People everywhere and of all ages deal with stress. Some more than others, and people learn to cope with their anxiety in different ways. One solution to put yourself at ease is to get a pet. Pets have been scientifically proven to decrease stress and depression. The act of just petting an animal releases the stress reducing hormone, oxytocin. Therapy dogs have been especially shown to generate the brain to also release serotonin and dopamine. These are more “feel-good” chemicals that will instantly improve your mood according to iheartdogs.com.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that 74% of pet owners confirmed that their mental state has improved due to their companion. It also lowers one’s blood pressure and decreases the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases. If you have a dog you are going to have to walk it. Walking your dog guarantees additional blood flow throughout the body that leads to greater efficiency of the heart. In addition to benefiting the owner’s overall health, the pet also gets to receive attention, which ultimately soothes them. Habri Central is a website of resources for the study of the human-animal bond. They have stated, “Pets should be considered a main rather than a marginal source of support in the management of long-term mental health problems.” Having a pet is very beneficial to one’s health and it is encouraged to adopt in order for animals to get into safe forever homes.