During the pandemic, pet adoption has risen exponentially. According to the ASPCA, an estimated 3 million shelter animals were adopted last year. As more and more people were sheltering in place, people were wanting companions due to the lack of human interaction. Being home more and more can feel very isolating and take a toll on one's mental health.
In an article by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), they discuss how dogs can contribute to your happiness in several ways. Dogs (or pets in general) can help you become more social (ie; taking your dog to dog parks, walks, and aiding in conversation with new people). Pets can help you get exercise too as many dogs need to be walked quite a bit! Also, having a pet causes you to have a sense of responsibility. Just like a human, pets need to be fed, they need to be interacted with to reduce boredom and they need love in order to survive.
For more information on pet adoption and how animals can have a positive impact on your well being, check out these links:
- Rescue Animals Are TIME's 2020 Pet of the Year
- How Dogs Can Help with Depression
- ‘Dogs have a magic effect’: how pets can improve our mental health
- ASPCA - Adopt a pet!
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