When I'm feeling lazy, at the end of the day, my dog is not going to let me off the hook. This need to walk the dog is a real help to older Americans and single folks, stimulating exercise and even, perhaps, some rare human contact from fellow pet lovers. Nothing encourages an easier social encounter. With pets come responsibilities. This is a two-edged sword.
Responsibility can be a chore, resented and neglected.
More often, the need to care for another provides a sense of worth, a reason to live and love. The child with a pet learns lessons that start a lifetime of healthy, disciplined habits. Most of the benefits we have discussed aren't confined to dogs and cats. Watching tropical fish swim contentedly in the aquarium also lowers blood pressure and encourages healthy brain waves. Feeding a tortoise fosters feelings of self-worth and value in the care provider.