According to researches, pets are genuinely endowed with healing qualities for their owners. They are effective especially in the case of elderly people, because it seems that their greatest problem is not illness in their bodies, but solitude and all the negative feelings it may bring about. Loneliness seems to be one of man's most upsetting things. Affection can have a curing effect on humans, not to mention the unconditional love a sweet pet may show to its master. Pets generally have a calming influence, distracting people's attention from inner states of pain, fear, loneliness, rejection. They can also connect people who share the same love for pets.

It was proved that those patients staying in hospitals who got visits either from their very own pets, or from some agency pets, were generally more open to medical treatment and healthy feeding. Animals give patients the idea that life is worth living, be it only for them to be able to take care of their beloved companions. The most receptive to pet therapy are children and senior patients. Due to such loyal animal friends, such patients are likely to get better sooner than under normal conditions. Pets bring joy to their owners' life, amusement, unconditional acceptance and loyalty. Not to mention the fact that people have the feeling of going back to the roots, closer to nature.

Most important is that the therapy cats and dogs have a calm, gentle personality and are people-oriented. They must love attention and petting and not be shy. In addition, they need basic obedience training and should be conditioned to sudden noises. They provide an invaluable service to those who are lonely, abandoned, or ill; indeed, anyone who needs the miraculous healing that can arise from a hug and a gentle touch.

Pets are wonderful for treating abused or neglected children, as they represent for such kids a sort of safe place. Since their love is unconditional, children feel free to establish an emotional communication bridge with the animals. And by observing the way they interact with pets, doctors can discover how to cure those unfortunate children. Animals can often reach children's hearts better than adults could do in case of sad situations such as divorce, death or moving to another place to live.

Specialists say that animals with healing powers may include dogs, cats, parrots, guinea pigs, bunnies, llamas, horses or even goats. By stroking a fluffy cat, for instance, one can lower his blood pressure and reduce the level of stress. So they are ideal for people with heart diseases. Also, dogs are recommended for people with diabetes, because such people need to exercise, and talking a dog for a walk is a great motivation to go out and march. These innocent creatures called animals seem to have been the gift of love, which is what people may be lacking due to their complicated, agitated, stressful lives. "All we need is love", and pets are simply putting it on a plate for us.

As the DVM called Allen Schoen, DVM puts it "In order to bond with animals, we have to step outside ourselves and learn to communicate on their terms." Dr Schoen actually wrote a book "Love, Miracles and Animal Healing", where he speaks about the amazing healing capacities animals can have whenever their help is needed.

Animals can feel and even sort of absorb our anxiety, pain, stress, and that is obvious to most people who are accustomed to them. Pets are highly influenced by the lifestyle of their owners: "...we emit energetic signals related to our deepest feelings that are picked up by those around us - especially our pets."

The positive effect animals have on humans could simply be explained by the fact that they thus allow people to set their attention on the outside world, forgetting their own troubles and worries. One cannot really tell why animals are willing to help humans in this way, on the emotional level, or how exactly they manage to do it so wonderfully. This is probably one of the mysterious aspects of our earthly life, so maybe we should simply accept animals' free gift of love and compassion. "Someday we'll know"... the key to this mystery.