They can make you happy, keep you fit, even lower your blood pressure. Find out why owning a dog or a cat is a prescription for good health.

They Help Your Heart

Simply petting a dog or a cat can lower your blood pressure. It helps you stay focused on the present, as opposed to dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. And cuddling with furry friends can give you a chemical boost by releasing the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine

Pets Boost Immunity

Petting a dog can up your levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that fights off the common cold.  Social support -- or a lack of it -- directly affects the body's immune system and impacts our resistance to infections and disease. A companion who acts as if it's Christmas morning every time you walk through the door? Now that's a support system.

They Teach Your Kids to Be Nicer People

Boys and girls who live with pets are more empathetic and social than kids who don't. And allowing boys to take responsibility for feeding, walking, and grooming a dog lets them practice nurturing skills that girls typically develop while playing house,

They Keep You Safe

Dogs can calm down even the biggest scaredy-cat. People worry less about being attacked when they have a canine companion. And bigger isn't necessarily better. With its super-sensitive sense of sound and smell, even a small dog can tell you when something's not quite right.

You can get more of the list here.  And check out this week's Qute Pet here!