A few days ago, while we were having coffee over our usual video call, I was talking with my mother, Dr. Bárbara Báuza, a veterinarian trained at the Higher Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Bayamo, Cuba. I told her that some blog readers had asked me to write about the benefits of having an animal companion.
She smiled, with that mix of tenderness and wisdom that has always defined her, and said:
—Animals do more for people than many imagine. Sometimes, without words, they heal.
Her words stayed with me. And I realized she was right.
A kind of companionship that heals
Having a companion animal is not just sharing your space with another living being. It means allowing someone into your life who looks at you without judgment, who sits with you in silence, who is simply there.
Scientific evidence supports what many of us feel: living with animals can reduce anxiety, depression, and feelings of loneliness. It can also boost self-esteem and foster positive emotions.
During the pandemic, when isolation pushed all our limits, millions of people found comfort in their pets. “It was as if the dog understood my sadness,” my mother told me. And she wasn’t exaggerating. Simple physical contact with an animal can lower cortisol—the stress hormone—and increase oxytocin, which supports emotional well-being.
Movement and heart health
I mentioned to my mother that several studies link dog ownership with lower cardiovascular risk.
She smiled again:
—Of course, son, a dog makes you go out, move, breathe fresh air. It’s the best personal trainer.
And she was right. Daily walks, playtime in the park, or simply caring for another living being keep us more active. That movement, combined with affection, improves heart health and supports a more balanced life.
Learning and empathy
For children, growing up with animals encourages empathy and responsibility. For older adults, it can bring back a sense of purpose and routine.
My mother has seen those changes up close.
“An older person who adopts a dog suddenly has reasons to get up each morning,” she told me. “And a child who learns to care for an animal understands—without lectures—what it means to respect life.”
The challenges also teach us
Of course, it’s not all easy. Caring for an animal requires:
- Time
- Money
- Emotional commitment
It means being present, even when the animal gets sick or grows old.
My mother put it simply and calmly:
—Adopting an animal is not a trend or a therapy. It’s a relationship. And every healthy relationship requires care, responsibility, and love.
That sentence captures something very close to what lifestyle medicine also teaches: health flourishes when we care for others, when we nurture relationships, and when we live with a sense of purpose.
When science confirms what the heart already knows
The most recent studies are in line with what everyday life shows us: people who live with animals tend to have better emotional well-being, higher physical activity, and, in some cases, lower cardiovascular risk.
In clinical settings—such as depression, anxiety, or chronic illness—the results are mixed, but the overall trend points toward real benefits, especially when the bond is positive and stable.
Beyond the data, there is something deeply human in this connection. Caring for an animal brings us back to an essential part of ourselves: the capacity to connect without words, to keep someone company without asking for anything in return, to love without conditions.
In summary
Having a companion animal can improve both physical and emotional health. But more than a “treatment,” it’s a reminder of what it means to care—and to allow ourselves to be cared for.
My mother said it in the simplest and most beautiful way:
—When you open your door to an animal, you also open the door of your heart. And that, my son, always heals.
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