Nov 7

Pets Improve Mental Health

This was written by pre-medical student Jorge Gonzalez with the intention of encouraging readers to take better care of oneself. The method of encouragement being used is Aristotle’s three pillars of rhetoric without the intention of withholding critical information or supplying false information. Instead, this method utilizes emotions to engage the audience, logic to make a claim, and credibility to support this claim.

An article by Ana Sandoiu studies cortisol, a hormone released when experiencing stress. Reduction of stress may, over time, improve mental and physical health. Pets have been proven to help people reduce their level of cortisol. A study in college students has shown real-life effects of pets on the level of cortisol. A study used groups of people who: were allowed to spend 10 minutes with cats and dogs, who were watching others with pets, who watched a slideshow about animals, and who sat in silence. The test group who were allowed to spend 10 minutes with the cats and dogs showed a significant reduction in cortisol (Sandoiu, Ana).

This does not imply that people need a pet in order to experience less stress. If we don’t have enough time or a certain level of responsibility to properly care for an animal, then we should not get a pet. The ability to take care of animals as pets is an opportunity as they provide the chance to build a loving relationship. Lack of enough time or responsibility transforms the relationship into an abusive or neglectful one. This practice does not condone the neglect or abuse of an animal. Not taking proper care of pets increases stress.

Work Cited:
Sandoiu, Ana. “More Evidence That Pets Benefit Mental Health.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 19 July 2019, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325795.php.

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