Did you know that 68% of U.S. households have a pet? I think everyone should have a pet. Having a pet comes along with benefits for both you and your pet. The benefits of owning a pet include physical benefits, mental benefits, and overall responsibility. 

One benefit of owning a pet is physical health. Research has shown that simply petting or touching a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol. The stress hormone cortisol is the body’s main stress hormone and works with certain parts of your body to control your mood, motivation, and fear. In fact, 84% of PTSD patients paired with a service dog announced a significant decrease in symptoms. The American Heart Association, an organization that funds cardiovascular medical research, released a research report witnessing dog ownership as a way of defending against cardiovascular disease. 

Another benefit of having a pet is the benefit of mental health. For people with a mental health condition, research has shown that time with pets reduces anxiety levels more than any other activities. Pets also provide an outside form of interaction that can motivate and encourage people, especially smaller ones. 

Overall responsibility is another benefit of having a pet. Having a pet, forces you to learn responsibility and valuable life lessons including feeding, exercising, and caring for. It also teaches you about illness and loss. Pet ownership is also a great opportunity to learn valuable time management skills. They can also increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. 

In conclusion, I believe everyone should have a pet. The benefits don’t just benefit you, but they benefit your pet also. Owning a pet can benefit your physical health, your mental health, and your overall responsibility.