A recent study out of the UK has found that having a pet like a dog or a cat can boost your life satisfaction so much, it's equivalent to getting a pay rise of nearly $135,000 a year. That’s how much value pets bring to our lives in terms of joy, routine, companionship, and emotional support. (Gmeiner et al., 2025).

The researchers behind the study used a clever method to work out the true impact of pets, accounting for things like income, personality, and neighbourhood support. Even when these factors were considered, pets still came out on top as powerful contributors to happiness.

And it’s not just about cuddles on the couch. Pets help reduce stress, encourage exercise (especially dogs), and even get us talking to our neighbours. They bring comfort to people who live alone, help kids build confidence, and have been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness and depression.

For many of us, pets are more than just animals; they’re part of the family. They greet us at the door, keep us company through tough times, and bring smiles in ways few others can. This research helps us put numbers to what we’ve always known: life is better with a pet.

As our community looks for ways to improve wellbeing and tackle rising mental health challenges, supporting pet-friendly policies, like affordable vet care, pet-inclusive housing, and community desexing programs, just makes sense. After all, investing in pets is really an investment in people.

So next time your furry friend makes you laugh or keeps you company, remember, those small moments are quietly making a big difference to your wellbeing.