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.

Free TV : Ustream