Studies conducted during recent years have shown that interaction with a friendly animal can have beneficial effects such as lowering heart rate and blood pressure and decreasing depression. For people with Anxiety Disorders pets can provide and promote the friendship, companionship and social interaction that may be lacking in their lives.
People living alone find that pets are companions who can give and receive affection.
Their loyalty and devotion is much more reliable than most human companions. Pets usually enjoy being touched and will initiate contact even if the human companion doesn't do so first. Pet owners feel needed. One of their most important purposes is to care for their pets. In order to meet the needs of their pets, owners must leave home to buy food and other supplies.