Pets make the world a better place.  For the animal lover, a pet positively impacts both physical and mental health and contributes to overall well-being.  According to Psychology Today, pets can lower cholesterol and blood pressure and have even been linked to less instances of psychiatric disturbances in their owners.

Because of all the research surrounding the impact of pets on our health, animal assisted therapy has increased in popularity.  Contact with animals not only reduces stress, but it also contributes to the reduction of overall anxiety.  Emotional support animals have been used to help individuals who suffer from depression, and some self-reports suggest people’s pets have caused them to reconsider suicide during deep bouts of depression.

FACTS:

• Pet owners have significantly lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels than people who don’t own pets.
• Babies who group up in homes with pets are less likely to develop allergies…