A day to celebrate!
Happy Saturday and even more importantly, happy National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day!
Almost every pet owner will agree that owning a pet is one of the best feelings in the world. Nothing beats walking in your door after a long day to see your dog or cat waiting there with wide eyes, happy to see you. You can’t beat the feeling of that unconditional love. Whether you adopt a shelter pet or purchase from a breeder or pet store, you are still helping that animal and giving it a better life in a loving home. What you may not know though, is that your pet is also helping you. Did you know that having a pet has many benefits for you and your health? Below is a list of powerful benefits that can come from owning and taking care of a dog, cat, or any other type of pet:
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Lower blood pressure in stressful situations
- Elevated levels of serotonin and dopamine from playing with your pet
- Lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease)
- Increased exercise
- Companionship
- Helps with meeting new people
- Structure and routine added to your day
- Provides sensory stress relief
- Provides meaning and joy in life
- Helps stay connected
- Boosted vitality
As you can see, there are many health and mood benefits that come from owning a pet. There’s no denying that pet owners everywhere have experienced a majority of these benefits while owning a pet. While owning a pet from any source has its benefits, there are definitely additional benefits of adopting a shelter pet:
- You are saving a life… especially if the animal is from a shelter that still euthanizes, and you could possibly save several lives by freeing up space at the shelter for other animals
- You can find a fully trained pet by adopting an adult animal
- You will have a good idea of the animal’s personality due to the shelter workers’ interactions with it
- Rescue animals are often less expensive to adopt
- There are a lot of choices when it comes to age, gender, breed, purebred, mixed, mutt, etc.
- Takes support away from puppy mills that may not have the best living conditions for these helpless animals
With all that being said, make sure you take time today to celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day with your pet. No matter if your pet is adopted from a shelter or purchased, remember how grateful they are to have you and how grateful you should be to have them as well. Now go show your pet some love… today and every day!
Resources:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.htm
