According to the OVMA people who own pets will live longer fuller lives. The unconditional love that a pet gives to us greatly affects how happy we are, how stress is decreased and how pets actually affect our health.
Live Longer own a Pet
A study by the US Department of Health concluded that pets increased the survival rate of heart attack victims. The study revealed that 28% of heart patients with pets survived serious heart attacks, compared to only 6% of heart patients without pets.
Another study revealed that the cholesterol levels of pet owners were 2% lower than the cholesterol levels of people without pets. The risk of those pet owners having a heart attack was reduced by 4%.
Owning a pet can reduce blood pressure as effectively as eating a low-salt diet or reducing alcohol intake.
A US survey of 1,000 Medicare patients showed that 40% of the elderly sought the services of a doctor much less frequently than those without animal companions.
Nursing homes that use companion animal therapy have experienced a significant reduction in the use of prescription drugs. The overall cost of caring for seniors also dropped.
There are many organizations that recognize the importance of pets in our lives and they include:
The Center for Human Animal Bond
The American Association of Animal Human Bond Veterinarians
Pawsitive Interaction
Human Animal Bond Association of Canada