Relationships Between People and Animals

Did you ever wonder why so many people own pets? Americans own more than 500 million pets and spend more than 14 billion dollars a year to feed and care for them. Animals' popularity with humans is largely due to their ability to lower our stress levels. Simply interacting with an animal creates and endorphin rush in the human body which in turn relieves stress. All of nature's components have this same effect on people, making the environment we choose to live in extremely important to our health. It has been proven that people who live in rural areas amidst nature's splendor are healthier than those existing in man made environments. Most people instinctively know this, which is the reason why so many, especially those in cities, own pets. It might seem surprising that 58% of urban and suburban households own pets but when we stop to consider the positive results they produce in our overall well-being, it seems more surprising that every household doesn't include one. Animals are a part of nature that is too often overlooked despite the extensive benefits they provide for us.