Does someone on your holiday gift list own a pet? I’m betting several someones do. I also am betting that these folks dote on their pets just as they do their children (and sometimes more!). Ten or twenty years ago, I would have thought myself daft for buying Christmas gifts for someone’s pet. Yet now I do so!

My son and daughter-in-law have plenty of pets – 4 tiny dogs, a cat or two and one big dog. My daughter-in-law is just absolutely nuts about them, even once leaving a family trip to the lake in the middle of the night because one of them was sick. They drove a couple hundred miles to get back to their sick pet that night!

Pets are good for people.

Although the scientific research is in it’s infancy, there is a start, and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that pets help people stay healthy.

Pets reportedly:

• Lower blood pressure
• Relieve stress
• Combat loneliness
• Ease depression
• Encourage activity for seniors
• Offer a greater sense of worth
• Offer security to their owners

As far back as 1980, according to Parent Giving:

‘Erika Friedmann, PhD, and professor of Health and Nutrition Sciences for Brooklyn College in New York, studied the effect of pets on heart disease patients. Her co-researcher, Aaron Katcher, MD, reported, “The presence of a pet was the strongest social predictor of survival … not just for lonely or depressed people, but everyone – independent of marital status and access to social support from human beings.” ‘

Pets help you avoid social isolation.

Studies have shown that people who are connected to others tend to live longer and are less likely to show mental and physical declines as they grow older. Pets can help you make those connections. Walk with your dog and people are more likely to initiate conversations than if you walk by yourself. Conversations can lead to connections.

Pets are people too.

Psychology Today reported on three studies  published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology . All three pointed to the healthful effects of pets on humans. In fact, one of them seemed to demonstrate that people get just as much benefit from pet connections as they do from human ones, saying:

“Our work demonstrated that pets can function similarly — they become as much a part of the self as many family members, which undoubtedly, contributes to their power in promoting our health and happiness.”

Buy into pet benefits.

If you have an elder in the family, encourage them to think about the benefits of owning a pet (but never, ever buy one for them without their consent!). Pet ownership is a big commitment, but it can have big benefits as well.

Hop on over to Petco or another pet store and treat your pet (or your kid’s or grandkid’s pets) to a healthy holiday gift this year. It will make you feel better too.