If you could find an easy way to protect your heart health, feel less lonely and feel more connected to others, would you try it? If you have a pet, you already have! Pets provide health benefits to those who love them, and it doesn’t matter if the pet is a dog, cat, chinchilla or frog. They keep us company when we’re alone, make us laugh, provide comfort and reassurance, and give us a sense of connection and purpose.

Pets make us feel loved, which gives us an emotional boost. Pets who are happy to see us don’t judge us if we are sweaty or our pants are muddy. Feeling loved for who we are without being judged is a great mood booster. When we cuddle our pets or show them affection, we feel less stressed. This helps our immune systems to stay healthy. It can even help us learn.

In research on the long-term effects of dog ownership on children’s behaviors, scientists found that dog ownership was associated with increased physical activity. Regular physical activity helps support a healthy weight, improves physical and mental well-being, and reduces the risk of disease. Australian researchers studied a sample of 600 children over a three-year period. Some of the children had dogs, some got a dog during the study period, some lost a dog, and some had no dog at all. The boys and girls who had a dog took part in more frequent physical activities, such as walking and playing with a dog. The research showed that the impact was particularly striking for girls. Young girls increased their physical activity by 52 minutes a day if their family had a dog. The study also found that girls who lost a dog over the study period decreased their physical activity by about an hour a day. Although researchers do not know why, they plan to conduct more studies to discover the possible reasons for the impact.

In addition to being more active and getting outside more, some studies have shown that kids who have pets have a decreased chance of later developing allergies or asthma. Being exposed to pet dander when young may decrease the chance of developing sensitivities later.

Another big benefit to having pets is the way they help teach kids about responsibility. Getting kids involved in pet care teaches them about the daily tasks of caring for others and helps prepare them for responsibilities later in life. An older child can walk a dog, while a younger one can fill their water bowl. Kids who feel needed have higher self-esteem. Learning to care for and nurture a pet helps kids become more compassionate. Caring for a dependent animal also helps kids understand the needs of others.

Talking to animals has benefits as well. Some research has shown that kids who talk to pets by giving them commands or even just babbling to them have improved cognitive development. Many schools and libraries participate in programs where children read to a dog, which helps with cognitive development and reading skills. Dogs don’t judge, and kids feel less pressure about reading correctly. This in turn helps them become better readers.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of all in having a pet is the increase kids have in overall happiness. Playing with a pet raises a child’s levels of serotonin and dopamine, the mood boosters that calm the mind. Caring for pets lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Knowing all the benefits that come from having pets makes having one in the home not only a happy decision, but a scientifically proven one with demonstrated benefits.

Find out more about reading to dogs at abqlibrary.org/readtothedogs and childrenshour.org/reading-to-dogs.