I have been an animal lover my whole life. I have had cats and dogs since way back. I have a cat on my lap while I’m writing this. I love my pets and so do many others. My mind can play tricks on me such as how will I pay for them if they get sick or injured? My cat or dog is acting strange today, what will I do? If I lose my job or health what will happen to them? These are important concerns but do they need to rule my mind? So many cats and dogs are looking for a good home, every local shelter has some of the best adoptable cats and dogs, check out aspca.org. You can find your buddy here and they will find you. We gave a 7 year old dog who was injured when we adopted her, 7 good years, she died ay 14 years old, I often think of how this dog’s life would have been different if we did not adopt her. A dog or a cat has a unique way of connecting with us, they show us love no matter how we feel, even on a bad day, they can cheer us up. Our pets can ease our anxiety by reducing the stress hormone(cortisol) and increasing the feel good chemicals such as oxytocin. Pets can also ground you in the moment. Dogs can encourage physical activity such as taking them for walks and playing with them. If you are lonely and full of anxiety and or depression, look into getting a new pet, you both will benefit.