Having a pet is a lot of fun, but that’s not the only reason to get one! Studies conducted by the renowned veterinarian, Dr. Jeff Werber, have shown that pet ownership comes with a whole host of benefits. Some of these benefits include reduced loneliness, becoming more active, higher engagement with the community, being more forgiving, handling emotions better, and becoming less stressed. Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits:

Less Lonely: Pets are known for providing love and companionship. One will feel less lonely with a pet by their side, because all pets have to be cared for and loved. Think of it as having your own personal side-kick!

More Active:  From walking your pets to just playing with them, pets provide lots of opportunities to get active! What is better than staying healthy, while having fun?

Better Community Engagement: When it comes to getting to know your neighbors, pets make it easy. Letting them out to play or taking them for a walk helps to get you out of the house and presents opportunities for you to communicate with others in the community. If your neighbors also have pets, your pet can make some friends too!

More Forgiving: We all know that pets make mistakes. They chew up your favorite pair of shoes, have an accident on the carpet, or break something valuable. After disciplining our pets comes forgiveness. We hope that they will learn from their mistakes just like humans. When we frequently practice the trait of forgiveness with our pets, it helps us to be more forgiving of others.

More Affectionate: Our pets can bring our best emotions forward. We care for them and love them each and every day. Expressing affection with your pet at home can help us to be more affectionate with others as well!

Less Stress: Dr. Werber’s studies have also shown that pets help to calm us down during a stressful situation. They help to maintain a steady heart rate and to relax us during times of stress.

These are just a few of the many ways pets create happier people. Pets help to balance out our lifestyles and help us to maintain a healthy one! Don’t believe us yet? Get a pet of your own and let us know if you notice a change!