Thanksgiving is one of those times of the year when people reflect on what they\u2019re grateful for \u2014 family, health, friends, jobs and opportunities to spend time together. Many pet owners are also grateful for their fur-covered friends and family members who add so much to daily life. Whether it\u2019s joyful greetings at the door or warm snuggles on cold nights, pet owners have plenty of reasons to be thankful for their canine and feline companions.<\/p>\n
So, in keeping with the spirit of the season, here are nine reasons to be thankful for your pets:<\/p>\n
Dogs and cats don\u2019t care what we look like, how much money we make, where we grew up or who we voted for. They accept us for who we are without any judgments or ultimatums. Our dogs won\u2019t stop hanging out with us because they made a new best friend who\u2019s cooler than we are or gives better treats.<\/p>\n
Our cats, on the other hand, can be a bit standoffish if we come home from work smelling like \u201cdog\u201d too often. But they\u2019re quick to forgive our petting the dog next door when we provide chin rubs and a warm lap in which to curl.<\/p>\n
As long as we give our pets the attention and affection they need and deserve when we\u2019re with them, there will be no limit to the love and affection they\u2019ll return.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reason why so many people spend hours watching silly cat and dog videos on YouTube and Facebook. It\u2019s as if comedy has been encoded into their DNA! We double-dog dare you to spend an hour with your pet and not smile. It\u2019s impossible \u2014 we\u2019ve tried it \u2014 even when your pet is sleeping through that hour. And if your pet is wide awake, it\u2019s hard not to smile or laugh out loud when your pet chases their tail, has a case of the zoomies<\/a> or replies with a meow or bark when you talk to them.<\/p>\n Dogs and cats live in the here and now. They don\u2019t dwell on what happened yesterday, and they don\u2019t worry about what will happen tomorrow, next month or two years from now. That\u2019s a lesson more of us humans need to learn.<\/p>\n Okay, so you sometimes complain that your Labrador retriever has to sleep in the middle of the bed. Or you awaken to the cat draped across your head. But admit it: cuddling with your furry friend is one of the best perks of pet ownership. Not only does snuggling with our pets chase away the cold as the weather outside gets colder, but it comforts and relaxes us (and them).<\/p>\n \u201cI need to get home to walk my dogs Rowan and Josie, who\u2019ve been stuck inside all day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I take a raincheck? Tigger needs his canned food and nightly medication.\u201d<\/p>\n Come on, admit it. You\u2019ve used your pet as an excuse to leave a party early or to avoid something else you\u2019d rather not do \u2014 and for that, we thank them. For what it\u2019s worth? Choosing to spend time with your pet<\/a> instead of other people\u00a0is more common than you think.<\/p>\n Many studies have explored the relationship between pet ownership and heart disease<\/a>. Although the results are mixed, they do suggest that pet owners often have lower blood pressure, experience smaller increases in heart rate and blood pressure under stress, and are more likely to be alive one year after a heart attack than people who don\u2019t have pets. Now that\u2019s something to be thankful for!<\/p>\n Dogs in particular are considered \u201cheart healthy.\u201d Dog owners are more likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity than those people who don\u2019t have dogs \u2014 assuming, of course, that they do their own dog walking.<\/p>\n Even passive contact with pets can be beneficial. Petting a cat or watching fish in an aquarium can lead to lower blood pressure and slower heart rate.<\/p>\n Several studies also suggest pets help reduce depression, stress and loneliness. Pets also can provide a sense of purpose, responsibility and structure that can decrease anxiety for some people.<\/p>\n So eating an apple a day isn\u2019t the only way to stay out of the doctor\u2019s office. To learn more about all of the ways pets can benefit human health \u2014 the pet effect<\/a> \u2014 and the research being done to document it, visit the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute<\/a>\u2019s website.<\/p>\n Some people might say that pets keep us busy. Like us, pets have basic needs for food, water, shelter and attention. They also need to be cleaned up after. While these tasks may seem to be busy work, in reality, caring for someone other than yourself provides an outlet for the nurturing instinct that we all have. Caring for a pet makes us feel needed, and that feels good.<\/p>\n When you\u2019ve had a tough day at work and no one wants to hear about it, your pet will listen to every detail. Or at least they\u2019ll look like they\u2019re enthralled.<\/p>\n You also never have to say, \u201cDon\u2019t tell anyone!\u201d When you share with your pet, you know that all the mistakes you made and all of your deepest, darkest secrets are safe within those soft, fuzzy ears. Best of all, there\u2019s no judgment or advice on how to fix things. There\u2019s just comfort.<\/p>\n Learning happens during all sorts of experiences, at surprising times and in unexpected places. Caring for a pet provides us with many opportunities to learn and grow.<\/p>\n3. Pets keep us grounded in the present moment.<\/h3>\n
4. They\u2019re experts at cuddling and snuggling.<\/h3>\n
5. Pets are great excuses.<\/h3>\n
6. Pets help improve our physical and mental health.<\/h3>\n
7. They give us purpose while teaching responsibility.<\/h3>\n
8. Your pet listens (or at least pretends to listen).<\/h3>\n
9. Pets make us better people.<\/h3>\n