HOW OWNING A PET CAN MAKE A PERSON HEALTHY

Samantha Gaisford
Summit View Valley School

How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

Everyone has heard the expression, A dog is a mans best friend. Perhaps a dog can be
a better friend to a person than a human being. Also people think it means that dogs and other
pets improve peoples lives. Some think that dogs are only good for lonely people who dont
have relationships with humans. Some of those benefits are, owning a pet can be too expensive,
the pet could be sick, people could be allergic to pets, and there could be more work that has to
be done. Studies have shown that pets are good for everyone and contribute to the health of their
owners. Pets contribute to peoples physical, emotional, and social health. Although, there are
negative benefits of owning a pet.
Social health is one reason why owning a pet can make people happy and healthy. Social
health is how people interact with others. Interacting with others makes people feel wonderful.
According to the article, Friends With Benefits: Pets Make Us Happier, Healthier in
Psychology Today, Lonely people are often advised to get a dog or a cat to quell their social
isolation (McConnell, 2011). If someone is lonely or doesnt have a friend, getting a pet makes
that person feel less isolated. It is great to have social interaction with your pet, even though they
cant talk back. Pet owners can talk to their pets and tell them what is going on with their
life.They can treat them like they are their best friend. Some pets are really smart and they could
probably tell how people are throughout the day. Pets become so important to pet owners that
they, become as much a part of ones self as many family members which contributes to their
ability to promote health and happiness (McConnell, 2011). If someone is home alone and they
are bored and have no one to talk to, they can always go talk to their pet about how their day
How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

was, even though they might or might not understand the person. Pet owners can talk to their pet
about their social life and what is going on at school. As McConnell indicates that pets provide
meaningful social support for owners, improving their lives (McConnell, 2011).
Pets contribute to ones physical health. When someone owns a pet, they are able to go
out and walk their pet. Also, when someone owns a pet, that person can take them for a run, or
take them to the park for fun. If a pet owner is walking their pet, the owner has the ability to
walk or run themselves to be active and to get more exercise for themselves. As stated in the
article, How Owning A Dog Can Improve Your Health, Last year, a study found that owning a
pet - especially a dog - improved cardiovascular health by keeping people active. It also reduced
stress responses in the body, and lowered blood pressure, cholesterol levels and weight (Imus,
2014). According to Dr. Levine, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said, The
benefits may come from a range of physical factors, including exercise and stress relief
(Macrae, 2013). Speaking as he walked three dogs, Dr. Levine said, A person may take better
care of themselves if they have a good bond with a pet and feel better about themselves and are
more motivated to live longer (Macrae, 2013). In other words, pet owners should keep
themselves healthy by eating healthy and working out.
Emotional health is another reason why owning a pet can benefit ones health. McConnell
says, Overall our research found that pet ownership was very positive. Pet owners were happier
and healthier than nonowners, and thoughts of ones pet could insulate one from feeling down
following a social rejection experience (McConnell, 2011). People are interested in all kinds of
pets. It doesnt matter what specie of pet someone owns, it matters to the owner how they feel
How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

about their pet, whether if they are able to take care of it or not, and whether they can afford it.
When someone is petting their pet, it makes the pet feel happy because they love being petted by
their owner. If someone is feeling sad about something, they can talk to their pet and tell them
how they are feeling and maybe they will understand their owner. Even if the owner misses their
pet, they can tell their pet how they feel and how much they miss them and love them. If
someone is depressed and doesnt have any friends or is lonely and has a pet, that person can talk
to their pet about their feelings and talk to them as if they were their best friend. Animals should
improve ones feelings and make a person happy during the day. Most pets are friendly towards
others, well-behaved, and trained well by their owners. If someone has an emotional feeling
inside them that tells them that if the person is feeling sad, the person can always go up to their
pet and give them a hug and hopefully that will make the owner feel better.
There are many wonderful benefits of owning a pet. Those benefits are how they
contribute to ones physical, emotional, and social health. If a person wants to be healthy and
doesnt have a pet, they can go and get one. Once the person has their pet, they can start to be
active by running and walking with their pet. When the person takes their pet home, they can
enjoy how they love and care for it. It is possible for someone to be healthy without owning a
pet. However, owning a pet is the most exciting and loving way for people.

