Being Thankful for Those Muddy Little Paw Prints: The Importance of Animal Companions in Our Lives

Those of us who are the guardians (AKA owners) of companion animals can’t imagine our lives without the pitter patter of those, at times, muddy little feet. There really is nothing like the unconditional love of a pet, but our animals benefit us in many ways other than a wagging tail and slobbery kiss at the end of each day.

Want Better Health? Get a Pet!

Medical studies have found that people who suffer from ailments such as high blood pressure or arthritis can benefit from having a companion animal. It seems that the unconditional love that comes with each animal really does more than make us feel good. The physical health benefits of being the guardian of an animal include: lower cholesterol, normal blood pressure and normal triglyceride level. In addition, a person with a pet is more likely to be engaged in physical activities leading to healthier bodies and bones. And if you have health problems and have experienced a heart attack or stroke, it has been found that you will recover faster with a furry friend by your side.

Improve Your Outlook with a Cuddly Critter

Beyond the physical health benefits related to having a pet in your life, there are the mental health benefits, too. There is no doubt, even to those who are not under the heading of “animal lovers,” that an animal of any sort, but especially a cat or dog, can raise one’s spirits. This “raising of the spirits” is also shown to alleviate depression and decrease stress. It has been shown that people who have a pet are more caring than those who do not. On a personal note, I’d rather be around animal lovers than “regular” folks any day. Those who understand the contribution that animals make in our lives are just the people I want to spend my time with. Granted they are usually the sappy ones, those who weep over a Kleenex or Hallmark commercial, but those are the people I want to associate with. They have the biggest hearts, and it turns out they probably have the healthiest hearts, due to having an animal in their lives. When you are sad, you feel free to cry in front of your pets, knowing you won’t receive judgment over the reason you are crying. You will, however, receive a slight nudge and a sweet little face looking up at you as if to say “I love you; isn’t that enough?” And when those times in our lives are harder than we ever imagined, and staying in bed night and day seems like a good option, our pets give us a reason to rise and shine—well, maybe just rise, but they do give us purpose.

At the end of each day, our pets don’t care what we look like, how big or small we are; they don’t care what we do for a living, or about our status in life, or about the poor choices or decisions that we have made along our journey. What they do care about is giving us the love and attention that they just seem in endless supply of, and in receiving the same love and attention in return.

So this holiday season, be thankful for that little ball of fur, your little shadow, either always by your side or just at your heels, who knows you better than anyone and loves you just the same.