Importance of Keeping Pets - Essay Example

Importance of keeping pets It is quite interesting how human beings are able to coexist and share a home with animals; several reasons strongly support the human-pet relationship. It is easier to ignore the role played by pets in any family as long as we consider them mere animals which are incapable of speaking, working and probably a possible health threat (Walsh, 2009page 487). Differently, diverse logical reasons motivate almost every household to keep a pet. The benefits spread across from social issues to health significance. Every person in the family equally benefits from the presence of a pet in the house, not just children but also the aged people have their portion too. This is why so many people today have appreciated and embraced the culture of keeping pets closer than before. This piece of work entirely focuses on factors motivating people to keep pets in their homes, and more surprising up to their bedrooms. Loneliness is a social situation that in most case begets people when they least expected. Aging and traveling can make us lack our usually family and Friends. Most people enjoy company. However, having a dog for example can help an individual avoid lonesomeness. Dogs are known to be friendly and active, even though they do not speak but they can respond to spoken words, play and evoke laughter depending on how they are trained. Most people allow pets in their bedrooms especially when they find it so boring to spend time all alone, simple acts such as speaking to a cat, making it run after a ball and caressing it gives a new meaning of companionship in that animals also are legible for keeping company. For a long time dogs have been kept for security and hunting reasons, that dogs are able to detect strange people and animals using their sharp olfactory ability is not a new thing. Having dongs in the house elevates our sense of security and level of alertness. For instance, a dog can keep us aware of what is happening outside the house even when we have no clue. This can help an individual be more cautious avoiding running into possible danger. Away from home, let us say during hiking, dogs can warn us of strange and harmful animal within the environment different when one has no dog. Nobody wants to lose the feeling of being secure and because of this; it becomes preferable to have a pet that enhances security. It is hard to believe that as innocent as a cat looks, it can kill a scaring big snake than we can think, apart from warning us it protects us therefore it is irresistible not to keep such a friendly, protective and beautiful animal. With over 71 million Americans families, keeping pets as part of their family it is easier to single out the reasons for this kind of relationship. From various researches conducted, it has clearly been stated that pets for this case dogs and cats play a critical role in combating hypertension incidents. It is often noted that people with dogs and cats get involved in regular physical activities for leisure such as running around for fun. This directly works to regulate blood pressure and heart rate as well as burning of excess calories in the body. Keeping a pet is like having a regular source of exercise in the family (Bush, Baker, & Macdonald, 2014 page 673). Many families treat their pets as special members and they never want to lose them, this means that pets inculcate the emotional wave of the family such that their absence creates a certain feeling of emptiness. Pets also improve our chances of socializing and meeting new people in different environments. They open wide the door for establishing new relationships in a number of ways,first,pets always form a popular subject of conversations that often is the ice breaker to a lengthy and elaborate chat. Pets not only help us create romantic attraction but also help a great deal in changing our behaviours. For instance, introverts who spend time with pets gradually begin to appreciate the need to be social and receptive to other people. Pets indirectly make them interact with other people an act, which seemed impossible to do on their own. Improved socialization is ripe with enhanced self-esteem and reenergized optimism among people. The benefit is not different in children who grow up with pets, they grow up treating living things with respect, and by extension, they become caring a key social skill. Getting used to pets mean that an individual shapes his or her routine activities and pattern of life. The need to care for pets will require that the owner adapt to the new terms and conditions. For example, an individual who consistently wakes up late is forced to wake up early in order to feed his dog, cat, or horse. This kind of change in behaviour is constructive and routine is created as long as the pet exists. In most cases, an individual accomplishes a lot more by waking up earlier than usual. In line with appreciating new activities, pets can trigger a person from having interest in getting involved in new events. People are more likely to clean up parks and fields where they spend time with their pets, which is an activity they never considered initially. In another incident, some health institutions can invite pet owners to avail their pets for patients in an attempt to change the environment for the sick. While keeping pets an individual tend to build on his or her caring and loving personalities. Love is nurtured and cultivated when our emotional attachment to pets become strong, in the