Anyone who owns a pet knows the feeling of coming home from a hard day at work and finding that loving companion waiting for you by the door. It’s true, pets make us feel good. I’ve known it all along but now there is scientific evidence to back it up.

People who interact with pets on a daily basis are healthier than those who do not own a pet. So the next time you see that bumper sticker “Have you hugged an animal”, it may be more important than you know.

There have been numerous testing and research on owning animals. For example, animals are used in assisted therapy. There are many programs that train pets to assist children and adults with many difficulties from autism to mental illness. There are programs where animals are taken into nursing homes and hospitals to visit the elderly and sick. There are even studies where patients who have completely shut down from the outside world opened up when a pet was brought in to visit.

There are studies that prove petting a dog lowers blood pressure and owning a pet reduces stress that can lead to disease. There is even significant proof that owning a pet can increase your life span more than that of a spouse or friends.

Animal lovers and pet owners have always known the rewards of owning an animal but now pet ownership is even drawing the attention of the National Institute of Health, who are currently conducting research to discover the benefits of pet ownership and how it can be tapped to improve health.

Now let's look at the cons of owning a pet. Pets are a big responsibility. They require time and cost money for food, and vet care. They require training to avoid behavior issues.

Now, let’s look at the pros of owning a pet. Pets make us feel good. They are fun to play with. They love you no matter what. They are completely dependent upon you and grateful for your companionship. If you treat them right, they give back a hundred times plus. I believe pets also teach kids responsibility and unconditional love. Let’s not forget all the proven studies of the health benefits of owning a pet. It is scientifically proven that people who own pets live longer than those who do not have a pet. So owning a pet significantly improves your long term health.

Considering all the proof of improved health of owning a pet and seeing how the pros outweigh the cons, the answer to can pets make us healthy, I can say with a smile as I hold my own cat and give my dog a pat, yes they certainly do.