by Leslie Conner

Created on: January 26, 2009   Last Updated: February 07, 2009

Anyone who has a dog or cat will attest to the fact that pets can alter your mood and, without proper training, they can also alter your furniture! Granted, a dog that tries to eat your shoes or a cat that wants to repel down your curtains can cause some tension and frustration. But, for the most part, animals have an immeasurably wonderful effect on a human's mood. And, since I have proof in the form of my dog, Sadie, and my cat, Sprocket, I speak from experience.

Whenever I'm depressed, I can count on Sadie and Sprocket to cheer me up. They have this uncanny ability to recognize my mood and then do something completely ridiculous to make me laugh. Within just a few seconds, I've forgotten why I was depressed. So, anytime I feel down, I grab the catnip and squeaky toys. It's certainly a much better alternative to Prozac.

And, I know that I always have an audience with my pets. Friends are great to have around when I want to talk, but if I just need someone to listen, I go to my cat. I can unleash all of my stress, the stories from the day, and complaints about my family to the one who will just listen with no judgment. Instead of bottling up the emotions, I can let them go without restraint. Sprocket is the best confidant because, really, who is he going to tell? He doesn't even understand what I'm saying. But, I always feel much lighter after a session and it's so much cheaper than therapy. There's nothing like the wisdom of a thirteen year old cat to put things into perspective.

Not only do the "kids" lower my stress levels and blood pressure, they also benefit my health by making me exercise. And, we all know that exercise releases the "feel good" endorphins. I take Sadie out for two walks a day, which is great for her and has also helped me drop two pant sizes! Walking the dog every day is great for the cardiovascular health and helps me to maintain a regular exercise program. And, I can't help but feel good about that.

In addition to helping me decompress and get into shape, my pets have also led me to my own path of enlightenment. There is no better teacher in life than my dog, the Zen master. Sadie shows me how to live in the moment and enjoy everything around me. When I witness her contentedly chewing on her bone, it makes me appreciate life exactly as it is. She loves unconditionally, plays with abandon, and brings joy to everything she does. Dogs teach you what is important in life. And, there is nothing more powerful for your soul than the overwhelming feeling of gratitude for that lesson.

There are so many wonderful emotional benefits of having a pet that every doctor should prescribe them as part of a required wellness program. With just a wag of the tail or a perfectly-timed purr, my mood can be transformed in an instant. And, yes, sometimes getting up at the crack of dawn in the cold to walk the dog or having to change the litter box can make me grumble, but I know that the happiness my pets bring to me every day far outweighs the minor inconvenience.

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