How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

References (MLA Format)

Imus, Deirdre. How Owning A Dog Can Improve Your Health. FoxNews.com.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/17/how-owning-dog-can-improve-yourhealth/FoxNews., April 17, 2014. Internet. November 8, 2014.
Kauss and Lloyd, Linda and Janice. Cats Can Make Owners Happier, Healthier And Gentler.
USA TODAY.COM http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlife/pets/cats/2010-11-02whycats02_ST_N.htm USA TODAY., November 1, 2010. Interntet. November 9, 2014.
Macrae, Fiona. Owning A Dog Can Make You Healthier: Walking Your Pet and Companionship
from Them Can Decrease Risk of Heart Disease. Mail Online.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2322266/Owning-dog-make-healthier-Walkingpet-companionship-decrease-risk-heart-disease.html Associated Newspapers Ltd., May 9,
2013. Internet. November 12, 2014
McConnel R., Allen. Friends With Benefits: Pets Make Us Happier, Healthier. Psychology
Today. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-social-self/201107/friends-benefitspets-make-us-happier-healthier The Social Self., July 11, 2011. Internet. November 14,
2014

How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

5
Source #1

Title: How Owning A Dog Can Improve Your Health

Author: Deirdre Imus
Date Published: April 17, 2014
Date Viewed: November 8, 2014

Publisher: FoxNews
Website: FoxNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/17/how-owning-dog-can-improve-your-health/

The gist of this article is basically talking about how owning a dog can change your life
and how they can improve your health. Dogs that are brought into hospitalization and
rehabilitation centers make people feel better, physically and spiritually. Also, people like
having cats and fish, but for some people owning a dog has always been the thing for them. It
sounds like it is better for people to be dog people.
Healthy diet has physical activity and Tender Loving Care. Always be kind to your body,
keep your body healthy. Something helps us heal that is not always available over the counter
or in a produce aisle. It could be asleep at the foot of the bed, maybe begging for a treat, getting
licked on your face, or possibly running circles around your yard. This will be about the power
of dogs.
Dogs fill our lives with meaning, and they can teach us about love, loyalty and
companionship.
They know when humans are in an emotion at times of loss, strife, illness or other
challenges, and could experience these things themselves.
Even if you pet a dog, it makes us - and the dog feel better, because it can cause the body
to release the affection- inducing hormone oxytocin. Note: Oxytocin is a hormone that is made
in the brain, in the hypothalamus, and it is transported to, and secreted by, pituitary gland,
which is located at the base of the brain.
Specially trained dogs help the handicapped with mandatory tasks, can alert diabetics to
low or high blood sugar levels and can help analyze barriers with children on the autism
spectrum.
A type of dog called a Canine is able to connect with other species.
It can be hard to take care of a dog sometimes.
It is a positive thing to let a dog in your life and they can overcome and potential
negatives.
Caring for an animal - whether it is a horse, dog, or cow - can bring people back to life.
Animal behaviorists note that dogs mourn in their own way, sleeping more, eating less
and moving slower after long periods of time away for those they are bonded to, human or
canine.

Last year, a study found that owning a pet - especially a dog - improved cardiovascular health
by keeping people active. It also reduced stress responses in the body, and lowered blood
pressure, cholesterol levels and weight.
How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

In fact, researchers at Duke Universitys Canine Cognition Center found that dogs appear to be
the only species unafraid of strangers; by contrast, they adore them.
Imus says, Above all those factors, however, I place a good sense of humor, fantastic music and dogs. Any and all will do. As the season turns and we emerge from winters doldrums, laugh
a little, turn up the volume and allow some four-legged joy to enter your life.

How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

7
Source #2

Title: Cats Can Make Owners Happier, Healthier And Gentler

Author: Janice Lloyd and Linda Kauss
Date Published: November 1, 2010
Date Viewed: November 9, 2014
Publisher: USA TODAY
Website: USA TODAY.COM

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlife/pets/cats/2010-11-02-whycats02_ST_N.htm
The general summary of this article basically says how cats are caretakers and they can make
owners happier, healthier and gentler. It seems like dogs get more care because cats dont
require it as much. A woman named Theodora Wesselman who has had a cat for the past 2
years is her best friend and have been together for 21 years.
Wesselman says, She sleeps on her own pillow right beside mine, In the morning, she pecks
on my cheek to wake me up. Its really sweet. I pet her, tell her I love her and take her to the
kitchen to prepare her food.
Why do 33% of the households in the USA have cats? And how do you explain why there are
16 million more pet cats than dogs?
Cats are independent and dont require as much care as dogs. But research shows cats can also
be caretakers for us and our families, improve our health and teach us and our children to be
kinder, gentler souls.
There was a story that was published in the article about how many dogs are good for our
health and well-being.
There are cat lovers who responded that want equal time. And so... to cats.
A 94 year old woman has lived in the past two years with her elderly cat. It says that, their
friendship is a classic example of how humans and animals can become family and look our
for each other.
Rebecca Johnson, director of the University of Missouris Research Center for Human-Animal
Interaction says, Research shows that being able to care for a pet improves our morale, helps
validate us and encourages us to take care of ourselves. The body of research is leading more
retirement communities and universities to roll out the welcome mat for pets.
When a cat purrs, it can lower blood pressure and quiet a stressed-out brain.
And they insist on compassion. Theyre enforcers, Johnson says. A dog will let you bang it on
the head and still love you. A cat wont do that. Children have to learn to be gentle to cats or
the cat will go away.

