But both can also lower the life's stress levels.

Pets have long been taken to hospitals and nursing homes to ease the lives of the elderly and chronically ill. Studies indicate that loneliness exerts the same internal pressures as stress, which, in turn, forges links to depression, as well as heart, intestinal, and sleep disorders.

So, as a person ages and has less contact with friends and family, getting a pet might be a worthwhile consideration.

A dog, in particular, can make one feel much more secure than living alone or even with an aging spouse.

Dog owners agree it's comforting having their pet curled up on the floor at their feet or walking beside them in the park or while shopping.

There's also an enhanced feeling of self-worth among those pet owners who feel needed to care for their animals, according to information gleaned by Dynamic-Living.com, an on-line store that sells products promoting convenient, comfortable and safe households.

Because "pets are good listeners and offer unconditional love," they can help their owners lessen loneliness and reduce anxiety, says Dynamic-Living president Andrea Tannenbaum.

The occasions to touch other people, an important means of connecting with the world, become more rare with advancing age. Animals need petting and stroking. It keeps them happy and their owners content.

Pets also can help a person keep fit. A dog has to get exercise every day, which necessitates getting up off the couch for a daily walk. This also gets the pet owner out of the house and opens up opportunities to chat with neighbours and meet other people.

In group settings, such as nursing homes, studies show that time spent with an animal can increase social and verbal communication among members, according to the Dynamic-Living report.

Besides increasing physical activity, pets actually can improve a person's physical health. Their presence can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in addition to boosting the ability to deal with stress.

Getting a pet that's good for you requires that you be good to it also.

You must be able to care for it. A couple of goldfish in bowl atop the mantel are pleasing to the sight and psyche, and are easy to feed and require only periodic changes of water. But you can't pat them or have them curl up at your feet.

So the type of animal chosen is important. For some folks, a backyard bird feeder is enough. Watching the creatures it attracts can appease an inner hunger.

For others, a cat might be the ticket. In the canine universe, the range is from the tiny terriers to the massive mastiffs.

Determine which type of pet you (and your spouse) will enjoy most. Then consider what type and size of creature is manageable to care for. If your pet isn't happy, you won't be either.