I have read that owning a pet can help people to prevent heart diseases like high blood pressure or cholesterol, for example. I think that taking care of a pet can reduce stress and also help to reduce the risk of suffering other diseases.

Thank you for this article. As a vet nurse and shelter worker I have seen chronically ill people gain benefits from feline companions. Guardians who have had a major illness, or had chemotherapy, can come home to a cat who does not treat them any differently than before, and that can be a real treat.

I thank you for mentioning shelter animals. I personally destroyed 800 plus healthy, friendly cats because people did not want to commit to them. Hopefully one day we will educate ourselves about how to treat cats as well as they treat us.

Thank you for this article. As a vet nurse and shelter worker I have seen chronically ill people gain great benefits from cats as well. When someone has had chemotherapy, for example, coming home to a feline companion who does not treat them any differently than before can be a real treat for people.

I especially thank you for mentioning shelter animals. I have personally destroyed 800 plus healthy, friendly 1 and 2 year old cats because they did not look like the adorable kittens they once were just months before. Hopefully some day we will learn to treat cats as well as they treat us.

Thank you for this article. As a vet nurse and shelter worker I have seen chronically ill people gain great benefits from cats as well. When someone has had chemotherapy, for example, coming home to a feline companion who does not treat them any differently than before can be a real treat for people.

I especially thank you for mentioning shelter animals. I have personally destroyed 800 plus healthy, friendly 1 and 2 year old cats because they did not look like the adorable kittens they once were just months before. Hopefully some day we will learn to treat cats as well as they treat us.

This article is kinda weird, but it enlightens me. =)

Thank you for reporting the details. There was a short reference in the September & October 2008 issue of AARP magazine on Dr. Andrew Weil's page.

We have added a link to this article on our Health Benefits tab at http://www.petsincondos.org/benefits.htm.

Citizens FOR Pets in Condos www.petsincondos.org is a 501-c3 tax exempt private operating foundation dedicated to increasing acceptance of companion animals in condos and other types of association-run housing. We educate the public about the health benefits of having animal companions and also advocate for responsible pet ownership/guardianship. Our motto: “creating a win-win situation for both people & pets.”

Thank you for this excellent article. We live in an intolerant environment in a no-pet condo building in South Florida. I will share this with the residents. We need more alternatives to chemical medicine.