By Alex Lento, ’10, LifeStyle Section Editor, and Jessup Smith, ’10, LifeStyle Editor
If you’re considering getting a pet, there are a variety of pets to choose from. We are going to focus on cats and dogs because they are the most common household pets. There are a lot of factors that go into deciding whether or not a pet is the right decision for a family. Even when you choose to get a pet, finding the right one can be a trying task.
Health Benefits of Getting A Pet
Pets can increase your mood and reduce stress. According to “How Owning a Dog or Cat Can Reduce Stress,” “While ACE inhibiting drugs can generally reduce blood pressure, they aren’t as effective on controlling spikes in blood pressure due to stress and tension. However, in a , groups of hypertensive New York stockbrokers who got dogs or cats were found to have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn’t get pets. When they heard of the results, most of those in the non-pet group went out and got pets!” Having a pet to walk also encourages you to get out and exercise, especially dogs. Pets also make great friends, as silly as it sounds. They are great “cuddlers,” love to listen, and are always happy to see you. In fact, research shows that nursing home residents reported less loneliness when visited by dogs than when they spent time with other people! While there are many health benefits of getting a pet, there are also responsibilities, so a pet won’t fit every lifestyle. However, most pet owners feel that the benefits outweigh the added responsibilities.
Different Types of Pets
If you decide to get a pet, the next task is choosing what kind. Cats are usually more comfortable being left alone for long periods of time and are usually less difficult to “potty train.” Cats also have claws and some might be tempted to rip apart your furniture. And according to a Saturday Night Live skit, “Everyone knows that cats are girls and dogs are boys.” So you might want to take that into consideration as well.
If you are allergic to dogs or cats, there are still options out there. While no dog or cat can be guaranteed hypoallergenic (and you should visit them first to see), there are certain breeds that are made to be more hypoallergenic. Make sure when you are checking to see if you are allergic you spend time with the parents, as puppies and kittens do not cause allergies because they have no old skin. For cats, black cats have been proven more “allergenic” than others. For dogs, there are a ton of new “designer breeds” that are made to be hypoallergenic. Bichon Frises and Wheaton Terriers are two pure-bred dogs that are hypoallergenic. The designer breeds include goldendoodles, labradoodles, and cockapoos. For a full list, visit, http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/allergy.htm.
Another good option is to rescue or adopt a pet. There are plenty of websites to help match those looking for a dog or cat with a pet in need. This is usually a cheaper option and if your lifestyle is not suited to taking care of a small, untrained puppy, adoption or rescue might be the best solution. Xanni Brown, ’10, owns a dog that her family rescued and has had a great experience. “My rescue dog was scared at first, but now Lucy is a member of our family,” said Brown.
