Helpful pets tend to be considered service animals rather than common house pets. Service animals calm their owners, guide them to their destination, or even call for help when their owners are in danger. These animals are trained to serve and protect these people, but domesticated house pets can do the same.

Unknowingly, these companions provide the simplest form of support and help. According to HelpGuide, pets have adapted to human emotions, especially dogs, which can affect their owners’ emotions. Pets help calm their owners by cuddling them or rubbing against them. Additionally, pets make their owners happy by playing with them or encouraging activity.

“My one dog, she’s a border collie, so she feels emotions,” junior Carly McDermott said. ”If you’re upset or something she’s immediately with you 

The most common support an animal provides is companionship. Pets give their owners something to look forward to when arriving home from a long day and provide unconditional love during lonely times. 

“My Italian greyhound Gizmo will climb up onto the recliner and if I have a blanket on top of me he’ll snuggle under the blanket and sleep with me,” multi-animal owner Matthew Isaiah Loving said. “It brings a lot of positive vibes.” 

Dogs aren’t the only pets who provide companionship and a therapeutic environment. Cats, with their calm demeanors, are considered less of a hassle. Cats do not require walks or too much attention. Additionally, a cat’s routine and their personalities can be soothing to their owners.

“I love my pets. I don’t know what I would do without them,” McDermott said.

Cats reduce their owners’ stress. Bettersleep states that cats and their personalities cause their owners’ brains to release oxytocin, a hormone that contributes to happiness. Also, cat owners report that sleeping with their cats provides warmth and comfort, thereby promoting a higher quality of sleep with less stress and feelings of security. 

“I mean, everybody has days where they don’t want to get out of bed, but obviously, I want to get out of bed to take care of all my animals so it’s helpful,” McDermott said.

Small animals provide great amounts of support for their owners, but that doesn’t leave larger animals out. Large animals, such as horses, are independent creatures that don’t need help, but by allowing their caretakers to care for them, horses give their owners a sense of responsibility and maturity. Additionally, due to their size, compared to other animals the time it takes for each factor of care increases. Regardless of the time consumed, these animals’ benefits and outcomes outweigh the demands.

“With my horses, we have a huge piece of land that we let those animals out on,” Loving said.” They’re grateful that we take care of them. So in return, they usually allow us to ride them. If we’re taking care of them well enough they’re not coco bananas in return they are calm and collected.”