If the topic of pets is brought up among a group of people, most likely there will be lots of stories to be told. Animals are so much more than just pets; they are friends.

With stress hitting people hard for all different reasons, some answers to help in coping lie within our closest furry friends.

“I’m with my dog pretty much all day, from the time I wake up and get home, we’re together. She’s my best friend,” senior Renny Schoenle said.

According to a study conducted by Purina pet food, spending just 15-30 minutes with a pet can calm one’s nerves and boost your mood.

Serotonin is the chemical in the body that boosts feelings of well-being. Purina’s studies have shown that this chemical is produced at a higher level in the body when a person is around his or her pet.

Along with serotonin, dopamine is another relaxing and calming chemical in the body. It is produced at a higher level in people who have pets or are interacting with pets.

“Coming home and taking care of the animals can help me forget about why I was stressed,” senior Nichelle Hebing said.

Studies by the Mayo Clinic found interacting with your pet or pets can relieve some stress. This can lead to a healthier life and a more relaxed mindset.

In that same study from the Mayo Clinic, results concluded that scientists had found that animals have healing powers. “While you stroke a cat or pet a dog, you experience a surge of healing hormones and chemicals that produce feelings of peace and serenity.”

“My animals help me stay relaxed for at least the rest of the night,” Hebing said.

Cortisol–the chemical related to bringing stress and high blood pressure– can lead to high cholesterol and hypertension. Levels of cortisol in people with pets, or working with pets, was generally lower than people who have no contact with pets according to the Mayo Clinic.

Studies from Help Guide online have shown that pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression. Pet owners are also more likely to have lower triglyceride, fatty acids, along with cholesterol, which both, in high levels, point to heart disease.

“Numerous studies have concluded that pet owners have less cardiac related diseases due to having lower stress hormones in the bloodstream. Improved recovery is linked to owning pets as well,” psychology teacher Andy Gagnon said.

Additional research from Help Guide found  that heart attack patients, who have pets, survive longer than patients that do not.

Similarly, pet owners over the age of 65 go to the doctor 30 percent less than people who do not own pets. There have also been studies from the Mayo Clinic that have shown stressed out and overworked businessmen had a much easier time dealing with stress after they got a pet.

“My best friend from California has had cancer for four years, her dog and the hospital dogs make her day so much better,” Schoenle said.

In many cases pets work very well to help relieve stress, but some people may not be able to use pets as a way of stress relief because of allergies or a general dislike of animals. For a great deal of people though, pets are a great and easy way to relief stress.

“I’m generally stressed every day, so spending time with my dog is always a welcomed break. She makes me laugh and that lets the stress ease in a fun way,” senior Rachel Bongart said.