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Pets take care of people, too By
Heidi Brown LOGAN -- Pets help people live happier, healthier lives. "When I walk in the door, I look forward to my dog running up to me, wagging his tail, and dropping his tennis ball at my feet," said Scott Brown of his black Labrador retriever, Marley. "At that moment, the memories of the hard day I just had at school melt away as I pick up the tennis ball and give him a pat on the head." There is no denying that pets are hard work. You have to feed them, play with them and walk them, but the benefits of owning a pet far outweigh the burdens, according to pet owners and college students Scott Brown, Tiffany Carrell, and Devin Schvaneveldt. Schvaneveldt, a student in Chandler, Ariz., said, "Until I got my ferret, I was stressed out about school and work constantly. Whenever I had time to myself, I just kept thinking about all the homework I had to get done. Now I laugh all the time because my ferret is so funny to watch and play with. He keeps me distracted from all my worries." According to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, Inc., studies have proven that if you pet and talk to an animal, it lowers your blood pressure and stress level. Most people enjoy a close relationship with their pets. They take them for walks and play with them, but what most people never think about it is that pets also have medical benefits associated with them. Petnet.com states that pet owners typically visit the doctor less and take less medication. They also recover more quickly from illness or surgery. Brown, a Utah State University student, said, "If I didn't have a dog, I know I would never exercise. I am just too lazy! I always take Marley to the park and take him for long walks or runs. I know Marley needs exercise so I have to exercise him. Having him keeps us both healthy." Schvaneveldt, whose father is in the military, said, "Something I have noticed throughout my childhood is that whenever we moved, our family dog always helped me adjust. I am a very social person, and when I couldn't make friends right away, there was always my dog to play with and talk to." Pets help to combat loneliness, not only in young people, but in old people as well. According to a recent study by the American Geriatrics Society, pets help the elderly to live a higher quality life and cause them to be less lonely. "I cannot live with roommates. They are messy and you just get so sick of living with them that I decided to get my own apartment. It was kind of lonely and scary being by myself at night so I adopted a dog from the Humane Society," said Carrell, a college student in Salt Lake City. "I never get annoyed by Trigger; he keeps me company and I feel safe living alone. He's a loud barker." Pets also improve our social lives by keeping us active and connected to the community, according to an article in Stressfree Living Magazine. Carrell said, "One of the pluses of having Trigger is that when I take him for walks on campus, guys always stop and ask about him. It's actually a great way to meet people because you always have a conversation piece." Humans can create bonds with humans unlike any other. Pets depend on humans to take care of them and humans depend on pets as companions. They complement each other in a way no other relationship between humans can.
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