| Just ask any pet owner about their pet and you are | | | | not criticize, condemn, or complain, but provide |
| likely to see them perk up all over their body. They | | | | steady affection. |
| will smile, get excited and probably tell you at least | | | | Happiness is Pets for Animals Too |
| one funny story about their pets. Even the popular | | | | Whatever the reason, even animals find comfort in |
| on-line game, World of War Craft, recognizes the | | | | relationships with other animals. For example, the |
| power of a happy pet. | | | | famous gorilla, Koko, loves kitties. Koko is learning to |
| Health, Happiness, and Pets | | | | communicate with humans through sign language and |
| Advocates of alternative medicine have long | | | | if the photos were not compelling enough, Koko has |
| recognized that happiness is pets. Animals are taken | | | | confirmed her love of humans, other gorillas, and |
| into nursing homes, hospitals and other centers to | | | | kittens through her language. |
| work their magic on people who are ill. A January | | | | Another famous example of animals connecting with |
| 2008 New York Times article, quotes a Japanese | | | | other animals to confirm that happiness is pets in the |
| study showing that pet owners have fewer doctor | | | | animal kingdom too, is the turtle who adopted the |
| visits and an Australian study that shows pet owners | | | | baby hippo in the African animal rescue camp after |
| have lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Dogs | | | | the big Tsunami. |
| perform search and rescue, act as guides for those | | | | Happiness is pets that are adopted |
| who cannot see or hear, and can even sometimes | | | | A large body of research on positive psychology |
| predict seizures in their human companions. | | | | shows that people are happier when they are helping |
| There are many theories behind this. In a 2003 article | | | | others. You can increase your pet happiness further |
| from the Clemson University Undergraduate Journal, | | | | when you adopt an animal from your local animal |
| Alicia Stribling notes that a review of research | | | | shelter or humane society. If you are looking for just |
| indicates that the quality of the relationship matters. | | | | the right pet to rescue, you might also look on In |
| People with a positive relationship get more benefits | | | | addition to dogs and cats, they have a wide variety |
| from pet ownership than others. Some research | | | | of unusual animals like horses, birds and others. I |
| indicates that happiness is pets because the pets | | | | know someone who adopts farm animals who would |
| have primarily positive interactions with us. They do | | | | otherwise be slaughtered like chickens and sheep. |