1. Reduces Stress.

Studies show that when someone interacts with a dog or cat they reduce the stress hormone cortisol. We release a hormone called oxytocin, the same hormone that is released when a newborn and its mother are together. That alone is a warm and bubbly feeling we can feel and can change our day instantaneously. Which a lot of us students need considering how stressed we can become from being overwhelmed with assignments and their deadlines.

2. Increasing physical activity.

It has already proven that being physically active improves your health in the long run, so how does a pet help that? Dogs require the outdoors to use the restroom, that alone already has you up moving, whether it is for just a moment it gets you moving. Now walking or going on a jog with them truly is a work out and helps keep you moving daily, that alone is a lot of more activity for some people who do not work out at all. Now cats, you still are moving, you have to clean out their litter box and play with them somehow. These small things help us physically.

3. Lowering blood pressure.

So, with you increasing your physical activity and reducing your stress already at hand. How
else does it help you? It in fact will support your blood pressure and keep it in check, due to the cortisol decreasing and that boosting oxytocin hormone. We will feel more at ease and less anxious with a lower blood pressure.

4. Eases Loneliness and Depression.

Research shows that pets in fact help ease our loneliness and depression, but in what ways? Pets are capable of feeling more than what we can, they in fact can feel your energy. So essentially all you need to do is pet a dog or cat and that satisfies us to such an extent, because us humans require touch to feel at bay. With knowing our furry friends enjoy our touch as well, it creates a perfect picture of companionship. Being able to feel something then assists one’s depression because they don’t have a sense of motivation. With a pet, that actually gives that individual responsibility, a task to help them continue and get through a day knowing that they have someone depending on them that will give them affection unconditionally.

5. Detecting health complications before us.

Trailing back to how pets are capable of feeling more than what we can. Their senses are so amplified that they are able to detect something wrong much quicker before we realize something is wrong. In fact, dogs are able to smell and react to carbon monoxide being released in the air sooner than we can. They detect something is wrong, react and alert us when something is wrong. This can even be applied to someone’s health, some pets are trained to be service animals. Are capable of helping their owners and can alert someone when their owner is in distress, having a seizure or having a heart attack.

6. How owning a furry friend has already helped.

Regardless of whether they live with you or with family. They provide the cornerstone to our daily routine, meaning they can be the reason you wake up. They require you to feed them and interact with them socially, regardless of your mood, they tolerate you and still enjoy your company unconditionally. We all have a different social standing, you could have a significant amount of friends or none, but you will always have your furry friend to be by your side.

7. Ways to have a furry friend without having to commit to one.

In fact, you do not have to personally own a cat or dog to improve your health. You are able to visit or volunteer at a local animal shelter and care for a furry friend who is preparing to find a home. One is also able to foster a furry friend, meaning, being a temporary home for a dog or cat in desperate need of one till they can find their forever home. That alone gives someone a motive to see through an exciting opportunity that provides a positive outcome for both individual and pet.