same way an individual treats a pet, he or she has greater possibility regarding others with love respect and care. Naturally, humans stand high above animals when it comes to dignity, value of life and the kind of treatment accorded to them, therefore it becomes odd to treat a pet with more affection than a fellow human does. It automatically becomes imperative to regard people with respect and love is a direct characteristic derived from having pets at home. It interesting too how pets are helpful in prevention of allergies, from various researches conducted it was noted that children who grow up in families with pets tend to be resistant to allergies and eczema. With reason that pets are likely to be dirty creatures, children are exposed to them early enough strengthening their immunity against diseases such as asthma and skin reactions. The body receives sensitization biologically to allergens and antigens and prepares a defense mechanism to fight that particular substance on subsequent exposure. That is how children get immunologically strong for the diseases mentioned above since pets are known to carry certain bacteria and dirt on them. This is yet another reason to why people are motivated to keep pets in their homes. Mental afflictions that demean the quality of life such as depression are common especially when one lacks motivation and excitement in life. However, pets become prolific since they initiate and sustain pleasurable and enjoyable activities something that is lacking in depressed people. When a depressed individual develops emotional attachment to his or her pet, the prognosis of the condition is always encouraging. Any event that brings about laughter and happiness activates the brain to act on the limbic system thereby producing serotonin and dopamine chemicals that play a significant role in elevating mood. This is a non-pharmacological way of treating depression simply occasioned by the presence of a pet. Considering this affordable and convenient way of managing depression, it becomes obvious that pets are more than mere animals to keep. Obesity is a worldwide issue that has been welcomed by sedentary lifestyle adopted by many people. Lack of regular physical exercise is not just encouraged by laziness and fatigue but also lack of motivating factors in the home environment. Pets are almost synonymous with activeness; they play a pivotal role of provoking, encouraging and sustaining physical activities either through running or dancing (Herzog, 2011 page 237). Getting children and adults participate in activities that require physical effort is the first step in preventing and managing obesity, this step is easy to begin in a household with a pet for example a cat or dog. Pets are also known to reduce anxiety levels in both children and adults. Comfort and enjoyment derived in a company of a pet works best to lower stress episodes and instead promotes relaxation. Normally stress contributes to other adverse physiological effects such as causing excess production of gastric acids, which lead to stomach ulcers and increased blood pressure. Having a pet can easily help avoid such unwanted conditions. Spending time playing with a cat on bed when annoyed by somebody or experiencing hard time act as diversion therapy from stress hence preventing an individual from being dragged in a mire of misery. Aging is associated with many complications and life changes all, which downgrade the quality of life. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is common in the elderly individuals. Though there have been several medical treatments, not all patients respond well to medications since this is a brain condition that relies on rewiring chemical components. It is amazing how a cat can help mitigate the effects of this disease by influencing the decay of neurotransmitters that act as a channel of communication in brain. Most outbursts in Alzheimer patient result from acute anxiety, which in this case is reduced by presence of a cat. Most people consider keeping pets as a benevolent act of investing in life, a lot of dedication is exhibited in how well a household takes care of the pet. Taking good care of a cant tells a lot on how life is shaped and protected. Satisfaction and bliss is achieved when an individual is capable of according required care to an animal. Compliments from friends and neighbors act as motivation and recognition of the kind act of protecting life. In summary, pets hold a special position in our life, which is why they should be receive immense protection and made comfortable. They are not just limited to spicing up the mood of the household also greatly impact on our health. Socially, they provide a ripe opportunity of meeting new people and making friends along with refining our interaction skills. Frequent exercises, relieving stress and protection also form the large parcel that justify why people keep pets. With the many advantages linked to keeping of pets it is advisable that every household acquires one. Works cited Bush, E. R., Baker, S. E., & Macdonald, D. W. (2014). Global trade in exotic pets 2006-2012. Conservation Biology. doi:10.1111/cobi.12240 Herzog, H. (2011). The Impact of Pets on Human Health and Psychological Well-Being: Fact, Fiction, or Hypothesis? Current Directions in Psychological Science. doi:10.1177/0963721411415220 Walsh, F. (2009). Human-animal bonds II: The role of pets in family systems and family therapy. Family Process, 48, 481–499. doi:10.1111/j.1545-5300.2009.01297.x  Read More