Rosie is a "cheer" worker at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

By Yasmine Zapp

Can owning a pet really increase a persons life span? Does it truly bring us happiness and peace? Yep.

Studies show that the simple act of stroking your pet, calms your heart rate and improves blood flow. People who own dogs often have lower cholesterol and lead more active lives, due to the routine of walking. In the elderly, pet interaction has been shown to give the parasympathetic nervous system activity an extra boost.

For years,  furry friends have served as people’s eyes, performed search and rescue missions, and even helped with early cancer detection.

I had the pleasure of getting to know Love on 4 Paws this past December while my son (pictured with Rosie, who is blind, but knows her way around quite well) was in Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.

I can tell you from our first-hand experience that those beautiful, four-legged angels put a huge smile on his face, and mine, during a very scary time. They kept him in good spirits and gave him something to look forward to during his pre and post surgery stays, and I really believe they helped him recover much faster.

With nearly 10 million animals entering shelters every year, I hope — if you have the heart and the space — you’ll check out your local animal shelter. Who knows, you might be saving more than just one life.

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