Owning a pet isn’t a luxury — it can save your life and give you a new reason to live each day without depression.

Emotional attachment to pets has been linked to worse mental health, according to the majority of research that has looked at the matter. People who struggle to form attachments to others often develop intense feelings of attachment to pets. What does this mean for pet owners? Secure attachment to a pet is associated with better mental health. However, it’s not limited to mental health alone, as a growing body of studies suggests another benefit — increased life expectancy.

Who thought that owning a cat, a dog, or even another pet, such as a bird, could lead to a longer life? Instead of looking for the “fountain of youth” in supplements and packaged “cures” for aging, look to animal rescue programs.

Positive emotions, including happiness, contentment, thankfulness, and hope, serve as foundational elements for well-being. Many pet owners report that their interactions with pets lead to higher levels of positive emotions. Researchers are finding that pet owners experience joy and stress reduction through activities such as playing with their pets, snuggling with them, or simply observing them. Many things that you do or observe related to your pet may affect your emotions and immune system, and new discoveries are being made about the impact on your life. Don’t forget that anything that has a positive effect on our immune system means a healthier life.

A few examples include the hormone oxytocin, which is linked to feelings of warmth and trust, is released when we pat a pet. How simple is that? We need to show some affection, and we get an immediate, biological reward? Yes, it’s true.

Pets offer emotional support during challenging periods by providing comfort, which helps decrease feelings of depression and anxiety. Any pet owner will tell you that, when the chips are down, their pet is always there, willing to love and protect them. They don’t lack unconditional love. Think of our dogs and cats or other pets as the embodiment of what Dr. Carl Rogers said was unconditional positive regard.

Benefits of Pet Ownership

What other benefits do we get from owning a dog? The list is encouraging:

1. The physical activities of playing fetch or walking with dogs create mental and emotional rewards for people. The unique behaviors and individual personalities of pets inspire and bring happiness to their observers.
2. The dog parks and pet-friendly areas allow owners to interact with other pet owners, who also attend pet-related community events.
3. The pursuit of goals or participation in activities that benefit a larger purpose than personal interests creates a sense of purpose. This is especially true when a pet is adopted from a rescue center.
4. People who adopt pets experience significant personal development through their experiences with purpose and duty as well as spiritual exploration and existential contemplation.
5. Reflecting on their deep connections with other creatures and nature.
6. Self-confidence and accomplishment. The ownership of pets provides numerous chances for people to achieve their goals.

Effects on Aging

Pet ownership was linked to slower rates of verbal memory and verbal fluency decrease among people living alone, but not among those living with others, according to a research of 7945 participants aged 50 and over. The correlation between living alone and deteriorating verbal recall and fluency rates was counteracted by pet ownership. Living with a pet isn’t “living alone,” is it? No, these roommates are quite different.

Research involving heart disease patients demonstrates the most effective evidence that pet ownership leads to better health results for elderly people who have chronic diseases. The of patients with coronary heart disease admitted to hospitals demonstrated that pet ownership affects physical health. If pets can affect heart health, that’s a definite plus.

The presence of a dog reduced mortality risk for stroke survivors who lived by themselves. In fact, the risk of death from stroke or heart attack was lower for survivors who lived with either a partner or child. Compared to people without dogs, the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke was lower among dog owners. Since we know that heart attacks and strokes are a major cause of death, here’s another reason to have a pet.

Undeniably, the research is in, and it points to the benefits of pet ownership, specifically dogs in most studies, that can mitigate physical and mental health disorders. Caring for a pet not only improves our health, but it also benefits everyone with whom we come into contact.