Ninety-two percent of respondents to a survey recently conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) indicated that they have derived health benefits directly from their pets.

"Pets are becoming more than just a member of the family," said AAHA president-elect Link Wellborn. "They are central to a healthy lifestyle."

Other results of the poll, which was taken by 1,242 individuals at AAHA-accredited veterinary facilities in the United States and Canada, bear that out. Of the respondents:

• 76 percent believe their stress levels are reduced by their companion animals
• 65 percent think their mental health is improved by their pets
• 31 percent feel their physical fitness has been improved by providing exercise for their companion animals

The survey showed that pet owners are concerned about their companion animals' health. Ninety-three percent of the respondents indicated that they take their pets in for regular checkups, and 48 percent indicated they had taken up to two days off from work to be with a sick companion animal. "Pet owners are going to greater lengths to keep their pets happy and healthy," said Wellborn.

© 2002 Animal News Center, Inc.

Many dog lovers say their pets seem to know what they're thinking, and a study in Science Magazine suggests they may be right. It seems the process of domestication, originated about 15,000 years ago, may have given canines the ability to read certain human social behaviors.

Anthropologist Brian Hare found in his experiments that dogs are extremely capable of responding to human cues such as gazing or pointing. Despite having larger brains than dogs, wolves did not fare as well in the experiments. When an animal is domesticated, Hare concludes, he becomes calmer and more attentive, so the ability to understand non-verbal signals may be the byproduct of the process.

For more information, visit www.sciencemag.org