Anyonewhohaseverlovedapetknowshowmuchjoythatrelationshipcanbring.Thereisincreasingscientificevidencethattheuniquebondwesharewithourpetsdramaticallyenrichesourlives,andimprovesourphysicalhealthandemotionalwell-being.PersonallyIholdthatkeepingapetyieldsmorebenefitsthandrawbacks.
Firstly,keepingapetcontributestoourgeneralhealthandwell-being.Lovingandcaringforapetcanhelpanyonefightdepressionandloneliness,sincethebondwithapethelpsyoumaintainasenseofpurposeinlife.Adailywalkwithadoggetsyououtintotheworldonaregularbasisandencouragesexercise,bothofwhichhelpcounteractfeelingsofdepression.Petscanbeagreatcomfortintimesofconflictorgrief,sincetheyofferunconditionalaffections.Theyoftenseemtoknowwhenwearesad,andtheyarealwaysattentive,nonjudgementallisteners.Therefore,byreducingourstress,relievingourlonelinessanddepression,petscanhelpuspreventheartdiseaseandimproveourgeneralwell-being.Secondly,keepingapetcanteachchildrenasenseofempathyandresponsibility.Takingcareofapetencourageschildrentocareforanimalsandnurtureresponsibilitiesoverthem.Beingpraisedasameansofaidingthepersonalitydevelopmentofchildren,pet-keepingisessentialforchildren'shealthdevelopment.