Pets commonly provide companionship not only to elderly adults who do not have adequate social interaction with other people but to people of all age groups. While some people believe in the physical and emotional benefits of owning a pet, scientists are currently working to verify these ideas with medical studies.
There is now a medically approved class of "therapy animals”, mostly dogs that are brought to visit confined humans. Pet therapy utilizes trained animals and handlers to achieve specific physical, social, cognitive, and emotional goals with patients. Walking a dog can provide both the human and pet with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.
Pets might have the ability to stimulate their care-givers, particularly the elderly; giving them someone to take care of, someone to exercise with and someone to help them heal from a physically or psychologically troubled past.
Having a pet not only increases one's options for reaching health goals but evidences also show that having a pet can help a person lead a longer and healthier life.
