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Health Benefits of Pets

Most households in the United States have at least one pet. Why do people have pets? There are many reasons. Some of the health benefits of pets are listed below.

Pets can decrease your:

  • Blood pressure
  • Cholesterol levels
  • Triglyceride levels
  • Feelings of loneliness

Pets can increase your:

  • Opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
  • Opportunities for socialization

Many groups support the health benefits of pet ownership. You can learn more about the health benefits of pets and how to keep your pets healthy by visiting the following sites.

  • Human Animal Bond Resource Center: Pet Partners provides abstracts, articles, and bibliographies on the health benefits of animals to people.
  • Can Pets Keep you Healthy?: NIH News in Health explores the health benefits of pets.
  • HABRI: Human Animal Bond Initiative.
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