The Many Beneficial Effects of Adopting a Pet

The Many Beneficial Effects of Adopting a Pet Adopting a pet is advantageous to both the pet owner and the pet. When considering the pros and cons of welcoming a furry friend into the family, many are unaware of the fringe benefits that are gained from having a pet. These benefits are not just one sided either – both the pet and the owner gain by the association. Besides having an affectionate pal, pet owners experience healthful side effects as a result of their relationship. For adopted animals, the most significant endorsement is much more basic and often overlooked: life. Still, many people are hesitant to take on the responsibility of a pet for various different reasons. We recently decided to make room in our household for a new resident. Having weathered the death of our 14 year old terrier Hercules, we wanted adopt another pet. Prior to arriving at that decision, we did some research to determine what type of animal would best fit into our home, which includes two cats. Of the many choices available to us, we finally settled on adopting another cat from a shelter. Here are my top compelling reasons to own a cat from a local humane organization. It comes as no surprise that each year millions of animals enter shelters and a high percentage are put to sleep due to overpopulation (Salk, 2013). Pet adoptions from non-profit organizations, shelters or humane societies drastically reduce the necessity to euthanize these displaced animals and provide them with safe, loving homes. Adoption also creates an opportunity for new animals to receive help by freeing up space and resources. In addition to adoption, many humane organizations offer vaccinations, micro chips for tracking and spay or neuter services. There is a common misconception that animals in shelters are there because of behavioral or temperament issues. The reality is that most shelter animals are abandoned for reasons such as divorce, relocation, or financial constraints (Salk, 2013),

References: Nazario, B. (2012, July 20). 27 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health. Retrieved June 5, 2013, from WebMD: http://pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-pets-improve-your-health Salk, P. (2013). Adopt A Pet. Retrieved June 5, 2013, from Adopt a Pet.com: http://www.adoptapet.com/ Sweat, R. (2013). Cats: A Calming Influence on People with High Blood Pressure. Retrieved June 5, 2013, from PetPlace.com: http://www.petplace.com/cats/cats-a-calming-influence-on-people-with-high-blood-pressure/page1.aspx