Senior News Line: Why seniors need to adopt a pet

Animal shelters across the country are loaded with adoptable animals, with more coming in all the time. How did this happen?

When the pandemic started and people were locked at home, many decided the time was perfect to adopt a pet. But now that offices have reopened and the kids are back in school, those pets have, in too many cases, become a chore no one has time for anymore.

Thousands of pets have ended up in the shelters, not through any fault of their own. And they need loving homes.

That’s where we come in.

We seniors spend more hours at home, for the most part, and we have the time to take care of one or more of those little creatures. We have so much to give them, and they deserve it.

But it’s not a one-way street. Having a pet to care for has big benefits for us, as well, both physical and psychological.

Research shows that we’re happier in general when we have a pet and we hold off cognitive decline, because these little furry guys keep us thinking, remembering, sticking to a routine and planning for their care.

When we have a pet, we reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure goes down, and we get exercise if walking a dog — and meet up with other dog owners along the way.

Cholesterol levels go down and so does our stress. And we have the satisfaction of taking care of another living creature that rewards us with love.

If you live in a place where it’s impossible to have a pet, you can still get the benefits of being around animals.

Walk the dogs at the shelter and play with the cats several days a week to distract them from the noisy chaos of that environment. Your efforts will be very much appreciated.