We all love our pets and take care of them as well as we can, but having pets is good for our health too! Animals have helped humans in many ways over the years, and they continue to today - here are some ways your treasured pets might help you!

Service Animals
Many dogs (and sometimes small horses) are trained every year to help people with disabilities live a normal life. These animals are not technically pets as they are working, but they are amazing all the same! They can do tasks such as turning light switches on, bringing medication to their owner, protecting their owner, and providing a distraction if their owner undergoes an emotional overload. Each animal is trained individually to do specific tasks their owner needs them to do - amazing!

Our Pets
While our pets may not  be able to do all the things that service animals can, they still provide us with health benefits! They reduce allergy risk in children, reduce the likelihood of suffering from depression, and can even reduce blood pressure. Many people who suffer from mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, or addiction find that their pets are a source of distraction and comfort - our pets are so great! If you don't have a pet yourself, try watching cute animal videos online - it's been shown that even that helps our health!

Do you have a pet?