Sydney - People with companion animals are like people with companion humans: happier, healthier and longer-lived, says Melbourne researcher Tim Rogers.
While the standard logic is that pet owners get out more, and so are fitter because they take more exercise, Rogers says it has more to do with the quality of the outing than simply the cardiovascular benefits of being at one end of a leash.
"Most researchers are now converging on the idea that it's the sense of emotional closeness and support that pets provide that is behind their stress-busting power," he said. "It now appears that animal companions benefit our lives in much the same way as do human companions."