We are pet people, and, as a result, we constantly have to lint-roll our clothing, and our homes can feel like circuses. Actually, Ed's looks more like a zoo, with a dog of unusual size, two inquisitive cats, countless fish, and a pet snail. (No, really. Its name is Station Master.) Tara’s house has fewer pets but is louder with two rescue dogs that are mostly chihuahua. They used to not know where their next meal was coming from, but now pout if they don’t get meat crumbles on top of their kibble.

This is all to say: Our houses can be a lot. Not just because of the noise level and fur, but because pets are a big commitment. In many cases, they are like house guests who never leave, wouldn't dream of picking up after themselves, and sometimes throw up on your rugs. And they are expensive: Outsized vet bills, prescription flea medication, and even (in the case of Tara’s pooches) prescription anti-anxiety medication for special occasions.

Yet, somehow, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, around 45 percent of all U.S. households have a dog, and about 32 percent have a cat. That means that about two-thirds of American households have a dog or a cat, which is the same proportion of eligible voters who participated in the last election. And this is to say nothing of the pot-bellied pigs, hamsters, ferrets, snakes, and other assorted creatures that live with us rent-free.

We tend to believe that pets contribute to our well-being based on our own experiences, but the scientific evidence is a bit mixed.

Let’s start with all the good stuff.........

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