6. Improves Emotional Health

Emotionally healthy people are resilient, self-confident, and capable of developing strong, healthy relationships. Interestingly, a 2011 study reported in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that pet owners shared many of these same characteristics. Compared to non-pet owners, researchers found pet owners to have higher self-esteem, be more extraverted and less lonely, be less preoccupied, and be less fearful of everyday life challenges.