There is something about the bond you share with a pet that is difficult to find anywhere else.
They greet you when you wake up, wait for you to come home and somehow seem to know when you’ve had a terrible day.
But the relationship goes beyond companionship. Interacting with animals has been linked to emotional, mental and physical wellbeing, giving us even more reason to appreciate the pets waiting for us at home.
Pets give us unconditional love
Your pet doesn’t care if you’ve had a bad day, made a mistake or aren’t feeling like yourself.
They’re there when you wake up, when you get home from work or school and when you settle down for the night.
Show them love and they’ll give it straight back. More than anything, they seem happiest when they’re part of whatever you’re doing.
Even if that’s simply sitting next to you on the couch.
They seem to know when something is wrong
Pet owners know the feeling.
You walk through the door after a difficult day and, somehow, your pet behaves differently.
Pets have a keen sense of how their owners are feeling. They react to changes in mood and energy, getting excited when you are happy or resting their chin on your lap and offering extra cuddles when you are sad.
Sometimes you don’t need them to fix anything. Having them there is enough.
Pets support emotional and mental wellbeing
Studies show that interacting with animals lowers cortisol, a stress-related hormone, and promotes feelings of calmness.
Pets provide companionship, help reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support and encourage mindfulness.
Animals naturally bring attention, compassion and awareness into interactions, offering comfort to people dealing with serious illness or pain.
They get us moving too
The benefits aren’t limited to emotional wellbeing.
Regular interaction with pets helps lower blood pressure, while owning a dog gets you out of the house for regular walks, helping you stay active.
Research has also shown that caring for a pet, such as feeding a fish every day, helped teenagers with type 1 diabetes become more disciplined about checking their blood glucose levels.
Early exposure to pets has also been linked to protection against children developing allergies and asthma later in life.
Animals can support children’s social development
Children can also benefit from interacting with animals.
Reading to therapy dogs has been shown to help children with ADHD improve focus, cooperation, sharing and interactions with their peers.
Playing with animals, including guinea pigs in a classroom, has also been associated with lower anxiety levels and improved social engagement among children with autism spectrum disorder.
Remember that your pet has needs too
Pets improve our mental wellbeing, but the relationship works both ways.
Don’t make them your only support: A pet is a co-pilot, not a therapist. Maintain your human connections and seek professional help if you need it.
Learn their stress signals: Panting, hiding, lip-licking and a tucked tail can signal that your pet is anxious. When they’re stressed, the relationship isn’t providing the same sense of comfort for either of you.
Match their energy to your lifestyle: An anxious owner paired with a high-energy Border Collie could result in even more anxiety. Be realistic about your lifestyle, space and budget when choosing a pet.
Try a five-minute reset: The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, put your phone away and sit on the floor with your pet. Spend five minutes gently grooming or stroking them without any other distractions.
It is easy to think that when you adopted your pet, especially a rescue, you were the one saving them.
It turns out that, in their own little way, they might be rescuing you every day too.
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