Benefits of Owning Pets

A mom drives home from work around four p.m. on the major road in her hometown and stops at a light that turns red. While passing the time, she scans the immediate area, finding a large black truck sitting next to her. In the bed of the truck is a golden retriever, panting happily and alert. She cannot help smiling. The light turns green, and the cars shuffle as everyone accelerates. At the next red light, the car in front of the woman and to the right has a small, tan terrier head sticking out of the back window, tongue out. She can see a small child’s hand stroking the fur. She cannot help thinking that this particular dog is significant. The mom turns on the road she lives on and slows down as children play before dinner. A neighbor jogs by, waving with the hand that does not hold the trotting dog’s leash. A young girl sits on her porch, reading in the shade on a chair swing, her orange tabby lying curled up next to her. The cat’s tail jumps softly back and forth, its eyes shut, betraying her movements. Two boys, one a teenager and the other just coming out of the single digits, throw a tennis ball across the green grass, a tall and fit American bulldog eagerly chasing after it and bringing is back loyally. The woman pulls on her driveway and walks into her house. As she closes the front door, a small, clear ball flies by, the family hamster operating it. Her sons fly by, chasing after the little black creature. In the kitchen, she finds her husband and small daughter cooking dinner and greeting her happily, the family dachshund wiggling with excitement at her presence. In the United States alone, 62% of households own a pet, with 77 million dogs and 93 million cats (McConnell 1239). Pets are a major asset to countless househol...

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...gs, cats, and sometimes other big and small creatures to integrate into their family.

Works Cited

Hynes, Angela. “The Healing Power of Animals.” Natural Health. 35.3 (March 2005): 72-77. EBSCOhost. Web. 20 October 2013.

McConnell, Allen R. et al. “Friends with Benefits: On the Positive Consequences of Pet Ownership.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 101.6 (December 2011): 1239- 1252. EBSCOhost. Web. 31 October 2013.

Mitchell, Eve. “Pets require both ‘Start up’ and ‘Ongoing’ Costs.” Tribune- Review/ Pittsburgh Tribune- Review. (2010). ProQuest. Web. 28 October 2013.

Rosebrock, Erin, Lulu Talmadge. “Wild about Animals! Pets and Beyond.” New Moon Girls. 19.4 (March/April): 12-13. ProQuest. Web. 27 October 2013.

Wagner, Karen Dineen. “Children and Pets: A Winning Combination.” Psychiatric Times. 28.11 (November 2011): 30. ProQuest. Web. 22 October 2013.