Pet Owners Reap Rewards in Retirement

Research confirms what pet owners always knew. Pets are good for you. Not only do they keep you company, they help keep you healthy. It has been scientifically proven that petting Fido lowers blood pressure and can actually slow the progress of stress related diseases. Your pet doesn’t even have to be warm and fuzzy to do the trick. Just watching goldfish swimming in a bowl is enough.

Owning a pet solves many of the problems inherent in retirement. Smokey won’t let you sleep until noon when he needs to be walked and he'll reward you with a wagging tail when you come in the door. Even deep sorrows, like the loss of a spouse, can be soothed by a purring kitten in your lap or a wet nose nuzzling your neck.

There are, of course, disadvantages to owning pets. Travel and irregular schedules become problems. Furniture and rugs are not always safe from the most well behaved critters. Yet pet owners believe the joy pets bring to their lives is worth the early morning dog walks in the rain or a little kitty hair on their black suits.

Which animal is right for you depends on you. Some people prefer cats because they’re independent, others prefer dogs because they’re dependant. Either way you get the same unconditional love. (The myth that cats are aloof isn’t true. They are experts at getting and receiving love, though of course, it must be on their terms.) Finding a pet should be easy and inexpensive. Countless animals need homes. Every year millions are destroyed because there is no one to care for them.

Petfinder will help you decide what breed is best for you, let you browse a list of adoptable pets in your area and give you tips on how to care for your new friend. There are Humane Societies, ASPCAs, shelters and volunteer groups in every community with loving animals waiting to be adopted.