with a pet can lower blood pressure significantly.
- 70 percent of families surveyed reported an increase in family happiness and fun after acquiring a pet.
- Children exposed to pets during their first year of life have a lower frequency of some allergies and asthma.
- Children who suffer from autism have more pro social behaviors if they own a pet.
- Owning a pet – especially a dog – helps children in families better adjust to the serious illness or death of a parent.
- Having a pet may decrease heart attack mortality rates by 3 percent, which translates into 30,000 lives saved annually.
- Positive self-esteem in children is enhanced if the child owns a pet.
- Many groups take therapy pets to visit residents of nursing homes, and the experience has shown to be a very positive one for both the pet and the individual.
- The reverse is also true – the life of a pet is usually enhanced if its owner cares for it properly.
IF you’re missing a furry, cuddly one in your life, you can get your fix online. UStream.com streams live feeds of baby puppies, kittens, owls and other adorable creatures.
Check it out.
