Pets, particularly dogs and cats can help you deal with stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as loneliness. They can encourage you to exercise and be active. Pets are also a great source of companionship. But, maybe most importantly, a pet can provide you pure pleasure and unconditional love.

Caring for a pet can help to encourage positive health behavior changes by allowing you to: 

• Exercise more frequently and meet with new people. Taking your dog for a walk, hike, or run is a fun and satisfying way to get some good daily activity. Dog owners are considerably more likely to meet their daily activity requirements.  It also is a good way to meet with other pet owners. 
• Bonding. Bonding can help you avoid health issues whereas loneliness and isolation can promote anxiety and depression. Caring for an animal can make you feel desired and loved while diverting your attention away from your troubles, which is especially beneficial if you live alone, like me:). Most pet owners communicate with their pets or even use them to help deal with their problems. 

What's the best of it all?... 

Coming back home to a swinging tail or cuddling cat is the best of it all!

• Anxiety management. Animal companionship can provide warmth, reduce anxiety, and increase self-confidence for people who are afraid of venturing out into the world. Pets can help you become more conscious and embrace the pleasure of the present because they tend to live in the moment—they don't worry about what occurred yesterday or what might happen in the future. We definitely have a lot to learn from them! 
• Routine and structure. Many pets, particularly dogs, require consistent feeding and have daily exercise. A steady pattern keeps an animal calm and balanced, and it may do the same for you.