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“I think I could turn and live with the animals. They are so placid and self-contained,” writes American poet Walt Whitman (Schellenberg 1). Yes, pets have been part of human culture throughout history, and in American households, they are more common than ....

Middle of Essay
.... better physical and emotional well-being” (Witherell 76). Pet owners reported fewer headaches, fewer bouts of indigestion, and less difficulty sleeping in one study (Avanzino). Also, interaction with animals is shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate, subtle changes with enormous health benefits (Whitaker; Schellenberg 2). For example, a large Australian study reported in 1992 indicated that pet owners are at lower risk for heart disease than non-pet owners because of lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lower blood pressure (Schellenberg 2). A recent study at UCLA found that 37% of Medicare patients who owned pets visi ....