deborah y. strauss, d.v.m: having a pet can improve your health and happiness
TRANSCRIPT
HAVING A PET CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
CREATED BY DEBORAH Y. STRAUSS, D.V.M.
If you’ve ever owned a pet, you already know how much fun and affection they can
bring…
Sure, they can destroy your things, they can cost a lot of money, and they will even hog the bed (if you let them).
But, if you’re among the millions of pet owners across the country, you just can’t imagine life without your beloved dog, cat or other animal companion.
So why are we so determined to make
these creatures part of the family?
Probably because of the incredible health and
happiness benefits that they offer us.
C H I L D R E N W I T H P E T S AT H O M E H AV E S I G N I F I C A N T LY H I G H E R S C O R E S O N S C A L E S F O R E M PAT H Y A N D S O C I A L S K I L L S . T H I S I S B E C A U S E T H E Y
L E A R N F R O M A Y O U N G A G E T H AT A L L L I V I N G C R E AT U R E S H AV E S I M I L A R N E E D S . L O V E , C O M F O RT , F O O D , A N D S H E LT E R A R E N E E D S
T H AT W E H AV E I N C O M M O N A N D R E C O G N I Z I N G T H I S A L L O W S C H I L D R E N T O R E L AT E T O T H E I R F U R RY F R I E N D S .
TA K I N G C A R E O F A P E T A L S O H E L P S T E A C H C H I L D R E N T O S E E T H I N G S F R O M O T H E R P E R S P E C T I V E S . I T S H O W S T H E I M P O RTA N C E
O F B E I N G C A R I N G A N D C O M PA S S I O N AT E .
S T U D I E S H AV E L I N K E D FA M I LY O W N E R S H I P O F A P E T W I T H H I G H E R S E L F - E S T E E M A N D G R E AT E R C O G N I T I V E
D E V E L O P M E N T I N Y O U N G C H I L D R E N .
P E R H A P S T H I S I S B E C A U S E H AV I N G A P E T M A K E S U S F E E L N E E D E D . O R M AY B E I T H A S T O D O W I T H T H E U N C O N D I T I O N A L
L O V E T H AT T H E Y S H O W E R U S W I T H , O R T H E FA C T T H AT T H E Y ’ R E C O M P L E T E LY N O N J U D G M E N TA L A B O U T O U R L I F E S T Y L E S .
Owning a lively pet may sometimes prove
exasperating, but it appears all the effort is worth it. Whether you’re tossing a
tennis ball at the dog park or dancing around the living room with a feather toy and
your cat, you’re moving around — and that means burning calories, getting
your heart rate up and scoring a mood raising
energy boost provided by quick bursts of exercise.
M U C H O F T H E P R O F O U N D E F F E C T T H AT P E T S H AV E O N O U R H E A LT H , L E A R N I N G S K I L L S , A N D E M O T I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T I S B E C A U S E T H E Y A R E N O T “ J U S T P E T S ” B U T T H E Y A R E N O N - J U D G M E N TA L ,
U N C O N D I T I O N A L , L O V I N G M E M B E R S O F O U R FA M I L I E S .
THANKS FOR WATCHING!