How do pets help us? Let us count the ways -- and keep counting, researchers say.

The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) will explore the ways animals benefit people of all ages during the International Society for Anthrozoology and Human-Animal Interaction Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 20-25.

 "Research in this field is providing new evidence on the positive impact pets have in our lives," said Rebecca Johnson, director of ReCHAI. "This conference will provide a unique opportunity to connect international experts working in human-animal interaction research with those already working in the health and veterinary medicine fields. A wonderful array of presentations will show how beneficial animals can be in the lives of children, families and older adults."

 Pets have been shown to help lower blood pressure, encourage exercise, and improve  psychological health. Johnson said: "Pets provide unconditional love and acceptance and may be part of answers to societal problems, such as inactivity and obesity."

 In 2008, ReCHAI sponsored the "Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound and Stay Fit for Seniors." In the preliminary program, a group of older adults were matched with shelter dogs, while another group of older adults were partnered with a human walk buddy. For 12 weeks, participants were encouraged to walk on an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. At the end of the program, researchers measured how much the older adults' activity levels improved.

"The older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by 28 percent," Johnson said. "They had more confidence walking on the trail, and they increased their speed. The older people who walked with humans only had a 4 percent increase in their walking capabilities. The human walking buddies tended to discourage each other and used excuses such as the weather being too hot." 

Earlier this year, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) cohosted two workshops to discuss the benefits of human-animal interaction in childhood. NICHD  wants to build upon existing research and spurring more studies involving children and adolescents.

"The few studies that have been conducted suggest that pet ownership may have multiple health and emotional benefits for both children and adults," said James Griffin, a scientist at NICHD.  "But there has been relatively little rigorous research documenting these benefits and examining how and why they occur.  By providing support for this conference and additional research studies, we hope to generate some answers."

A pet makes a great friend. We love our pets and that is why we have them. We know that pets can make us feel better. When you get home from work, school, or are retired, or elderly, pet owners quite literally feel and see the love from their favorite dog or cat. Living with a pet can provide you with certain health benefits. Pets help to reduce your blood pressure and lessen anxiety. Pet owners health and well-being are linked together in owning a pet or have a pet visit you in the nursing home or hospital.

When selecting a pet it is important that your pet fits your lifestyle or otherwise your new pet could add more stress. Pets require our love and attention. Going out for a walk, playing Frisbee or hide and seek provides the incentive to owners to interact and get out of the house. You benefit from the fresh air, sunshine and exercise that you might not get on our own. However, what if you can’t take care of your pet? If this is the case, then pet therapy might be the way to go.

Therapy pets are animals that help humans just by visiting them. Animal Assisted Therapy is the term used to describe therapy pets. One pet is assigned to one patient. Nursing home personnel and the pet handler help to figure out ways that therapy will be best suited to the patient. Cats and dogs are the most suitable therapy pets but there is no reason why other pets can’t be trained for pet therapy as well.

Owning a pet can have medical benefits to patients in nursing homes and hospitals, and as well as pet owners. Pet owners, or pet therapy encourages social interaction, reduces stress levels, boosts self-confidence and self-esteem and encourages you to exercise. In addition, pet owners who live alone are less lonely because of their pets’ companionship.

Pets and elderly people have a lot to give one another. Pet owners give them a sense of purpose; a reason to get up in the morning, buying food and or going outside, which helps to motivate them to eat and to get enough sleep and exercise.

Pet owner’s have fewer doctors’ visits, improve your mental well being, and improve you cardiovascular health and lowers you blood pressure. Many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. There are no known symptoms that you can tell your doctor.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to a stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure or kidney failure. The only way to discover if you have high blood pressure is to have your doctor check it. This is why it is often called the silent killer. If you have high blood pressure, you should think about getting a dog or cat as they can help reduce health problems. Owning a dog or cat and stroking them can help to reduce blood pressure and even keep it lower under stressful situations.

Pet owners have better emotional health and mental wellness while caring for their furry friend. Pets can act as a support system for people who live alone or do not have family, or close friends nearby. They offer unconditional love and affection and that alone helps a person reduce loneliness.

When you are in a hospital or nursing home and a pet owner comes to visit you with their furry friend, you feel a little less lonely and depressed and can forget about your illness, even for a little while. Patients tend to be more receptive to treatment when they have regular visits from their favorite furry friend. The need to care for their pet gives them reason to recover and the will to live. It, also, makes the patient happy to have something to look forward to when visiting hours are over.

Having a pet is a great investment, not only because a dog or cat bring joy and pleasure into your life, but the many health benefits that come along with owning a pet. Though a dog or cat can’t replace human relationships for senior citizens, they can certainly enhance them and fill an older person’s life with years of constant, unconditional love. Pet owners have long known that owning a family pet can make life happier, and can lead to a longer healthier life.