Animals are pretty rad. What’s even better is that they can seriously fill a niche in your life that you may or may not have needed filled. Many people just won’t bother with pets, but from my own experiences with my 3 month old kitten, I can say that owning one can give you a wonderful sense of fulfillment, and create a lot of joy in your life.

Companionship

We in general cannot survive without companionship. Love is something that we are entitled to, and pets such as dogs love unconditionally. Your pet can also be the much needed remedy to loneliness. They may not respond back to you but they will be there when you need an audience or just a much needed cuddle. Pets give you a feeling of purpose since they give you…

A sense of responsibility

You are after all their primary caregiver and as such, you have a tremendous amount of responsibility over them. Your pet relies on you for food, affection, fun, and everything in between. Some pets aren’t as high maintenance as others, but generally, you will have to do a lot of work in order to keep them healthy and happy.

Having a sense of responsibility creates awareness in your growth as a person. It’s ultimately a signal of maturity, and many people that lack it won’t progress as human beings regardless of age.

Puts things into perspective

You think you got it bad? Imagine one day chillin’ with your family and siblings until suddenly some giant hand just picks you up and takes you somewhere, never to be reunited with your family. All that you knew were gone in an instant and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re now somewhere completely unfamiliar and at the mercy of whoever lives there. Think your problems are still that bad now?

Health benefits

Research has shown that pets also promote mental and physical well being. They have been discovered to lower stress and blood pressure. They also promote activeness in people by getting us off of our asses and as mentioned earlier, allay loneliness.

Excellent distraction

Pets provide a lot of distractions. They help you get your mind off of stupid things like break ups, school or work stress, or anything negative in general. When you’re busy washing your dog in the bathroom, or trying to find your cat in your messy basement (good luck), you won’t really have the time to think about your problems. We can all deal with a lot less stress in our lives. They also relieve general boredom. Honestly though, they’re…

Just pure fun

If you haven’t witnessed a cat jumping 3ft in the air to catch a fly, your life really sucks. Pets not only provide meaningful relationships but are just a blast to have. Dogs are known for outdoor activities and while cats may not be as active (try telling my cat that), they do a lot of silly things and provide a fantastic source of entertainment.

A pet gives a person companionship, responsibility, joys and distractions. Most importantly, they serve a sense of purpose. Many people feel lost in their lives not knowing what to do or where things are headed, but they can fill your voids as well as bolster profound thoughts. You’re responsible for another living creature after all and that burden pays off in many ways. You’d be surprised at their healing powers.

Not all pets are created equal and for a lot of animals such as fish or turtles, these statements may not hold true. But then again, I think having such useless pets is a waste of time and money anyways.

There are many great animals in shelters that need a home so do yourself (and them) a favor and adopt. Make sure you see a vet and pick up their essentials.