Emotional Benefits of Pet Ownership

1. Pet Ownership improves Mood and Reduce Depression
   A study of AIDS patients @ UCLA showed having pets cuts the symptoms of depression in HALF.
2. Pet ownership staves off Loneliness / Provide Unconditional Love
   People are less lonely if they have a pet friend.
3. Pet ownership reduces Stress:Sometimes More Than People

1. A Breast Cancer Study in England found that pets can provide valuable support in recovering from serious illness by reducing stress.
   Pet ownership helps with Social Support
   You are more likely to be approached in public if you have a pet., etc.
2. Pet ownership enhances Family Life
   By minimizing tension between family members and by enhancing their owners' compassion for living things.

Places to go for more information

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1585/is_n2_v19/ai_14702769

http://www.swedish.org/15309.cfm

http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/petsandstress.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/health_benefits.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=0&aid=638

http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-30-2005-73961.asp

http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/03/the-benefits-of-pet-ownership-for-children/

http://www.preciouspets.org/newsletters/articles/healthbenefits.htm

http://consensus.nih.gov/1987/1987HealthBenefitsPetsta003html.htm

http://www.yorknewstimes.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/doc499863da54963000243651.txt

http://www.procprblog.com/pet-ownership-brings-health-benefits

Massanutten Animal Clinic
(540) 434-2364