Pets can be a great way to manage stress. When you come home from work tired and in a bad mood, opening the door to find your furry friend looking at you with adoration and excitement can definitely turn your day around. Pets can directly help reduce your stress as much as yoga, meditation, or journaling.  Besides their ability to improve your mood, research shows that pets can have a positive physical and emotional effect on toady’s harried worker.  In a study of hypertensive New York Stockbrokers, those who got a dog or cat had lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn’t get pets.  Once the results came out, those in the non-pet group decided pets were the way to go! We have all been told that exercise is good for stress management and general health, so when it’s time for your canine friend to go outside you’ll reap the rewards. Walking every day has huge benefits such as increased blood flow, better cardiovascular health, and weight management.  Beside the physical aspect, there is also an opportunity to be more social. Pets increase the chance to meet new people and add to your group of friends and acquaintances. This will keep you more in touch and help to give you a fulfilling social life. When you’re feeling lonely, your pet can be the best antidote for the blues.  They are great at keeping secrets, snuggling, and silent companionship.  These days we see pets being employed in hospitals and nursing homes to combat loneliness and depression.  The benefits of these service animals can help reduce recovery times both physically and mentally. Pet ownership isn’t for everyone and comes with increased responsibility and work, but for most, the benefits of having a four-legged friend outweighs any drawbacks. When times get tough they can be an immeasurable source of love and support.

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