Did you know that October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and that adopting a shelter pet is good for your health and life? According to the Humane Society here are some reasons why adopting a shelter dog is worth your while:

A shelter dog can be:

  • an exercise buddy
  • a best friend and confidant for your child
  • a dog you can train with to learn animal-assisted therapy
  • a partner in agility competitions
  • a constant companion for your favorite senior citizen
  • a fuzzy face to greet you after a hard day at work

If those reasons aren’t enough for you to rush out and snap up a shelter dog consider the effects of pooches on your heart. A study in the journal Circulation says having a pet - a dog especially - could lower your risk for heart disease.

Dr. Sandy Fryhofer profiles this in Your Health Matters. She also mentions that owning a dog can lower your cholesterol.

Check out the video below and improve your health by adopting a shelter dog! And while you're at it, if you have adopted a shelter dog, tell us how it has changed your life.