Oh the feeling of seeing our favorite four-legged friends after a hard day at work. With unbiased excitement, they are so eager to greet us. A beckoning for our attention ensues to show just how glad they are to see us back home. And who can forget the casual visit when we are just chilling as they climb up to do the same. This is another reason I prefer smaller pets.

According to James E Gern, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pets can lower a child’s allergy development by 33%. Speaking of child development, when I was young, feeding, walking, and bathing our dog was one of the first steps in learning responsibility. Pet owners often show decreased blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. All have a huge impact on our heart’s health.

So there we have it folks, pets do so much for us, and require so little from us. But wait, there’s more. These four-legged pals have been known to help us get over the blues faster, provide unconditional love, and give their provider a sense of purpose. Loneliness doesn’t stand a chance with these companions around. Yup, these little bundle of loves are showing signs of being a necessity.

Imagine if we could take them to work with us. Or, maybe we could have an office pet. Believe it or not some companies, like Inverse Square, are turning to this idea. And why not? An office space is full of negativity and stress. The question “who’ll take care of the pet?” will come up and what about allergies and little accidents. These become small issues when one takes a look at what having a pet around can do for us. The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) found pet providers save $11.37 billion on physician office visits. Those of us who walk their pets five times or more per week show lower body fat. This translates to a saving of $419 million in health care. Perhaps, having a feline coworker isn’t so bad after all.

In a world full of negativity, we need all the help we can get. What better place to find that help, than from our little friends. Is a pet right for everyone? No. But with such a positive impact, the possibility is worth investigating. So, until the next blog live life, be happy, and find life’s happiness.

at1_retired@yahoo.com

Steve Curtis