Why should we have pets at home?

Apart from being great companions for kids and adults alike, pets prove to be helpful in keeping their owners fit and healthy. Although, many think that pets aggravate allergies in elders and children, pets are believed to speed up recovery in patients with major illnesses. Having pets at home has many benefits, let us talk of a few that shall enhance your life:

Allergies and Asthma: Many believe having pets at home increases the risk of allergies and asthma but that’s not true. If you keep your pets clean and well-groomed, such cases do not happen. Instead, keeping pets strengthens the immune system in kids and elders alike.

Regular Exercise: Simply taking your dog out for a walk is an exercise in itself. No matter how lethargic your kids are, they are compelled to walk the dog once in the morning and evening, keeping them active. Some of us may go riding a horse. Hitting the gym or exerting yourself at the aerobics class are not the only ways to exercise. Running behind your cat or bathing your dog proves to be a fun exercise for you and your kids. Pets expect you to play with them, make playing and feeding them a daily routine for your kids and that shall make them agile while keeping you healthy and fit.

Stress Busters: People having pets at home show less signs of anxiety and stress. Those prone to depression too benefit greatly by having a pet in the house. Watching fish as they swim around in an aquarium is very relaxing and helps in beating stress levels while lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, lessening your visits to the doctor. Playing with pets can lower your kids stress and anxiety as well while it stimulates their mind making them less prone to depression. Adults and kids tend to feel happier to have pets whom they can pamper and feel pampered by.

Mood Boosters: Once your kids are back from school, they have a friend waiting at home. That itself is a happy feeling. Same goes for you too! Imagine all the jumping and love you receive after a long day at work. Spending some time playing with your pets relieves you of tension and fatigue. Kids too benefit from the increased brain activity and show a much relaxed temperament post a stint of play time with your pet.

Educational Values: Owning a pet makes your kids more responsible while understanding the values of love and trust. They develop new skillsets as they walk, feed and bathe them. With pets around, kids learn the basic lessons of loyalty while inculcating good habits of exercise and fitness.

New Friends: Once you set a routine to walk your pet, you will soon find yourself interacting with other pet owners on the street, in parks and even at the vet increasing your friend circle. Your children too shall benefit greatly from this.

Great Friends: Pets are a great source of love and friendship apart from being playful and keeping everyone happy in the house. Kids with pets tend to be less self-centred and are known to care and share more than others.