Kathy Keeton, co-founder and president of OMNI, states, “stress helps produce high blood pressure (hypertension), which currently afflicts sixty million Americans. It’s been implicated as a factor in the development of arteriosclerosis, heart disease, and some kinds of cancer” (43). Though it has been shown that stress promotes high blood pressure and other diseases, recent studies are being done on the affects of animals in reducing the stress in humans. On page 26 of “Diabetes in the News”, Sandra Schwartz says that “pets provide friendship, help you improve your diabetes management, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, cut down on your visits to the doctor, and reduce the number of illnesses and accidents you experience”. Though it does, however, seem too good to be true, in a way it is because people do need certain amounts

While it is still uncommon to see pets in the workplace, the vast majority of working pets today are dogs, and according to Alan Entin Ph.D., a Richmond, Va. based psychologist specializing in pet and human interaction, the answer is simple: "Dogs are much more predictable, loyal and dedicated than cats. The dog will listen to you, stay by you and mind you, which is an important consideration in a workplace" (Going to the Dogs 143). Because dogs are so reliable, there is less stress related to taking a dog on trips to almost any location because they are less likely to run off than a cat would, and are generally easier to control. Entin also says "there are studies that show levels of stress go down when animals are present. For most people, it's hard to walk past a dog and not pet it, which helps reduce their level of stress and makes them healthier and more productive employees” (Going to the Dogs 143). Although for most it appears that having a pet in the workplace seems to reduce their stress levels, many others find animals to be threatening or a nuisance. Lisa Ebersole, director of human resources for San Francisco-based Advent says that “In any office there is bound to be someone allergic to or afraid of dogs. If an employee complains about any pet at Advent, the employee’s wishes outweigh the pet’s right to be there” (Going to the Dogs 143). In many offices throughout the nation, including San Francisco’s Advent, there are policies that are either spoken or not that say in summation that any dog showing the slightest signs of anti – social behavior must leave. In many cases it is required that the animal and owner either go through a training school or fix/compromise the best option for all concerned. Most times this does solve the problem, but when it does not, the owner generally recedes to worrying about their pet’s safety instead of focusing on their work.

This may seem to be quite a lot to expect from a pet, but animals are nonjudgmental, accepting, and attentive. It does not need to talk back; therefore it will not criticize or give orders. Just caring for someone or something else is shown to prolong life of humans and some animals. For someone who has a disease, or has lost a loved one, a pet will give them something else to focus on, and something to give a reason to get up every morning. While caring for a pet one generally feels loved, valued, appreciated, and secure. The animal is dependant on its owner, just as an infant

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