- A large percentage of Americans are pet owners.
- Having a pet comes with some surprising mental and physical benefits, especially if you own a dog.
- According to most studies, being a pet owner can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, help you recover from trauma, and reduce stress levels.
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Americans love their pets.
In fact, most of them have at least one furry friend. Surveys disagree on the exact number, but an estimated 49% to 68% of Americans are pet owners.
In the last few decades, scientists have tried to determine whether the "pet effect" - being healthier just by virtue of being a pet owner, or by interacting with an animal - is real. For the most part, they've found that pet owners are healthier, both physically and mentally, than people without pets.
Although not every study finds that being a pet owner is overwhelmingly good for your health, most studies do. The discrepancy may come down to the type of pet - not only the species, but the temperament of that pet.
Here are all the ways pets are good for you, backed by science.
