How Pets Improve Mental Health

As a pet friendly community here at Fairfield Residential, we adore our fur babies. If you’ve ever had a pet you know the enormous amount of joy they can bring you. There’s nothing like coming home to the dog that’s always happy to see you or the cat that snuggles in your lap. But did you know these simple gestures from your pet can have an impact on your mental health?

Consider these statistics:

• Improve Overall Mental Health: 74% of pet owners reported mental health improvements from pet ownership.
• Sensory Stress Relief: Petting a dog, cat, or other animal can lower blood pressure and help you quickly feel calmer and less stressed.
• Less Likely to Suffer from Depression: Playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine.
• Companionship: Companionship of an animal can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence.
• Fewer Doctors Visits: Pet owners over age 65 make 30% fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.

Since humans are social animals it makes sense that would develop such profound relationships with our pets and the impact they have on our lives. Like getting a hug from a loved one, love from a pet can have the same emotional benefits with bursts of serotonin and dopamine.

During hard times pets can bring us so much comfort, joy and happiness. So cheers to all the fur babies out there shining a bright light in your life. And if you’re lonely consider adopting a pet! Good for your health and theirs as well.