Why Adopt a Pet?

Aug 26, 2016
2 min read

Check out this info from Orvis.com!

BY THE NUMBERS: THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOG

For thousands of years dogs have been there for us as our best friends. But what are the tangible benefits of that friendship? Sure, a goofy dog makes us laugh, but how much? And we do find ourselves walking more each day, but how far? Let’s take a look at just how much dogs benefit us in our daily lives, in real numbers.

367: The number of extra steps kids with dogs take in a day vs. kids who do not have dogs.
300: minutes per week walked by the average dog owner (almost double that of non-dog owners).
30: Workers in offices with dogs are 30% less likely to report each other, representing a more cohesive and trustworthy office environment.
28.7: In a study Dr. Robin Maria Valeri showed that dog owners reported laughing 28% more often than non-pet owners in the same study.
15: There was a 15 percentage point reduction in atopic dermatitis (type of eczema) in kids who grew up with dogs in the home. Other allergies are reduced too.
40: People’s lives were saved by Barry der Menchenretter, a St. Bernard who lived in Switzerland from 1800-1814.
21: Dog owners interact with strangers 21 times more often.
10: Fifteen minutes in a quiet room with your dog can lower your blood pressure 10%!
28: The percentage increase in walking speed of a dog-owner walking a puppy vs. someone walking alone in a University of Missouri Study.
1.5: Elderly dog owners spent 1.5 hours per day talking to their dogs, which has been seen as leading to stress reduction. The study also showed that elderly dog owners spent 1.4 more hours per day outside than elderly non-dog owners.

You may not always see your best friend as a life saver (like when they roll in a dead animal, or walk into the screen door), but every day you spend with your dog you are better for it.