By: Sylvia Yannsdottir

In the United States today, an estimated 90 million families own some kind of pet. This is nearly 70 percent of households in the country. This included a wide variety of animals, the most popular being dogs, followed by cats, fish, and birds. The number of pet-owning households in the United States has been steadily increasing over the past few years.

The most popular pets in the world are dogs. There are endless options of diverse breeds of dogs, and they are commonly referred to as “man’s best friend.” Dogs have always been known for their loyalty, and playfulness. Aside from that, cats are another very popular pet, which are known for their calmer energy and self sufficiency.

When it comes to the impact of owning pets, I think it’s more of a personal topic rather than a general topic. Almost everybody you know probably has some connection to a pet, and each in their own way. For some people, they may recall gentle memories from their childhood with their first dog, others may look forward to laying with their cat after a long day, some people might even think of their last hamster from time to time.

If one thing is for certain, it’s the fact that the connection you have with a pet is an irreplaceable bond. It varies from person to person, but overall I’d say that having a pet is a very special thing that can be super beneficial for emotional wellbeing, and brings you to inevitably practice better habits. For example, learning how to be patient with your pet, taking care of them, or going out of your way to take them out for a walk can be ways that you practice better habits without even realizing it.

Overall, I believe that owning a pet has a very good lasting impact on someone’s life, and it’s honestly irreplaceable. I also believe that it’s a great thing how popular it’s become to have a pet as part of a family now, and would hope that it stays that way.