by Michael Totten

Created on: October 03, 2009   Last Updated: October 08, 2009

If you have a pet, you are much more likely to live a longer, happier, healthier life than people without pets. The evidence for this is so dramatic that entire conferences are devoted to studying the relationship. "Research in this field is providing new evidence on the positive impact pets have in our lives," says Dr. Rebecca Johnson, associate professor and director of the University of Missouri Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI).

It is hard to overestimate the value of unconditional love in your life. Sometimes it can be difficult even for the best of friends, but pets never give any less. Says Dr. June McNicholas, a health psychologist who specializes in the health benefits of pet ownership, "The social support offered by an animal is greater than the support another human could offer."

Even as simple a thing as a daily walk with the dog garners a wealth of health benefits. Just a 15-30 minute walk with a dog every day is an excellent way to maintain all-round fitness. Cardio benefits improve stamina while reducing blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels. A leashed dog's natural energy level also helps you get that crucial upper body strength training which keeps bones strong. You can always talk yourself out of visiting the gym or doing a power walk on a hot day, but try explaining it to a dog's pleading eyes!

At the same time, the walk gets you out of the house and among like-minded people. Conversation comes easily on a dog walk. There are few icebreakers like the meeting of two friendly dogs and the traditional tangling of leashes! The health benefits of having such a circle of friends are incalculable.

To get the health benefits of a dog walk, it doesn't even have to be your dog. One ReCHAI project paired a group of older adults with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults were paired with a human walk buddy. Both groups were encouraged to walk for an hour along an outdoor trail, five days each week. At the end of the program, those who had been paired with dogs had improved their walking capabilities by 28%, compared to only 4% for those who had been paired with a human walk buddy. Working out with a partner may sometimes provide mutual peer pressure, but nothing beats the sheer anticipatory happiness of a dog about to go on a walk.

For a surprising health benefit, try working on your income tax return next April with your cat curled on your lap. A study conducted by Dr. Karen Allen, assistant professor of medicine

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