Pets and your happiness
For anyone already with a pet, this information might not come as a surprise, but for those maybe on the fence about getting a pet, this might just be the push you need!
Scientific study done in the UK, published in March of 2025, show strong evidence to support a significant increase in happiness and life satisfaction when owning a pet, as much as 50% higher than those without pets. There seems to be little discrepancy between the actual breed of pet, which might finally put to rest the infamous “cats vs dogs” debate.
Interestingly, they were able to compare the life satisfaction with pet owners, compared to people without pets, and come out with a monetary value. Those without pets, spend nearly 130,000 CAD a year to achieve the same level of life satisfaction that owning a pet can provide.
There really isn’t a lot to it, just by taking part in the regular day to day activities with your pet is all it takes. Just the presence of a pet alone is shown to decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels and lower blood pressure. Taking your dog for a walk every day, brings with it the mental and physical benefits of regular exercise.
For anyone that found this article interesting, and is now thinking about owning a pet. Please take a look at a Humane Society near you! A few links below for a head start!
Adopt a pet!
References:
Gmeiner, M.W., Gschwandtner, A. The Value of Pets: The Quantifiable Impact of Pets on Life Satisfaction. Soc Indic Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-025-03574-1 (Accessed: 21 April 2025).
Ocklenburg, S. (2025) Scientific Proof That Pets Can Make You Happy, Psychology Today. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/202504/scientific-proof-that-pets-can-make-you-happy (Accessed: 21 April 2025).
Wein, H. (2018) The Power of Pets, NIH News in Health. National Institute of Health. Available at: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets (Accessed: 21 April 2025).
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