Pets Boost the Spirit

They say a dog is a man's best friend.

Researches prove that at least for its mental health.

After a hard day, a pet can raise the moral. "Today's pets are considered an important member of their family," said Lisa Peterson, a spokeswoman for the American Kennel Club (AKC).

In US alone there are currently 60 million dogs and 70 million cats, and all pets in the US require about $40 billion spending on their care. But all this cost is worth every penny.

"Some of the research we've done has been amazing. Very short interactions with an animal that's not even a pet can significantly reduce a patient's anxiety and fear before a serious medical procedure," said Sandra Barker, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine.

"I think one of the first positive effects on mental health comes from the sense of responsibility," said Peterson.

"You're caring for a living being, and you become like partners. It's a wonderful feeling to experience and can keep away feelings like loneliness."

Possessing a dog will bring you more social contact, as you have to get out of the house daily to walk the dog, which places you among other people (not to mention the advantage that a daily walk brings to your health, especially for sedentary people).

Passion for dogs (or other pets) is an easy conversation-starter that increases social contact. A recent AKC investigation revealed that almost half of the women said they'd allow anyone with a cute puppy to approach them.

Medical investigations showed that after brief interactions with dogs, blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol (whose long term effects are harmful) go down and many pets can really be affective. Even watching tropical fish in a tank releases relaxation hormones.

Children with pets (especially dogs) possess higher self-esteem, confidence and experience less fear. Children and adults find in a pet a non-judgmental confidant for their concerns. "There's just a lifting of the spirit that all pet owners are familiar with," said Barker. "There can be a downside to owning a pet, too".

"The biggest downside of pet ownership is losing them. Their lifespan is not as long as ours," Barker said.

Sometimes, animals can create trouble: noisy animals can cause problems with neighbors and cats can destroy furniture. Nocturnal animals will keep you awake all night long.

And in case one family member dislikes an animal's presence inside the house, it's important not to take the responsibility of taking care of that pet, since that could increase resentment and stress. "The canine human bond is a great boost for anyone's mental health. Animals teach you to slow down, observe and listen. It's great to experience the unconditional love they give," concluded Peterson.