A pet is an animal that is usually kept for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal.  Pets are considered to have attractive appearances and intelligence, but some pets may be taken in on a considerate basis like stray animal and accepted by the owner regardless of these characteristics.

The most common pets include cats and dogs. Other animals that are commonly kept as pets include rabbits, pigs, rodents such as hamsters, chinchillas, rats and guinea pigs, avian pets, such as parrots, fowls etc; reptile pets, such as turtles, lizards, and snakes; aquatic pets such like fish  and snails etc. Small pets may be considered together as pocket pets, while the equine and the bovine group include the largest companion animals.

Owning a pet extracts many health benefits which include both physical and mental benefits. Walking a dog can provide both the human and the dog with the opportunity to exercise and get fresh air, and improve social interaction. Pets can also give companionship to the people who live alone or elderly adults who do not have adequate social interaction and also manage the loneliness and depression among individuals. They also protect the house from unknown people entering the house or property. A therapy called pet therapy also involves making the use of trained animals to achieve the specific physical, social or emotional goals with individuals.

 The bond between the individuals and their pets can increase their fitness activities, lower the stress levels, and bring happiness to their owners. Some other benefits of having a pet include:

• Decreased blood pressure
• Decreased cholesterol levels
• Decreased Stress levels
• Provides opportunity to walk around and get fresh air
• Decreased feelings of loneliness or depression in individuals
• Increased opportunities for socialization and also bring joy and happiness to the owners

Dogs are more than just cuddly companions. Having a dog can lead to lower levels of stress for both adults and children. They have been found to decrease the risk of asthma in children and have been known to lower blood pressure. Hence, it is rightly said that “Dogs are the human’s best friend”.