In 2012, veteran Adam Rentería’s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was triggered by the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado (Khan). One of his biggest fears started becoming prevalent in his life, being killed and not being able to defend himself. Rentería’s family contacted an organization for pairing veterans with specially trained service dogs in order to live a life as normal as possible. Over the years, the trend of family pets has begun to shift. Some parents and children view pets as commodities or family members, there for providing comfort and emotional support. Most do not realize the other benefits that overpower the well-known effects. Purchasing a pet is often linked to bringing comfort, teaching responsibility, and promoting…show more content… Many parents crack under the puppy dog eyes and agree to begin a life of pet grooming, walking, and feeding. With the strenuous duties in mind, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states that there is still an “[approximate] 44% of all households in the United States [that] have a dog, and 35% [that] have a cat” (“Pet Statistics”). In order for the ASPCA to complete its mission of protecting pets in harm, they must have a strong knowledge of how many family pets there are. The soft, cuddly nature of animals cause a potential owner to purchase a pet, making the total number of families owning pets to stay at a monumental amount, if not…show more content… They can fill the gap for people who feel alone, help make it easier to socialize with others, and teach children responsibility. For instance, Harmony Rhoades, a research associate at the University of Southern California, conducted an experiment and found that homeless youth with pets “reported fewer symptoms of depression and loneliness” (Rhoades). Being homeless is difficult, but having a pet beside you provides some comfort. Also, Dr. Karen Baker of Healthy Pets states that children learn responsibility because “pets require daily feeding, exercise, and affection, not to mention grooming and potty time” (Baker). When taking your pet on a walk, it often forces social interaction because bystanders become interested in the pet and then the animal acts as a topic of conversation. Pets require much attention and work, by the owner, to maintain a healthy life. Parents often require their children to take some of the pet related chores so they can gain the characteristic of responsibility that comes along with having a pet. Pets become apart of the family and contribute to the maturing and mental development of a
