April is National Pet Month! This month is used to help promote responsible pet ownership and encourage pet fans to raise vital funds for UK charities. However, local fitness expert Tara Whitbread of Tara Whitbread Fitness wants to use this month to also raise awareness of how spending time with pets (you don’t have to own one, you can borrow one!) can improve your physical and mental health. “Spending time with pets has been shown to improve health both mentally and physically and increase community bonds too. The exercise from walking; relaxation from patting and stroking; the provided companionship and stress management are all great benefits of having pets” she says. “Responsible pet ownership is extremely important though, so if you don’t own one yourself there are companies such as Borrow My Doggie or Borrow Pets that pair you with pets that need some extra love and attention.”

Tara shares her top benefits of spending time with pets:

Dog owners enjoy numerous health and social benefits by walking their dog a few times a week. Benefits include improved cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure, stronger muscles and bones and decreased stress.People who walk their dogs are seen by other people as friendly and approachable and have increased bonds and interactions with their neighbours and other walkers.Studies show that watching fish swim around in an aquarium is an effective stress buster, particularly in dentist surgeries.Stroking and patting a pet can reduce the physiological indicators of stress, including high blood pressure.The companionship and unconditional love offered by pets is known to have considerable mental health benefits for owners, including increased self-esteem.Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home.