Tabatha GormleyLauren PalekEnglish 122:015April 16, 2014The importance of animal companions has been explored for many years, but has it really been used? This research paper will explore this question by analyzing numerous studies done regarding the benefits and negative impacts that a pet can have on a human's life. The article first opens with a straightforward account of how animals can positively affect someone's life, before briefly proving that animals have been considered companions throughout history. He will then study how animals have evolved in the human eye to become more than just companions, as well as the many ways society uses these benefits. In contrast, in this article I will also discuss the controversy surrounding the evidence supporting the studies, as well as the negative impacts of a strong human-animal bond. The overall aim of this article is to prove that pets are beneficial to humans on different health, social and psychological levels. Final Paper Since I can remember, animals have been the greatest interest of my life. One of my earliest memories as a child is of my first dog, Magic. He was a black lab with just a white patch on his chest and the biggest head (especially for a 4 year old). I remember coming home one day and Magic had managed to open the screen door. Running at full speed, the huge lab knocked me to the ground. Even though I was surprised and pain shot through my head, I couldn't help but laugh as Magic licked my face and moaned in excitement. I can't be certain that that first memory of unconditional love sparked my passion for animals, but I do know that from that moment on, coming home to my pets was the best time ever. my day. And boy, did I have pets: dogs, cats, guineas...... middle of paper ...... animals can enormously improve their owner's health and can thus help to significantly reduce health spending in our country.Woit, Hanna. "The Pet Prescription. (Health Benefits of Pet Ownership)." Prevention 2013: Academic OneFile. Internet. March 3, 2014. This short article in Prevention magazine focuses on the many healing powers your pet can give you, arguing that the bond you develop with a pet results in health benefits in giving you a sense of purpose and belonging. The article proves these benefits by explaining how pets lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones, while boosting feel-good hormones that build love and comfort. They reference numerous studies, including one conducted at the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of British Columbia, and the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease..