Today, February 20th, is Love Your Pet Day. Pets are just so easy to love. They bring joy, excitement, laughter, and enrichment into our lives. Sure, they might give us some trouble sometimes when they do something like have an accident in the house or chew something up, but their unconditional love and unending supply of silly moments can more than make up for it.
Many pet owners would probably agree that the love we share with our pets just makes everyone feel good! But did you realize that pets can impact our lives in a variety of healthy ways?
Take a look at some of the research results that have been reported by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI):
Animals can positively impact child health and development:
- For patients with autism spectrum disorder, interactions with therapy dogs can help the individuals develop better social and emotional connections as well as increase levels of beneficial hormones.
- Childhood (early) exposure to pets may help reduce the risk of developing allergies and asthma.
- Pet ownership and animal therapy can improve reading and cognition, emotional development, and social skills during childhood.