It’s safe to say in New Zealand our pets are absolutely adored: it’s not unusual for our dogs to accompany us to Saturday brunches and it’s likely any pet owner’s phone camera roll is dominated by their furry friend.
We buy festive outfits for our dogs for the holidays, create Instagram accounts dedicated to our pets (learn how to take the perfect photo here) and spend small fortunes on vet bills (every pet owner knows that unless you want to take out a bank loan for vet bills, you just cough up the money for pet insurance).
And despite the language barrier, our pets become family, and we love them – even when they annoy us (as any frustrated parents of a cheeky new puppy will understand. Don’t worry, they will eventually get the hang of toilet training, you may just need to try different strategies).
In fact, we love our companion animals so much, they actually outnumbered us in 2015 – according to a report published by The New Zealand Companion Animal Council Inc. Yes, really.
The cat lovers among us will be delighted (‘smug’) to know that cats are more popular pets than dogs – 44 per cent of pet owners have a cat and only 28 per cent have a dog.
And it’s a good thing we’re so obsessed with our furry friends, because as it turns out, owning a pet is actually wonderful for our health.
Check out our gallery below to see how adopting a pet can not only give an animal a loving home, but benefit your health in ways you hadn’t considered.
Bonding with our pet makes us happier
We’re stating the obvious here, but our pets make us happy – no, really. When we play with our pet we release oxytocin, which is informally known as the ‘love hormone’. Oxytocin also plays a role in bonding and helps to reduce depressive feelings. But not only does playing with our pets make us happy, Medical Daily reports that pet ownership can boost self-esteem and self-worth.
Cats are good for our heart health
Good news for cat ladies: owning a cat has been associated with a lowered risk of heart attack or cardiovascular disease, according to a 10-year study by the University of Minnesota. The study reasons that stress is linked to cardiovascular disease, and our cats are great at easing our anxiety levels, which effectively lowers our blood pressure. “It is reasonable to assume that any social factors including pet ownership that reduces stress will eventually reduce cardiovascular events,” the study states. Sounds good to us!
Mental health
Our pets are great for our mental health. Companion animals can help prevent loneliness and isolation and it’s been said that dog owners are also less prone to depression than non-owners.
Social benefits
Having a dog can provide social benefits – those who have made a trip to their local dog park can certainly vouch for this one. Owning a dog doesn’t just build a bond between owner and pooch, it can help spark friendships with other owners. Walking the dog and visiting beaches and parks offers plenty of opportunities to meet other people and bond while the dogs play.
Pet ownership makes us exercise more
Surprising nobody, owning a dog makes us exercise more, which is great for our bodies. Dog owners are twice as likely to reach the Ministry of Health’s recommended activity guidelines (at least 30 minutes a day) than non-owners as they regularly walk their pooches. Walking is known to be great for muscle strength, heart rate and circulation, bone strength and maintaining a healthy weight.
Children that grow up with dogs are………………
If you’ve got a household with a dog and kids, good news! Kids that grow up with dogs can have a lessened allergy risk. In fact, Medical Daily reports that the effect “is so strong that even pregnant women who live with a dog can still reduce the likelihood of their child developing allergies.”
Pets are also great for our physical health
Our pets are also great for our physical health. Our animals expose us to all sorts of bacteria and this actually makes us healthier – hear us out. When pets – especially dogs – spend time outside, they pick up a number of microbes when they sniff and play. They then bring these microbes inside our homes, and in response our immune systems are stimulated. Effectively, the exposure to a variety of bacteria can help boost our immune systems and ensures we aren’t overly sensitive to bacteria later in life.
