How Animals Can Be Good for Your Health

Having a connection to an animal can be a great, positive experience. You’ve probably heard of therapy animals, but any sort of pet can help you regardless of if they’re an official therapy animal or not.

Here are some ways pets can be good for your health:

Questions to ask yourself before getting a pet:

• How much time can I dedicate to my pet each day?
• Can I afford to own an animal? Pets come with many costs including food, toys, vaccines, emergencies and medications, to name a few. Does this fit into your budget?
• Do you have family or friends who can help watch your pet if you are away?
• What will your life be like in the next 5-10 years? Pets are a long term commitment and you need to make sure they also fit into your plans for your future.

While we highlight some reasons to get a pet, owning them is a big responsibility, and they can be expensive. You don’t need to have your own pet though, you can still get some of the benefits of one by:

• Offering to take care of a pet for a friend or family member.
• Visit or volunteer at your local shelter.
• If you can look after a pet but don’t want the long-term commitment you can foster animals for local shelters.