I live in an apartment complex that doesn't allow pets but because of the fair housing act my therapist filled out a form that stated how a pet could help me manage my symptoms of BP and my landlords had to allow me to have a pet. I cant even imagine my life without Spud.

He is a boxer/lab mix.We got him from the shelter about 18 months ago when he was just a little puppy. They found him wondering the streets and he was so malnourished and tiny they thought he was a going to be a small terrier mix and was only going to grow to be about 20 lbs. Now he is huse and over 60 lbs!! He has the cutest personality ever and it cheers me up even on my worst days.

I have always been around animals my entire life. I was raised on a farm. Although they haven't always been "inside" pets I have had horses, sheep, goats and best of all a dairy cow named Nessie. She was my pride and joy!! Whenever I was having a bad day I would take her out for a walk (She was part of my 4-H/FFA project, which entailed raising an animal and showing it at the county fair) Now I live in the city but Im still close enough to go visit every now and then.

Pets really do help!