Pets are Just Four-Legged Therapists
February is finally here! It is the month of love and relationships and all of that mushy stuff. However, we want to celebrate all types of relationships during this month. We want to start with the best type of relationship—the one we have with our pets. If you’ve seen the show Friends, then you know about the relationship between Ross and his monkey, Marcel. Now that is a relationship goal—am I right? You can’t buy love, but you can certainly buy a pet. The truth is that pets bring so much good into our lives. This article discusses a few mental and emotional health benefits of owning a pet. I mean really, pets are just four-legged therapists.
Pets act as an anti-depressant
If you suffer from depression, owning a pet can help. Pets of all types—dogs, cats, rabbits, you name it—give you a purpose for each day. Your pet relies on you to take care of it which can make you feel needed. Ultimately having something to take care of helps you shift the focus off of your own needs and problems for a while. If you own a pet that requires exercise, such as a dog, it can get you out of the house and moving. You’ll need to take it on walks, play fetch, and unfortunately pick up its poop as well.
Pets are companions
If you live alone or struggle with feelings of loneliness, go and buy a pet right now. You’ve most likely heard that a dog is a man’s (or woman’s) best friend. This phrase may sound cliché, but it is absolutely true. Pets offer companionship and possibly someone to snuggle with.
According to a study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation and Cats Protection, owning a cat contributed to better mental health. In the survey they distributed, 76% of people said that owning a cat helped them cope with life better overall. This proves my point that pets are simply four-legged therapists.
