ATLANTA — Research published by the American Heart Association links dog ownership to a lower risk of death and increased physical activity.
The research found dog ownership was associated with a 24% drop in all-cause mortality among the general population.
Among people who had experienced a major cardiac event, such as a heart attack or stroke, living with a dog was associated with a 33% lower risk of death.
Other research found dog owners walk an average of 22 minutes more per day.
That additional activity makes dog owners significantly more likely to meet standard weekly physical activity guidelines.