Animals lovers all know how nice it is to come home to a wagging tail or a happy meow after a long hard day at work.  Our pets are always happy to see us as they greet us at the door. 

Pets help us heal from the inside out providing us with unconditional love all of the time.  When we are sad, crying or just had a bad day our pets are always there for us.  They let us talk   about our sorrows without having any negative feedback.  Pet owners have seen this when their pet cocks their head as they listen to us talk, or when they lay their heads in our lap as we stroke them. We find ourselves starting to calm down, our blood pressure lowers, we feel more relaxed.

Dogs and cats are being used as service animals to visit the elderly, terminally sick patients and people with depression.  Medical science has begun to realize that by stroking and petting a dog or a cat, people actually start reacting in a positive way, thus getting healthier.  The elderly who are in a nursing home suddenly get a smile on their faces, amputees with new prostetics try harder to walk just so they can take a dog for a walk, children with cancer have been known to beat this terrible disease.  All by the love of a dog or a cat.

Not all dogs and cats are suited for service work, however, and they do have to go through classes in order to achieve Service Animal status and be awarded their special vest.  These pets are just incredible. They ask nothing in return other than our love and they seem to know they are 'working' once the vest is placed on their backs. 

Doctors and nurses have been amazed at the way the sick and elderly have reacted and healed through the simple love of a dog or a cat.  Even those with alzheimers start responding when having a cat or a dog there to love.  Pets also give us a certain understanding of spiratuality in the way they are so loving. 

I know when I have a bad day my 2 dogs and 3 cats (one is pictured on this Hub) I can't wait to be back home with them as they all jump on my bed seeing who can get the closest to me.  I hug and kiss all of them and at bed time I fall asleep to my cats' soothing purrs as they lay on my pillow.

How people can be mean to these incredible animals just breaks my heart.  Many of the service animals are rescues.  These poor animals are just looking for love as they give so much in return.  All of my pets are rescues and they always are the best pets I have ever had.  Or maybe I'm their best human, because, as all pet lovers know, us humans end up being the pet and the pet ends up being the ruler of the house.

If you are able to, please rescue a dog or a cat.  You will not only be saving a precious life, you may just be saving a precious life of a terminally ill child or adult.  The pet gives us hope, love, understanding, and someone to talk to who will listen.  They allow us to cry without being judgemental.  They certainly allow us to be happy and healthier.  It is also a  known medical fact that people with pets live longer due to ability of being able to be calmer and have less stressors.

So, when you go home tonight and you are greeted at your door by you dog or cat.  Give them a big hug and a kiss.  Take time to play with them and as you do, you will be promoting a healthier you as well as a very happy best friend.

Not only cats and dogs have been used as service animals.  Miniature horses have been used as well. 

There is more information on the web about how your dog or cat can become a service animal.  You never know, you may just save a strangers life.