How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

8
Source #3

Title: Owning A Dog Can Make You Healthier: Walking Your Pet and Companionship from
Them Can Decrease Risk of Heart Disease
Author: Fiona Macrae for the Daily Mail
Date Published: May 9, 2013
Date Viewed: November 12, 2014
Publisher: Associated Newspapers Ltd
Website: Mail Online

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2322266/Owning-dog-make-healthier-Walking-petcompanionship-decrease-risk-heart-disease.html

The main idea of this article talks about how having a dog can make you very healthy.
When you walk your pet and get companionship from them, you can decrease the risk of
getting heart disease.
Research suggests, Dog owners have healthier hearts than people who dont have pets.
Research also credits, Pets with relieving stress and having a beneficial effect on obesity
and cholesterol levels. Glenn Levine, who led the study, said, There may also be a
psychological benefit from simple companionship.
The American Heart Association said, The research doesnt actually prove that the
benefits come directly from the pets.
For instance, It may be that healthier people are particularly likely to be animal lovers.
Dr. Levine, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, said, The benefits may
come from a range of physical factors, including exercise and stress relief.
Speaking as he walked three dogs, he said, A person may take better care of themselves
if they have a good bond with a pet and feel better about themselves and are more
motivated to live longer.
He added that, Pet owners still need to take care of their own heart in other ways.
If someone owns a pet and they have cardiac problems, they would be more likely to live.
A dog owner walks far more than other people.
Pet ownership, especially owning a dog, could combine with a lower risk of heart
disease.
The main reason why you should adopt or save or purchase a pet is so that you can give
that pet a loving home and determine enjoyment from the relationship.
People shouldnt just go out and adopt a dog or a cat and then come home and sit on the
couch eating potato chips and smoking a cigaretts and expect that they are now going to
survive longer.

How Owning A Pet Can Make A Person Healthy

9
Source #4

Title: Friends With Benefits: Pets Make Us Happier, Healthier

Author: Allen R. McConnell, Ph.D. in The Social Self
Date Published: July 11, 2011
Date Viewed: November 14, 2014
Publisher: The Social Self
Website: Psychology Today
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-social-self/201107/friends-benefits-pets-make-ushappier-healthier
A study suggests, Lonely people are often advised to get a dog or a cat to quell their social
isolation, but is it really the case that pets can fulfill ones social needs, serving to improve
owners happiness, well-being, and even their physical health? The study says that the anser is
absolutely a yes.

 Research conducted in our lab, Just published on-line in the Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology indicates that pets provide meaningful social support for owners, improving their
lives.
Three different studies showed that pets offered benefits to their owners, such as having greater
self-esteem, being more physically fit, less lonely, and more reliable.
People who were close to their pets, were also able to be close to people.
It is not that people who love their pets dont love people, they benefit from having pets and
people in their lives.
Another study showed that both thinking about ones pet and thinking about ones best friend,
helped people feel less lonely.
Overall, our research found that pet ownership was very positive. Pet owners were happier
and healthier than nonowners, and thoughts of ones pet could insulate one from feeling down
following a social rejection experience.
Interestingly, there was no support for the crazy cat lady hypothesis (i.e., individuals who
turn to animals because they dont click with people) -- if anything, people benefited more
from their pets when they had better human relationships.
People benefit from all types of pets. It doesnt matter what kind of pet someone has, what
matters is how the person feels about the pet.
Pets become as much a part of ones self as many family members which contributes to their
ability to promote health and happiness.
Pets cant change a person who has psychological problems.
Owning a pet involves a lot of responsibility and involvement (e.g., time, money, and physical
commitment), and just like with a human relationship, having a limited connection with ones
pet reduces the enjoyment of the pet.
Yet, our research indicates, That for everyday people, pets are often friends with benefits
and that ones health and happiness improves in a meaningful fashion from pet ownership.