Go Get Yourself A Pet

We’re only about a week into COVID-19 inspired isolation, and many of us are feeling verklempt. While we are necessarily isolated from each other, those of us with pets have doubled down on our affections. My love for my cat has never been deeper, and I’m not the only one who feels this way. The New York Times reported last Thursday a nationwide uptick in pet adoptions and fostering applications. Pets need us, and it turns out, we need pets.

The following benefits of pet ownership came straight from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), so I’m in no way making this up.

Benefits of Pet Ownership

1.) Decreased Stress

In a 2002 study at State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers found that people conducting stressful tasks felt less stress when their pets were with them. Emotional Support Animals are used to help people who suffer from anxiety, depression, panic attacks, or suicidal tendencies. FEMA uses therapy and “crisis response” dogs to soothe victims of disaster, and therapy animals are commonly used to help senior citizens improve their quality of life.

2.) Decreased Blood Pressure

According to the CDC, having a pet has the potential to lower blood pressure, especially in hypersensitive or high-risk patients. Marty Becker, veterinary consultant for…