Most pet owners will tell you that their furry friends bring endless joy to their lives, but new research has found that they are just as important to our mental health.
The PDSA Animal Welfare 2023 report found that 93 per cent of pet owners say owning a pet makes them happy, with 43 per cent even saying their furry friend has been a lifeline during a cost of living crisis.
They surveyed 5,500 dog, cat and rabbit owners aged over 18 living across the UK and found that almost everyone (91 per cent) agreed that owning a pet had improved their quality of life.
By pet type, dog owners (92 per cent) and cat owners (88 per cent) felt this most strongly.
With the current financial climate having a negative impact on all areas of daily life – from household bills soaring to regular socialising becoming more expensive – having a pet at home seems to be a popular pastime. 86 per cent of respondents said that owning a pet makes them feel less lonely because the pet is a member of their family.
And, of course, it’s good for your health. While 88 per cent said owning a pet makes them mentally healthier, two-thirds (66 per cent) said owning a pet makes them physically healthier – a figure that is even higher among dog owners (87 per cent).
PDSA advocates keeping pets with their owners, even if the only financial option seems to be rehoming them.